Nearly nine out of 10 of British high earners would never sign a pre-nuptial agreement leaving them open to potential losses of £600m (€719m), raising concerns over a "hopelessly idealistic" generation of wealthy British men.

A half of British marriages now end in divorce, according to Office of National Statistics. However, according to a survey of 200 City high flyers and others earning more than £100,000 a year, 89% of wealthy men are not signing up to a "pre-nup". This is unlike the US, where pre-nuptial agreements are a matter of course.