Celebrity Couples Who Don't Have Prenups

Prenuptial agreements are very common among celebrity couples, even though some believe these documents show a lack of faith. However, it's most certainly one of the best moves a megastar can do before walking down the aisle to protect their wealth and assets should all else fail in their marriage. Take Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has a net worth of over $110 billion and who decided to get a prenup with his wife, Priscilla Chan. But, unlike most sensible prenups, The Wall Street Journal reported that their paperwork included some rules. Zuckerberg is obligated to take his wife out on a weekly date, and she is promised 100 minutes of alone time every week outside of work. 

Jessica Biel and hubby Justin Timberlake also decided that they weren't taking any chances and signed a prenup. While the couple has made sure that whatever assets they have will always be theirs, Daily News reported that Biel added a clause that immediately gives her $500,000 if Timberlake is unfaithful. Remember when Timberlake was caught misbehaving with co-star Alisha Wainwright in New Orleans? While that could have been a reason for divorce, Biel ended up accepting her husband's public apology

It is doubtful that a celebrity couple would forgo having a prenup, but once in a while, fans will hear about a Hollywood couple skipping all that paperwork because love conquers all, right? This may sound totally bizarre to fans and even celebs themselves, but these star couples are out to prove that love can last in Hollywood. 

Seth Rogen ignored everyone's advice and skipped a prenup

Actor Seth Rogen was at the height of his career after starring in hit comedies like "Superbad," "Pineapple Express," and "Funny People." Working in plenty of successful movies and behind the scenes as a writer, Celebrity Net Worth has Rogen's net worth at $80 million. While any actor would want to protect that wealth with a prenuptial agreement, Rogen had no intention of signing one after proposing to longtime girlfriend, Lauren Miller, in 2010. 

Rogen told Howard Stern (via E!) that a prenup just wasn't in his sights. Stern, on the other hand, pleaded with the actor that getting one was a good idea after he brought up the messy divorce between Kelsey Grammer and his former wife Camille, who walked away with a whopping $30 million, according to TMZ

After telling Stern that even his business manager urged him to get a prenup, Rogen shared, "Marriage can be expensive and if I lose millions then it'll be the best millions I've spent." The couple eventually tied the knot in 2011 in Sonoma County in Northern California, and in 2020, celebrated their 9 year anniversary. Rogen shared a sweet photo of the two playing video games on their wedding day on Instagram, captioning the shot, "Happy anniversary to us!! I can't believe I've been lucky enough to find the perfect partner to go through life with."

Prenups are not a thing for royals

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed on May 19, 2018, it seemed like a sure thing that The Duke of Sussex would get a prenup on the grounds that he is British royalty. However, not only did Prince Harry "reject" a prenup that would safeguard his assets and £30 million fortune (via Daily Mail), but People reported that prenuptial agreements aren't exactly common for couples in the U.K.

"Historically, members of the royal family have not had them. They are more popular in the United States — it's just not a British thing," royal author Ingrid Seward shared. In fact, the BBC reported that prenups "are not enforceable in U.K. courts," however, a judge may consider them. Royal expert and author Duncan Larcombe further explained to Town & Country that there is no prenup because the Queen technically owns everything. "You wouldn't need a prenuptial agreement to stop Windsor Castle from being cut in half in the event they divorce," Larcombe shared. 

Of course, Markle also has her own wealth prior to marrying Prince Harry, with Celebrity Net Worth reporting her net worth was $5 million. However, Prince Harry has vowed to make his marriage work with the Daily Mail stating that he is "determined that his marriage will be a lasting one."

Dax Shepard didn't go through with one when marrying Kristen Bell

Actors Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell tied the knot in 2013, and when they first started dating, the "Without a Paddle" star admitted on "Conan" that he actually intended on signing a prenup because he was making more money than Bell — but, he ended up never drafting one. 

"When we first started dating, I had more money than her, and I owned the house that I lived in, and she said to me at one point, 'Would you like a prenup?'" Shepard told the Conan O'Brien, adding, "I said, 'No, I don't want a prenup.' But I really wanted a prenup." Further explaining as to why he did not go through with a prenup, Shepard told the late-night host, "Just, something good came over me for once, and I made the right decision. But the joke is now on her because she's become much more successful than me, and has much more money than me."

