Jim Crane is best recognized for his role as chairman and owner of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball, as well as his contributions to the Houston community. As a result, his ex-wife, Franci Neely, became well-known in baseball circles.
Even though the couple is no longer together, fans are curious about Neely’s current activities. So, let’s discover more about Franci Neely Crane, Jim Crane’s ex-wife.
For More Than Two Decades, She Was Married To Jim Crane
Franci Neely Crane and Jim Crane, the owner of the Houston Astros, were married for 21 years before divorcing. The former couple married in 1993, and their divorce was completed in February 2015, after nearly two decades together.
Franci, born Francigene Neely Beck, was an influential attorney with a law firm when they first met. Soon after, the couple married and had a beautiful life together for several years. The ex-couple had no children together.
Furthermore, Jim Crane had previously been married to Theresa Crane, thus this was not his first divorce. Krystal Crane and Jared Crane, Jim and Theresa’s two children, may have been little during their father’s second marriage.
Franci was also by his side during the long custody fight between the Houston Astros chairman and his first wife, Jim Crane’s then-wife. According to the Houston Press, Neely even spoke out against the presence of news reporters during court sessions.
Jim obtained custody of his children after a bloody battle between the Cranes. Franci also assisted her husband in raising Jared and Krystal Crane Thomson in a caring environment as a devout wife.
Franci is also said to have a tight relationship with both of Jim Crane’s children. While there are no information on why Crane and Neely’s marriage ended, it is apparent that the ex-couple divorced amicably in 2015.
In a divorce settlement, he received millions of dollars
As previously stated, Jim Crane and his ex-wife split in February 2015, and their divorce is among the most expensive in the world. Jim had amassed millions of dollars throughout their marriage and had even purchased the Houston Astros for roughly $400 million.
The Houston Astros’ divorce was costly due to the million dollars Crane had amassed over the years. As a result, many expected him to sell the team to help fund his divorce, as few baseball executives had done it before him, such as Frank McCourt and John Moores.
The Astros and the team’s payroll were unaffected by Neely and Crane’s divorce. Franci, on the other hand, received $30 million from Jim’s personal wealth. However, the figure is likely to be underestimated, considering the settlement also included interests, properties, investments, and other items.
Franci also won possession of her and her ex-luxurious husband’s home, in addition to millions of money. One of the few things Franci Neely kept after the divorce was a Broadacres property with a Moroccan-inspired patio, a swimming pool, and a summer kitchen.
The mansion, which measures 16,454 square feet and is reputedly worth $18 million, was listed for sale in 2020. It’s unknown whether the property has been sold, but based on the gifts she received after the divorce, Jim Crane’s ex-wife clearly lives a wealthy lifestyle.
Franci Neely Crane’s ex-husband is now married to Whitney Crane and has a son with her, James Robert Crane II, years after their divorce. Franci, on the other hand, seemed to be having the time of her life.
In Law, Franci Neely Was Involved
Despite the fact that the money she acquired after the divorce made her wealthier than before, Jim Crane’s ex-wife is a hard worker. Franci Neely Crane is said to have graduated from the University of Texas’s Auston School of Law with honors.
Franci was also an attorney at Susman Godfrey L.L.P., where Jim Crane’s ex-wife worked as a business litigator for twenty years. Neely eventually joined the firm as a partner and remained there until she retired from the practice of law.
Neely is also an art philanthropist who has been active in the Houston art world for many years. She was even the chairwoman of the Houston Cinema Arts Society, which she co-founded. Franci is currently a member of the organization’s board of directors.
A viral video featured Jim Crane’s ex-wife. As previously stated, Franci Neely Crane is a well-known Houston socialite and philanthropist who rose to prominence as Jim Crane’s wife. She has, however, been the subject of public criticism in recent years when a video of her berating a family went viral.
Franci is seen addressing a family that was doing a picture shoot for their daughter’s birthday in the video. Neely appears to take up the props and strike in the direction of the camera at one point. She then proceeded down the street with her dog to her parked car.
The couple in the video called the cops, and the incident was probed by Houston prosecutors. Neely, on the other hand, was not charged, and the case of class A assault was dismissed.
Neely came out after the video went viral and apologized, claiming she was sorry for being offended. In a YouTube video, she begged for forgiveness. When a news organization requested her statement on the incident, Franci responded via email, revealing that she had also received vicious hate mail.
Despite the fact that Franci Neely Crane was not charged with any crime in connection with the alleged assault, numerous videos of her confronting individuals have appeared on the internet. It’s unknown whether Jim Crane’s ex-wife has taken any action in relation to the other tapes.
Franci Neely has kept a low public profile since then, and has not been spotted at any events. Nonetheless, we hope she is having a good time.
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