A wife has lost her £2million divorce battle with her property tycoon ex-husband - who is worth £38million – because she had signed a 'post-nuptial agreement ' . A judge heard William and Caroline Hopkins , who had lived together near Wincanton , Somerset , married more than three decades after starting an affair , but separated after less than three years . The High Court in London heard the couple , who separated in the summer of 2011 , had signed a 'post-nuptial ' agreement under which Mrs Hopkins would receive two properties , £350,000 and a share of her ex-husband 's pension . But Mrs Hopkins , 62 , complained that the agreement had been breached after she was put under 'undue pressure ' and exploited - and argued that she should be awarded a further £2million . A High Court ( pictured ) judge rejected Caroline Hopkins claim for £2million after she signed a 'post-nuptial ' agreement , which already entitled her to two properties , £350,000 and a share of her ex-husband 's pension . Deputy High Court Judge Nicholas Cusworth QC , in a written ruling , said that he preferred Mr Hopkins 's evidence - and added Mrs Hopkins had 'sought to underplay ' the agreement and had 'dramatised ' what happened . He rejected her claim of 'undue influence ' and cleared Mr Hopkins of 'badgering and harassing ' her . Mrs Hopkins had claimed her ex-husband was worth £54.3 million , although he put the figure at £38.4 million . She also accused her former husband of 'bullying ' her into signing up to the deal . Mr Hopkins , 66 , described by lawyers as a multi-millionaire property developer , disputed her claim and offered another £200,000 . She said that when she had questioned the fairness of the agreement , he had become 'uncontrollably angry ' , raising his fist and tightening her clothes around her neck . But Mr Hopkins denied there was any such incident , but accepted there may have been 'some physical tension ' between them during an 'extremely fraught ' time as their marriage broke down . The court heard Mr Hopkins and Mrs Hopkins had written lists of 'how things could change ' to each other shortly before separating . Mr Hopkins had written at the top of his list : ' I would like to be listened to ' but Mrs Hopkins added 'listening ' third on her list . The couple , now in their 60s , met in the 1980s while both were married with young children . They had a child together after what was described as a 'clandestine affair ' , but only married in 2009 . After moving in together in Wincanton in 2001 , they married after Mr Hopkins had begged her to give him 'one last chance ' , the court heard . But just over a year after their wedding , Mrs Hopkins went to see a divorce lawyer to seek advice about her entitlements – and the post-nuptial agreement was signed in August 2011 . Under the deal , Mrs Hopkins got the family home - 'Lynwood ' , in Wincanton , which is valued at more than £530,000 as well as an investment property worth about £250,000 . She also received a 50 % stake in her husband 's pension , worth more than £200,000 . Deputy High Court Judge Nicholas Cusworth QC ( pictured ) said Mrs Hopkins had 'sought to underplay ' the agreement . However , Mrs Hopkins had claimed liabilities , including legal costs bills , and said she would be left with less than £430,000 , before pensions . She sought £2million , claiming she would need every penny to meet her reasonable needs . But the judge ruled it would simply be 'unfair ' to Mr Hopkins if his ex-wife was not held to the terms of the post-nup . He found Mr Hopkins had done nothing which undermined her ability to 'form her own mind ' about the agreement and what it meant . Mrs Hopkins , at the time , 'was rational , thoughtful , saddened by her situation , but certainly capable of independent thought ' . 'She knew her own mind and was keenly aware of her own objectives ' , the judge added . Although Mr Hopkins had 'confessed to bullying behaviour ' in some letters he wrote , Judge Cusworth concluded : ' I reject the wife 's case that she was operating under any undue influence , duress or improper pressure when she entered into the post-nuptial settlement ' . ' I do not find it to be a dishonest document . I find that it was entered into freely by the wife , and with full appreciation of its implications . ' She had received 'copious volumes of legal advice ' before signing her name on the dotted line . Mrs Hopkins had never contended for more than a 'needs-based award ' following her divorce , and the judge said that was what the post-nup gave her . Lamenting the titanic expense of the case , the judge said the pair had run up lawyers ' bills of more than £750,000 fighting over money . Even after receiving the £200,000 lump sum , Mrs Hopkins would still owe over £120,000 in legal costs . The cost of the case to Mr Hopkins came to £638,097 - including the lump sum awarded to Mrs Hopkins .
William and Caroline Hopkins married in 2009 after an affair in the 1980s . Mrs Hopkins signed post-nup , entitling her to £350,000 and two properties . She claimed she had been bullied and badgered into signing the deal . The couple have three children together.