McCartney Divorce Costs Beatle $48.7 million

LONDON, March 17th, 2008— -- Former Beatle Paul McCartneywas ordered on Monday to pay his estranged wife Heather Mills24.3 million pounds ($48.7 million) after an acrimonious divorcebattle.

McCartney, 65, married the former model and charitycampaigner Mills, 40, in 2002 but they split four years later,blaming media intrusion into their private lives. They have adaughter, Beatrice, aged four.

(Reporting by Paul Majendie, Editing by Kate Kelland)