With the recent divorce of Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, many questions have been raised regarding celebrity marriages. First, a little background on the Bryant’s relationship. When Kobe and Vanessa got married (at 21 and 18, respectively), they decided a prenuptial agreement would mask the undying love they had for one another. Against the will of many of his family members, Kobe tied the knot with her anyway, sans prenup. Ironically, on the day the upcoming superstar proposed to her, Vanessa’s mother was filing for bankruptcy. Kobe System to the rescue. Now, Vanessa’s mother lives in a 2.8 million dollar mansion. Kobe also bought her a Mercedes S-500, paid for her dental and credit card bills, gave her a $120,000 surprise gift, amongst many other things. And now? He’s out $75 million and three mansions in Newport Beach to his ex-wife Vanessa as she announced their divorce last month after ten years.
“Wait, did you say 10 years Gino?”
I sure did say 10 years, anonymous question-asker.
“Well isn’t that the benchmark for when a spouse can receive social security benefits off of his or her ex-spouse’s earnings?”
Why yes it is, along with many other benefits. In the state of California, the ten-year mark makes a marriage legally “long-term”, which not only includes half of the total lifetime earnings, but several other lifelong financial gifts. Perhaps its just a coincidence that Vanessa would file for divorce ten years of marriage? My guess would be a two letter word that starts with “N” and ends in the letter after “P”, (or “No” if you want to get to the point and don’t find my drawn-out attempt at humor entertaining).
Vanessa’s step-father was recently quoted saying this: “Her mother taught her well to wait for the ten-year mark [before divorcing]. In California … it’s considered a long-term marriage and then she gets paid for life or until she re-marries … just like her mother is doing to me.”
Check this:
Last month, it was also announced that Katy Perry and Russell Brand had filed for divorce. Under California’s community property laws, Russell Brand could have claimed half of the $44 million she made during their marriage… but he didn’t. Why? Because he didn’t feel comfortable taking millions of dollars he didn’t earn from his former beloved. Talk about refreshing.
What’s your point, Gino?
My point is simple: I consider it bullshit 137% unfair that celebrities like Kobe Brant, or Tiger Woods, or Mel Gibson (who, by the way, had to give up FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS to his ex-wife), or [insert famous male celebrity here] is forced to forfeit half of their total earnings, that they worked so hard to obtain, just because they wanted to prove how much they loved their wife by not getting a prenuptial agreement. See, it’s a lose-lose situation for these guys. If they get a prenup, which essentially acts as an insurance policy on the marriage, then it ruins the sanctity and purity of the bond. And if these rich celebrities don’t get a prenup? Well…
HOW YOU FEEL? Whether you agree or disagree, please leave a comment below explaining why.
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