What Celebrity Divorce Can Teach Us About Spousal Support, And More!
After nearly two years of proceedings, rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Andre Young, better known by his stage name, Dr. Dre, appears to be officially divorced from his wife of over 25 years, Nicole Young.
The split made headlines when Young filed for divorce in June of 2020, citing irreconcilable differences, due to the couple’s notoriety as well as the proposed terms of the settlement, wherein Dre was temporarily ordered to pay Young $3.5 million annually.
According to reports, the final terms of the settlement directed Dre to maintain the financial responsibilities of their Malibu home, pay Young’s expenses, and pay her $2 million annually. If there are additional terms to the settlement, they have not yet been reported.
Similarly, singer, songwriter, and daytime talk show host, Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from her husband of seven years, Brandon Blackstock, citing irreconcilable differences. Unlike Dre and Young, whose two children together were adults at the time of the divorce, Clarkson and Blackstock have young children, complicating the negotiations of their settlement.
Clarkson is reportedly paying Blackstock $50,000 per month in child support and $150,000 per month in spousal support. Still not yet divorced, the couple has hired a retired judge to help them untangle their assets, as negotiations about property and business-related issues have made the separation contentious.
Though the couple did have a prenuptial agreement, Blackstock is disputing aspects of its terms.
Now, if you or someone you know is considering a divorce, there are lessons to be learned here, even if you aren’t in the same tax bracket as Clarkson or Dre. These cases are instructive, and here’s why:
The more assets you have, the more complicated your negotiations will likely be (especially if you have kids)
Dre, who has not only built an empire for himself as a rapper and producer, but also as a founder of Beats Electronics, which was purchased by Apple for $3 billion in 2013.
Clarkson, who first came to prominence as the winner of American Idol’s first season in 2002, has since become a world-renowned recording artist, and more recently, a multi-Emmy winning daytime talk host. Her $200,000 per month spousal and child support payments based on a reported $1.7 million per month in income.
Sure, their lives are probably on a different scale than your own, but the common thread for anyone going through a divorce is that you have assets, like real property, personal property, cars, jewelry, furniture, debt — pretty much everything generated during the relationship — needs to be equitably distributed.
And when it comes to the kids, the parents should be seeking solutions through the court that emphasize what is best for them, and how can a parenting arrangement best support that goal.
Yes, prenups can be challenged or negotiated, but you should still probably get one
Despite having what has been described as an ironclad prenup, Clarkson’s husband challenged its terms, requesting that he be awarded the couple’s Montana ranch despite the agreement’s terms specifying otherwise. Because of the clear expectations outlined in the agreement, Blackstone has been ordered to leave the premises so that Clarkson may take control of the property.
Conversely, Young pleaded to the court that her prenuptial agreement with Dre was signed under duress, with Dre even admitting that the agreement was signed just hours before their ceremony took place.
While we understand that prenuptial and cohabitation agreements aren’t romantic, it’s important to remember that they’re not designed to be. They were born out of logic, not romance.
Their goal is to take a look at the assets you’re bringing into a relationship, as well as consider any future assets that might be accrued during the relationship so that in the instance the relationship ends, unraveling these things are clear and efficient.
Any agreement of this nature should be written in the spirit of equity, and each party should be represented by their own individual legal counsel in order to better achieve that goal. A prenuptial agreement should never be a surprise, and no one should feel forced to sign one or not have proper time to review or negotiate its terms.
Spousal support is determined by what is just and equitable (given the circumstances)
Spousal support payments numbering the $200,000 and $300,000 per month figures might seem astronomical to most, and those are far higher than the highest reported spousal support cases in Oregon. When asked, the court must make determinations based on the financial positions of the involved parties during the marriage, as well as other factors like age, health, need and ability to pay, the duration of the marriage, debt, the parenting plan, and more.
And, despite what you might have assumed, spousal support doesn’t necessarily end just because the party receiving spousal support gets remarried. It all depends on the terms of the agreement or the court’s findings, which can greatly vary from case to case.
Considering divorce? Need advice about spousal support? The DBMA team is here to help you achieve the results and resolution that you deserve. Contact us today.