American hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin files for divorce while his wife of 10 years was on holiday with their children

Hedge fund manager argues "any attempt" at reconciliation would be "impractical" for the family

Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of investment firm Citadel

American billionaire Ken Griffin has filed for divorce from his wife, Anne Dias-Griffin, while she was on holiday with their children.

The 45-year old cited "irreconcilable differences" for their marriage breakdown and is seeking joint custody of their three children.

In a statement, Ms Dias-Griffin's lawyer, Robert Stephan Cohen, said the hedge fund mogul had filed for divorce "unilaterally" while his wife was on holiday with the kids, aged six, three and two.

"Ken Griffin unilaterally filed a divorce petition today with no notice to either me or my client, knowing full well that she had just left for summer vacation with their three young children and would therefore be unable to respond," it said.

Mr Cohen, known as the “pit bull” of divorce lawyers, has represented clients including actress Uma Thurman, Ellen Barkin and supermodel Christie Brinkley.

In the divorce filing, Mr Griffin, founder and chief executive of Chicago-based investment firm Citadel, said that he had been separated from his wife for more than a year and claimed that "any attempt at reconciliation" would be "impractical".

Mr Griffin married Ms Dias-Griffin, a French-born hedge fund manager and Harvard Business School graduate, in Versailles in 2003. It is understood the couple signed a premarital agreement before their wedding in Paris.

With an estimated net worth of $5.5 billion, Mr Griffin is known for his art collection. Earlier this year, he made headlines for his record donation of $2.5 million to Bruce Rauner, the Republican nominee for governor of Illinois

This is the second divorce for Mr Griffin and the first for Ms Dias-Griffin.