Before the couple got engaged in 2009, Bell told PopSugar that the two had broken up after a few months of dating in 2007. However, they rekindled their romance and eventually wed. Since the very start of their relationship, Bell has been extremely supportive of Shepard's sobriety, which he has been very open about. In 2020, he confessed on his podcast "Armchair Expert" to relapsing, but thankfully, Bell revealed on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in October 2020 that he was "doing really great."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi simply didn't want a prenup

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi may have been one of the most popular castmates of MTV's "Jersey Shore," snagging numerous talk show appearances, a ton of fans on social media, and even appearing on the 17th season of "Dancing With the Stars." According to Celebrity Net Worth, Polizzi was only making $2,200 per episode when the MTV show first aired but made $30,000 an episode for the second season, and by the final season, made $150,000 per episode. Forbes also reported that her earnings only grew when she starred in "Snooki & JWoww" and started two clothing lines. 

While shooting to fame overnight would have anyone protecting their earnings, Polizzi decided to skip out on the prenup when she married Jionni LaValle in 2014, according to TMZ. The reality star was "adamant" about not going forward with a prenup, even though she was "advised" to write one up. As of this writing, the two stars are happily married and are raising their three children in their New Jersey waterfront home.

Fans had suspected trouble in paradise when Snooki was seen not wearing her wedding ring, but she clarified to her fans on Instagram Stories (via Reddit) that her ring is simply in the way of her mom duties and does not want to lose it. "I'm a mother of three. I don't need to be wearing the ring around the house or [to] run and go get Starbucks. It's just not my thing." 

Waka Flocka Flame ignored his friends advice to get a prenup

Rapper Waka Flocka Flame had no intentions of getting a prenup when he married reality star, Tammy Rivera. During an interview with Dish Nation, the rapper, whose real name is Juaquin James Malphurs, disagreed with co-host Gary Hayes about couples getting a prenup. "For me, love doesn't stand on the pedestal as money, and money could never stand on the same pedestal as love. If you love a person, it shouldn't be money. It shouldn't be sick, it shouldn't be fat, it shouldn't be no color, no shape, nothing," he shared, adding, "Now for me, if I marry you and I'm this rich guy, you rich, too. But, I'm supposed to be the man that makes your spirit rich."

The "No Hands" rapper even admitted in 2019 to Ebony that he stopped talking to friends who were not supportive of his decision to forgo a prenup. At the time, he stated, "'Get a prenup, get this, and all this.' I'm like, why are you thinking about my money and not my well-being? I noticed everybody that asked me, 'You got a prenup?' I never talk to them again.'"

According to XXL Mag, Waka Flocka Flame and Rivera eloped in 2014 and had their official wedding in 2019 in Mexico where they celebrated with family and friends. 

Bill and Melinda Gates are splitting their properties

In May 2021, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Melinda Gates announced their separation with divorce documents obtained by TMZ that cited the marriage was "irretrievably broken" and that the former couple's marriage ended "as of the date in the separation contract," meaning that the Gates' separated sometime before filing for divorce.

So, was there a prenup? Would Gates top the list of most expensive divorces of all time, beating out Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos when he and his wife McKenzie Bezos split in 2019? According to TMZ, there was no prenup in place when the two got married in 1994, however, there is a separation agreement. According to People, the contract will divide the former couple's "real property, personal property, and debts and liabilities." The court documents also note that no spousal or child support was needed, asking the courts to honor their separation contract. 

Meanwhile, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which was launched in 2000, and is worth over $40 billion, will not change as both are co-chairs. In fact, it was also confirmed in their separation statement, which read that they "will continue our work together at the foundation." What we're wondering is: who will get the "Xanadu 2.0" mansion in Medina, Washington, and who will get the $43 million home in Del Mar, California? 

Justin and Hailey Bieber didn't have time to draft a prenup

Justin Bieber was only 24, and Hailey Bieber only 21, when they secretly wed at a New York City courthouse in September 2018. A year later, the couple had their lavish wedding on September 20, 2019, at the Montage Palmetto Bluff hotel in South Carolina, according to Elle. Being such a young megastar like Justin with a net worth of $285 million, a prenup sounds like the right idea. However, TMZ reported the couple ended up not getting a prenup, even though they had reached out to their lawyers to draft one up. The only problem, the pair had asked their lawyers to create one the same day they were getting hitched, and there was no way it would have happened. 

So, the young couple appeared to take their chances and tied the knot without one. During a joint interview for Vogue, the Biebers spoke candidly about their relationship, with Hailey admitting, "we're two young people who are learning as we go. I'm not going to sit here and lie and say it's all a magical fantasy. It's always going to be hard. It's a choice. You don't feel it every single day ... But there's something beautiful about it anyway — about wanting to fight for something, commit to building with someone."

