Plenty of celebrities have prenup agreements, but that doesn't necessarily mean either party will walk away with the funds (or property) they are meant to. On the flip side,
In the case of Katy Perry and Russell Brand, it's easy enough to tell who the bigger celebrity is, but that doesn't mean a portion of Katy's wealth walked away with her ex-husband.
While stars like Kelly Clarkson have had to overpay their ex-spouses based on court proceedings despite established prenups, that's not the case for every celeb.
Katy seemed to slide away easily enough (well, except for the emotional damage rendered by her relationships) after heading to court with Russell, because her ex explicitly chose not to take her cash.
Did Katy Perry And Russell Brand Have A Prenuptial Agreement?
As it turns out, Katy and Russell never penned a prenup prior to their 2010 marriage. Technically, that meant Russell was entitled to a ton of Katy's earnings (she made an impressive $44M during their marriage).
So why didn't the actor walk away with a bunch of money after breaking up with his wife via a text? Both parties seemed to agree that a change of heart had an impact on the bottom line.
In fact, a statement released by the pair at the time suggested they wanted to keep the separation amicable, despite Katy's apparently broken heart.
Russell Brand Could Have Taken Home Millions Post-Divorce
Multiple sources have speculated that Russell Brand could have walked away from the marriage with millions, but he simply chose not to. It seemed like a big shift for the actor, who was previously "famed for his womanising ways" pre-Katy, according to Daily Mail. It's also not a secret that Brand has undergone various addiction treatments (for both sex addiction and substance use), so fans weren't sure what to make of him during the former couple's very public breakup.
And technically, Russell could have taken Katy to task for half of what she earned. So why leave so much cash on the table?
Daily Mail claims it's simple: Russell didn't want Katy's money, apparently even telling his ex that he didn't want to take anything from her. Instead, Brand just wanted their split to be quiet and amicable.
Of course, there was plenty of time for Russell to change his mind, while the pair underwent a six-month waiting period in their state before the divorce was finalized. Yet friends of his, say sources, reported that Brand was simply moving on.
It's worth noting that the actor and comedian himself is worth about $20 million these days, so perhaps he didn't need Katy's money (or any other behavior that might tarnish his image).
How Long Did Katy Perry And Russell Brand's Marriage Last?
One factor that most publications didn't consider when Katy and Russell split was the longevity of their marriage. In many cases, prenuptial agreements stipulate timeframes for a marriage; a spouse may get a certain amount of money depending on how long they're married.
Katy and Russell were only married for just over a year, which means the latter may not have been eligible for, say, alimony payments. Depending on their state of residence during their marriage, which was likely California for the entire time, it seems likely that Brand could have exercised his rights had he been so inclined.
In California, married partners share community property, so the length of the marriage doesn't matter in the least.
Fortunately for Katy, Russell took the high road, even if he didn't necessarily do so before or after their marriage. In fact, Daily Mail reported that Brand even attempted to pursue Zoey Deschanel, a doppelganger of Katy's, after the breakup.
Perhaps his ways have changed now, though, since Brand is now married with a child and, by all accounts, has settled down quite a bit.
Katy, of course, is with Orlando Bloom, with whom she shares a baby. Odds are, by the time those two tie the knot, they will have a comprehensive prenup drawn up to protect both their earnings, rather than leaving things to chance.
