This comes weeks after pictures emerged apparently showing the 70-year-old holding his wife of 10 years, Nigella, by the throat and covering her mouth.
Although Saatchi accepted a police caution for the incident, he later described it as a ‘playful tiff’.
Describing the decision as heart breaking, Saatchi announced:
“I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced.
This is heartbreaking for both of us as our love was very deep, but in the last year we have become estranged and drifted apart.”
He continued his statement:
“I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way.
The row photographed at Scott's restaurant could equally have been Nigella grasping my neck to hold my attention - as indeed she has done in the past, although not in front of Scott's with a photographer snapping away.”
Concluding the statement,the art collector added:
“I wish Nigella only the best for the future, and for her continuing global success.
She remains the most wonderful woman in the world. I feel very fortunate to have had such a lovely wife for many years.”
The couple married in 2003, and Nigella has two children- Cosima, 19, and 17-year-old Bruno from her marriage to journalist John Diamond, who passed away in 2001, whilst Saatchi has 19-year-old daughter Phoebe from a previous marriage.
Nigella has yet to comment.