She added, "We're really young, and that's a scary aspect." As of this writing, the Biebers are still going strong. 

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are in it for the long run

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi wed in August 2008 and have continued to be a beautiful example of lasting love in a place like Hollywood. The pair has been through a lot together, with de Rossi getting the courage to publicly come out as gay, fighting off plenty of divorce rumors, and in 2020, the scandal surrounding DeGeneres' talk show, which the host announced would be coming to an end in 2022 (via The Hollywood Reporter) after losing millions of viewers after complaints of a toxic work environment. Portia de Rossi even showed her support for her wife amid the allegations, taking to Instagram with a photo that read, "I Stand by Ellen."

According to Ok!, the couple does not have a prenuptial agreement and, after 12 years of marriage, appear to be in it for the long run. The stars appeared on the front cover of People's "first annual Love Issue," with de Rossi and DeGeneres gushing about their romance. 

"We've grown together as a couple, and we really consider each other and put our relationship first. By doing that, you become a lot more solid. I can't imagine spending time with anyone but her," de Rossi shared. The television host then added, "We think the same things, say the same things at the same time, finish each other's sandwiches – no, sentences. We're in a rhythm that's easy."

Sean Lourdes ignores his father's wishes to get a prenup

Fans met Megan Thomas and Sean Lourdes on the Lifetime reality show "Marrying Millions," where Lourdes came from a family of wealth, while Thomas grew up in a working-class family. The show followed the couple as they were getting ready to head to the altar, however, fans watched Lourdes' father question his son's relationship with Thomas and suggested he even get a prenup (via Parade). 

The couple discussed their decision not to draft any prenups before getting married. Thomas told Parade, "I don't want to sign. It's like setting yourself up for failure. You're already thinking about divorce and you're not even married yet. I don't want a prenup, and you can see that throughout the show," she shared, adding, "I don't want it because it's already putting negative energy into the universe, and we're positive people."

Talking to People about the major decision, Lourdes said, "I don't want a prenup, but my dad's got a heavy influence over me ... I think [Megan] is just a little concerned she would be branded a gold digger, which she is not that at all ... She just doesn't want to be labeled that she cares about the money." The stars ended up getting hitched in an intimate wedding in California, which was shown during the finale of "Marrying Millions." While the pair dreamt of an over-the-top wedding, they opted for a quieter ceremony at a private estate, according to The Knot

Tyler Farr refused a prenup when marrying Hannah Freeman

When country singer Tyler Farr proposed to his girlfriend Hannah Freeman, he knew it was going to be a forever thing. The "Redneck Crazy" artist told People that he was certain not to draw up a prenup. "I had several friends suggest that. In the music business, that's a standard," Farr shared, adding, "But I said, if I need a prenup, I don't need to be getting married. I'm getting married one time and that's it. The only way this is going to end is if she leaves me – and if she leaves me, I deserved it."

The singer and Freeman got married on October 10, 2016, while country singer Brad Paisley sang his song "Today" during the newlywed's first dance. Farr's bridal party was also full of country stars, including Lee Brice, Colt Ford, and Jason Aldean. Freeman even admitted to People that it was the first time many people saw him shed a tear. "I cried at pretty much every part of the wedding. That was the first time probably 98 percent of people in that room have ever seen me cry. They probably had their doubts that I could form teardrops! But they were pretty visible!"

Vanessa Bryant's net worth in the millions with no prenup after Kobe's death

Before Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi died in a tragic helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, the NBA star and his wife Vanessa Bryant had a whirlwind marriage that almost ended in divorce in 2011. The couple wed in 2001, but Vanessa ended up filing for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences," with gossip outlets claiming the NBA star had been unfaithful, according to TMZ.

TMZ learned that the basketball player did not have a prenup before marrying Vanessa, which meant that she was entitled to half of his earnings. At the time, Bryant's net worth was $150 million, which meant Vanessa would have walked away with $75 million and was entitled to all three of their mansions in Newport Beach. However, just 13 months after filing the divorce papers, the couple reconciled, with a statement on Vanessa's Instagram (via Daily Mail) reading, "We are pleased to announce that we have reconciled. Our divorce action will be dismissed. We are looking forward to our future together." 

At the time of his death, Forbes reported that Bryant had a net worth of $600 million. According to International Business Times, with the couple having no set prenup, Vanessa's net worth was believed to have also been $600 million.