A 2025 Celebrity Divorce Guide

Celebrity divorces continued to dominate the news cycle, bringing us everything from bitter custody battles to amicable separations. Beyond the salacious headlines, A-list divorces yield valuable lessons for all of us. Divorce is incredibly common, with evidence suggesting that about 40 percent of first marriages will fail. Though it almost always carries a significant emotional toll, there are practical ways to make the experience of divorce more manageable. In 2025, some of our favorite (former) Hollywood duos provided examples of the good (and not so good) ways to handle divorce in the public eye.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

Hollywood power couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, dubbed “Bennifer,” have been infamously “on-again, off-again” for more than two decades. After calling off their first engagement in 2004, the two rekindled and tied the knot in 2022. Sadly, their second-chance romance didn’t last; they called it quits once again and officially finalized their divorce on February 21, 2025.

Holding true to the message of Lopez’s hit song “Love Don’t Cost A Thing,” this divorce was a master class in separating smoothly. Both parties likely learned a thing or two from previous highly publicized divorces (Lopez from Marc Anthony and Affleck from Jennifer Garner), and they used mediation to avoid drawn-out court battles, allowing them to settle the divorce merely a month after Lopez filed.

Jessica Alba and Cash Warren

Jessica Alba and Cash Warren shocked fans when they ended their 16-year marriage a week before Valentine’s Day in February 2025. The two have appeared amicable in the aftermath of their separation, with Golden Globe-nominee Alba stating in her breakup announcement, “…I’m proud of how we’ve grown as a couple and in our marriage over the last 20 years and it’s now time for us to embark on a new chapter of growth and evolution as individuals.” She indicated that she and Warren are prioritizing their children, with the two agreeing to split custody.

Breakup announcements have become de rigueur in Hollywood and can set the tone for what follows. While it is easy to disparage an ex in the heat of the moment, it is incredibly important to be mindful of the sentiment being projected, especially when there are children involved. As Alba and Warren illustrate, a concerted effort to remain positive can bring lasting benefits for the family.

Quinta Brunson and Kevin Anik

Quinta Brunson is constantly in the spotlight as the creator and star of her hit series Abbott Elementary, yet she is notoriously private about her personal life—so much so that fans were shocked when, during her 2022 Emmy acceptance speech, she publicly confirmed her marriage to Kevin Anik when most did not even know that she was married. After news of her divorce filing broke in 2025, Brunson told Bustle she was taken aback by the public narrative, quipping, “I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you. No one wants [everyone] to know […] when a major change happens in your personal life. It’s just that that’s public record information.”

In her typical private fashion, Brunson reportedly settled with Anik in September 2025 through the use of a postnuptial agreement. Postnups are a very useful tool and, in this instance, helped the couple discreetly settle their dissolution, including the allocation of assets and spousal support, while avoiding litigation and the public exposure that can come with a court battle. However, it’s important to note that postnups are not exclusively used when divorce is imminent. In many contexts, they are simply another strategic planning vehicle used to provide protection and peace of mind should a marriage eventually end.

Sia and Dan Bernard

Singer-songwriter Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (“Sia”) made headlines in March 2025 following her turbulent split from husband Dan Bernard, with whom she shares 1-year-old son Somersault Wonder Bernard. The divorce became particularly messy in October, when Bernard petitioned the courts for sole custody, citing concerns over Sia’s alleged substance abuse, asking that her drug use be monitored, and requesting that visitation be limited to two-hour supervised visits three times per week. In her response, Sia pointed to her 6-month mark of sobriety and raised counter concerns over Bernard’s fitness as a parent due to past investigations of child pornography. The courts ordered the two to resume mediation to resolve child support and custody issues.

This case highlights the duty of the courts to consider and investigate all concerns regarding the welfare of a child, especially when one or both parents’ abilities are alleged to be compromised or to pose a danger to a child. It also underscores mediation as an invaluable tool even amidst a hostile and bitter legal battle, especially when a child is likely to be privy to the claims made publicly by their parents in the future.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Actor Hugh Jackman and his then-estranged wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, initially separated in September 2023, but because the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, their divorce proceedings stalled in a big way, leading to a nearly two-year impasse over the division of their $250 million fortune. After a lengthy back-and-forth, fueled by Jackman publicly dating his recently separated “Music Man” costar Sutton Foster, Furness finally filed for divorce in May 2025. Despite the delay and the shock of Jackman’s new relationship, the filing indicates that the couple did eventually reach a settlement, with Furness reportedly receiving a hefty spousal support sum, though much of the financial details were kept private.

This case is another example of the value of planning and executing a prenuptial agreement that can help couples resolve their finances more quickly and incur less expense during a divorce.

David Geffen and David Armstrong

Nearly two years after tying the knot to a man 30 years his junior, billionaire David Geffen filed for divorce from David Armstrong (Donovan Michaels) in May 2025, and shocked the world when it was revealed that the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement in place despite living in the community property state of California. Geffen’s circumstances are somewhat unique in that he accumulated most of his wealth prior to the marriage, and it’s possible that his wealth was shielded through irrevocable trusts, however forgoing a prenup was still a risky decision. While Geffen and his $9B fortune look likely to come out relatively unscathed, this outcome was an exception, not the rule, and serves as another example of the importance of financial planning in the form of a prenuptial agreement so both parties know what their entitlements will be if they end up in a divorce.

Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers

Aaron Phypers filed for divorce from actress Denise Richards in July 2025, triggering an intense legal battle that is still playing out publicly. Over the summer, Richards filed and was granted a temporary, now 5-year, domestic violence restraining order over allegations of Phypers’s physical and verbal abuse. Phypers is a Canadian citizen, and many are anticipating how the domestic violence allegations could impact his United States visa. The risk of deportation looms large when divorce proceedings expose domestic violence or other criminal activities.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

After nearly two decades together, Academy Award-winner Nicole Kidman and Grammy-winner Keith Urban separated this summer, with Kidman officially filing for divorce in September 2025. According to court documents, Kidman and Urban were quick to craft a plan to prioritize their two teen daughters. Kidman’s lawyer reportedly drafted a Parenting Plan signed by both parties in August, which included a Child Support Worksheet stating that while both parents would be “joint custodians” of their children, Kidman will act as the “primary residential parent.” The filing also states that Kidman and Urban had previously agreed that neither party will pay child support. Given this, we can infer that the former couple discussed their preferences at length and came to an agreement long before their divorce was made public through a filing. When children are involved, clear and proactive planning is essential to make the separation as painless as possible.

Dwight Howard and Amy Luciani

Former NBA star Dwight David Howard II and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Amy Luciani are the only couple on this list to have both married and separated within the same year, parting ways in July, just six months after their private wedding ceremony back in January. Though the couple’s lack of a prenup reportedly led to an alimony dispute, the bigger news is that reconciliation rumors began swirling when Luciani posted pictures of the two cozied up on her Instagram story in September. Though the couple is not confirmed to be back together, it’s possible that initiating the divorce process, which stirs up a lot of emotions, may have helped them reevaluate and rekindle their relationship.

If history is the greatest teacher, then celebrity divorces are likely to pervade headlines in 2026. Individuals, regardless of celebrity, in both traditional and non-traditional relationships, including marriage, should understand how to protect their assets and privacy. It’s easy to make informed decisions and avoid mistakes simply by reading the news.