Celebrities, with their multimillion-dollar penthouses and mansions, profitable business ventures, and (often) large inheritances, certainly have many assets under their name that they might want to protect. And getting a prenup is the most reliable way for a married couple to ensure that each partner’s assets are protected no matter what life throws their way. Therefore, when two celebrities get married — creating what is known and revered as a “Power Couple” (think: J.Lo and Ben Affleck) — you might think that getting a prenup signed before the wedding day would be priority #1 for both of them.
Think again. Whether they discussed getting a prenup and decided not to, waited until after marriage to get a postnup, or simply avoided discussing the topic of prenups before marriage, these ten celebrity couples ended up without prenups by the time they made the journey down the aisle.
What is a prenup?
A prenup (or prenuptial agreement) is a contract that is signed between two people before they get married. The purpose of this contract is to outline various topics of the marriage, such as joint bank account use and tax filing, and also discuss the possibility of divorce and how the property would be split up in that scenario. The agreements reached through the prenup — whether they are agreements regarding inheritances, debt, property, alimony, or taxes— override the default divorce laws that would usually take effect in whatever state the couple was divorcing in.
When people think of prenups, they might assume that celebrities or other wealthy people are the only ones who need prenups. But we disagree. Prenups are good for every couple, no matter how much money you and your partner make, or what assets you and your partner hold prior to marriage.
Conversely, there are many celebrities who don’t have prenups. It’s unexpected: because the rich and famous have about a gazillion assets to their name, you would think that they would want to ensure that these assets remain in their control, no matter what… right? Not necessarily:
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
This past year has been filled with ups and downs for these two. Actually, let’s face it: most of the 21st century so far has been filled with ups and downs for these two. After initially getting together in 2002, they quickly gained traction as one of Hollywood’s hottest couples. Their marriage announcement in 2002, along with their instant-hit portmanteau nickname Bennifer, provided them with even more media attention — in fact, so much attention that in late 2003 they decided they needed to push back the date of their wedding. We don’t know whether Jennifer and Ben had a prenup back then. But it doesn’t matter because they ended up calling off the wedding in early 2004.
Their relationship picked back up in 2021, and in 2022, they were officially married — reportedly without a prenup. Unfortunately, the couple split up again in 2024.
Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright
If you know anything about reality television, you know all about these two. Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright appeared on Vanderpump Rules as one of the most compelling (read: drama-producing) couples in reality TV. Their partnership before marriage was filled with highs and lows, before
On Andy Cohen’s show Watch What Happens, Cohen asked Cartwright, “Are you getting a prenup?” Cartwright responded that she and Jax had decided not to get a prenup after discussing it. As of September 2024, Cartwright and Taylor were in the process of getting divorced. You can read our more detailed coverage of Jax and Brittany’s divorce here.
Justin and Hailey Bieber
Justin and Hailey Bieber were reportedly married without a prenup. However, it does appear that they reached out to their attorneys the day they were married (which is too late to get a prenup in CA…Hello, 7-day rule)At the time of their marriage, Justin reportedly had a net worth of around $250 million, while Hailey reportedly had a net worth of around $2 million. They were married in the state of California. Even though they were married without a prenup, all of Justin’s assets that he possessed before marriage would likely remain his in the case of divorce. However, any assets that he earned during the marriage would, under standard California law, be considered “community property” and could be split between both him and Hailey equally in the case of divorce (with a few exceptions). Luckily, we have no reason to be concerned about their relationship. It seems that they are doing quite well. They even just welcomed their first child, Jack Blues! Congrats Biebers!
Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller
On the Howard Stern Show, Seth Rogen confessed that he and Lauren Miller were married without a prenup — and that his “business manager told [him] to get one too.” Stern’s reaction was incredulous, but Seth Rogen seemed confident in his decision. “Marriage can be expensive,” Rogen said, “and if I lose millions, it’ll be the best millions I’ve ever spent.” Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller were married in 2011 and are still together today. We love that Seth is so confident, but getting a prenup doesn’t mean you don’t love your spouse any less than Seth Rogen. It simply means you want to create healthy communication and boundaries in your marriage and cover both people in any scenario. Heck, we’d argue it means you love your partner more because you can ENSURE that they are covered, and not rely on state law.
Howard Stern and Alison Berns
Maybe this can help explain why Howard Stern was so shocked that Seth Rogen didn’t have a prenup. Howard Stern and Alison Berns were married in 1978. Over the next 23 years, Stern attained radio and media fame… and riches. By the time Stern and Berns were divorced in 2001, Stern had accrued a net worth of approximately $80 million. The specifics of the divorce settlement between Stern and Berns are unknown, but depending on whether their divorce occurred in Florida or New York (where they have real estate and have lived in the past), their assets would be subject to equitable distribution laws, meaning that a judge would have broad discretion in dividing up those assets…and it doesn’t have to be 50/50. It could be 70/30, 80/20, or any other split that a judge sees fit based on fairness and equity.
