As our Ohio readers who are up on celebrity news may have heard, Russell Crowe and his wife of nine years Danielle Spencer have called it quits. Now, like any other couple who decides to divorce, they have several decisions ahead of them.
The pair has two children, ages 8 and 6, so child custody and support will likely be at the top of the list. What likely interests most people, however, is their property division. A high-asset divorce can be complicated when it comes to property division, which is why many people, including Crowe and Spencer, opt for a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.
According to reports from the Huffington Post, the two signed a prenup that said Spencer would automatically get at least $15 million in a divorce as long as she and Crowe remained married for at least three years. Since the marriage lasted three times that length, it appears that stipulation will hold up. In fact, sources say Spencer will likely get around $25 million.
For many people, $25 million sounds like a lot, and it is. But taking a closer look at Crowe’s fortune shows that he may be getting off easy. That fortune includes $150 million he brought in over the last 20 years, $50 million in property, $6 million saved for his two children and other investments.
As Crowe and Spencer continue to work out details of their divorce, it will be interesting to see what happens. For now, however, it looks as though a prenup may have worked in Crowe’s best interests. A successful prenup should outline a fair division of property in the event of a divorce. It can also be used to protect assets that one party brings into a marriage, like a family business or a substantial inheritance. For some people in Ohio, a prenup may be worth considering before tying the knot.
Source: Huffington Post, “Russell Crowe Divorce: Danielle Spencer Could Receive $25 Million,” Oct. 15, 2012