People get married – and divorced – for many reasons. The leading cause of divorce is marriage. Marriage may still be a life partnership for many, but is increasingly not a lifetime partnership – and many couples part long before death (of even reasons they got married in the first place).
Marriage is essentially a legal and economic partnership – and is not required to have children, to live (happily ever after) together, or to reap and share (most of) the benefits of a committed relationship. Quality is usually more important than quantity. The duration of time together is not necessarily an indication of happiness, success, or even the true nature of the relationship.
Nobody knows what anyone’s marriage is like except the two of them – and sometimes one of them doesn’t know. ~ Ann Landers
A celebrity is a well-known person that society admires, pays attention to, and celebrates – for reasons that aren’t always clear. All that is required to be famous is to be well-known. Fame is sometimes both fickle and fleeting. The same can be said for many celebrity marriages – often known more for their brevity than as examples to emulate, admire, or celebrate.
It doesn’t matter whether you decide to marry or stay single; either way you’ll be sorry. – Socrates
Reality TV psuedo-celebrity Kim Kardashian lasted 72 days with husband Kris Humphries. Divorce can be costly, so despite complaints about “lack of privacy”, Kim is probably pleased that she received $17 million for her wedding alone. Today’s TV viewers and magazine readers seem infatuated with non-stars like Kim. She will probably be paid millions more by allowing reality TV cameras to cover her divorce proceedings. Just crying in court may net her five mil.
Seventy-two days is certainly not the shortest celebrity marriage.
Matrimonial durations of note:
- Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine – 38 days
Drew Barrymore and Jermeny Thomas – 29 days
Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds – 2 weeks
Mario Lopez and Ali Landry – 2 weeks
Catherine Oxenburg and Robert Evans – 12 days
Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman – 9 days
Cher and Gregg Allman – 9 days
Michelle Phillips and Dennis Hopper – 8 days
Britney Spear and Jason Allen Alexander – 55 hours
Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe De Alba – 1 day
Rudolph Valentino and Jean Acker – 6 hours
Marriage is a mistake every man should make. – George Jessel
Costliest Divorces?
- Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison – $85 million
Steven Spielberg and Any Irving – $100 million
Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey – $150 million
Michael Jordan and Juanita – $168 million
Roman Abramovich and Irina – $300 million+
Adnan Khashoggi and Soraya – $874 million
Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv – $1.8 billion
The tragedy is not that love doesn’t last.
The tragedy is the love that lasts. – Shirley Hazzard
For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, marriage is best not entered into nor ended without awareness and acceptance of what it may entail and actually mean.
What “reasons” do you feel warrant getting married, staying married, or ending a marriage?
© 2011 – 2012, Oren Pardes. All rights reserved.