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard
In an interview on CONAN, Dax Shepard described how, when he and his current wife, Kristen Bell, were planning on getting married, he “selflessly” declined to get a prenup with her (at the time of their marriage in 2013, Shepard was the more famous and wealthy of the two). But since their marriage, Kristen Bell’s career has skyrocketed, with the actress appearing in hits like Frozen and The Good Place. Now, Shepard said, “the joke is on her.” What does he mean by that? Well, he and Kristen Bell were married in California, which is a “community property” state. This means that in the event of divorce without a prenup, all “community property” — assets acquired or income earned by either partner throughout the course of the marriage — is split evenly between both partners upon divorce. That means that if they divorced, Dax could walk away with a cut of Kristen’s Frozen check!
Katy Perry and Russell Brand
According to Business Insider, Katy Perry and Russell Brand married in 2010 without a prenup. In the short time between their marriage and divorce in 2011, Katy Perry earned approximately $44 million. Again, in the state of California, when there is no prenup, virtually all income and assets earned or acquired during a marriage are considered “community property” and may be split 50/50 between both partners in the case of a divorce. However, in this instance, Russell Brand reportedly did not take any of Perry’s earnings upon their divorce.
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker
If you’re a Keeping Up With The Kardashians fan, you might already be aware of this one. Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are blissfully married… albeit without a prenup. In 2022, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker were married in a Las Vegas chapel after the Grammy Awards. However, this ceremony was not legally binding, and afterward, Kourtney (who is reportedly worth around $65 million) brought up getting a prenup with Travis (who is reportedly worth around $50 million). It is unclear whether they ended up signing a prenup before their legally binding wedding date, but one thing’s for sure — it is best to bring up a prenup before you and your partner have a marriage ceremony, even if it’s “fake.” The more prepared you are, the better!
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
According to the Daily Mail, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to go ahead with their royal wedding without a prenup. In fact, Harry allegedly “rejected” a prenup because he was “determined” that his relationship with Markle would work. Of course, every person getting married should be determined to make the relationship work — but unfortunately, not every marriage lasts. Getting a prenup is not a sign that one partner isn’t determined to make the relationship work. I mean… would you get health insurance thinking that your health will deteriorate? Of course not. Getting a prenup is a sign that both partners are seriously considering the way that marriage will financially impact them and can signal communication and transparency in the relationship.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
According to OK Magazine, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were married in 2008 without a prenup. Today, Ellen has an estimated net worth of $450 million. It’s unclear how much she was worth in 2008, but we’re guessing she’s amassed quite a bit of her millions since then. You know what that means? As a California resident without a prenup, the money she acquired during the marriage to Portia is to be split 50/50 (with a few exceptions to this rule that may or may not apply to their situation). Moral of the story? Portia could be in for a nice chunk of change if the pair ever splits, which we hope they never do!
Why having a prenup is important
Did you know you already have a prenup…even without getting a prenup? Yes, that is right. When you get married in the US, you are effectively entering into a marriage contract and agreeing to abide by your state’s laws. With a prenup, you can override those laws to make sense for you. For example, in California (where many celebs reside), the default law is that assets acquired during the marriage are split 50/50 automatically, with few exceptions. Many celebs (or regular joes) do not want that outcome for their property. Whether they plan on starting a business, getting tons of money from sponsored ads, or movie deals left and right, they want to ensure that what’s theirs stays theirs. That doesn’t mean that they can’t carve out some assets to share with their boo; it’s just that they may want to have control over what happens and have some financial security for their future.
The bottom line on celebs without prenups
As you’ve read, not having a prenup can make things complicated. If a couple gets married and divorces without a prenup, what happens to the couple’s assets is largely determined by state law. These state laws might not align with what you or your partner would want to happen in the case of divorce (divorce being something that, of course, no one wants). Even if you’re not a celebrity with millions in the bank, it is still important to be mindful of how your finances might be affected by marrying your partner without a prenup.
Nicole Sheehey is the Head of Legal Content at HelloPrenup, and an Illinois licensed attorney. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to prenuptial agreements. Nicole has Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School. She has a deep understanding of the legal and financial implications of prenuptial agreements, and enjoys writing and collaborating with other attorneys on the nuances of the law. Nicole is passionate about helping couples locate the information they need when it comes to prenuptial agreements. You can reach Nicole here: Nicole@Helloprenup.com
0 Comments