The Rise in High-Profile Divorces: Unpacking the Trend

Understanding Why the Wealthiest Couples are Calling it Quits Post-Corona

It seems that with the decline of the coronavirus pandemic, there is an increase in divorce cases among the wealthiest. Melinda and Bill Gates are the latest couple to join this list, preceded by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, American singer Kelly Clarkson, fashion designer and veteran celebrity Mary-Kate Olsen, and even before the pandemic, Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Scott, who has since remarried and shaken up the world of philanthropy. Rudy Giuliani and his last wife, along with many others, can also be added to this list.

Divorce among the rich evokes various emotions, from disbelief to schadenfreude, and above all, a lot of curiosity. The wealthiest usually settle their disputes out of court. Therefore, as soon as the media reports on a billionaire couple divorcing, it immediately intrigues us. But what particularly amazes us is the possibility that these high-profile divorces will become messy.

Photo Caption: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in Havana, in 2016. The coronavirus was just as difficult for rich couples as it was for other couples. Photo: Desmond Boylan / AP.

We can understand when a couple divorces and fights over money, as long as the amount is moderate and its distribution dramatically affects the quality of life of the parties. But when there are piles of money, and it is clear that the quality of life for both parties will remain the same, it is difficult for us to understand what they are fighting about.

Of course, I don't really know what caused these couples to break up, but I have some educated guesses:

First, the coronavirus pandemic and especially the lockdowns were difficult for wealthy couples just as they were for others in all economic classes. There are even reasons why life under lockdown could be especially challenging for rich couples. One reason is that in many of these couples, on normal days, one party, usually the husband, works extensively, not only around the clock but also around the world.

It is possible that the general absence of one partner makes family life difficult but, in a certain way, makes married life easier. When you spend less time together, it sometimes allows you to overlook issues. When such couples suddenly find themselves spending more time together than on their annual vacation, it becomes harder to ignore the gaps and emotional pain. The pandemic introduced us to the finitude of life, prompting many to reflect philosophically and existentially. It is understandable that people in this situation asked themselves, "Now that it has become clear that I will not live forever, am I really interested in spending the time I have left with this person, with whom I have less in common than I thought?"

In addition, the pandemic revealed infidelities. Very rich people vacation differently, eat differently, exercise differently than the rest of us, and also manage their affairs differently. An unlimited budget and a job involving extensive travel mean that affairs can be conducted with relative ease for long periods. The pandemic forced people in this situation to ground themselves and manage their affairs in the ways normal people do, resulting in more affairs being discovered or making it harder for their partners to turn a blind eye.

Some of the rich didn't become wealthy by being easy to live with. Justine Musk, Elon Musk's ex-wife, wrote: "They are dyslexic, they are autistic, they have attention deficit disorder, they are cubes in round holes, they insult people, get into arguments, and rock the boat." Not so cool.

Photo Caption: Jeff Bezos and his ex-wife Mackenzie Scott, in 2018 in California. The pandemic made the rich manage their affairs in an idiotic way. Photo: Danny Moloshok / Reuters.

So, while it is understandable that money doesn't solve all problems and the wealthiest still get divorced, are these divorces easier? Yes and no. If there is no trust between the spouses, the process of dividing economic resources at these levels of wealth is unimaginably complex.

Most "normal" couples have to divide an apartment, car, pensions, and mortgage between them, but the assets of the wealthy are in super-complex financial structures, in different countries, and subject to complex laws requiring many experts. You can determine the value of an apartment and decide who buys whom, but when the deals are complex, it is extremely challenging to divide them. Even when there is trust and agreement, the divorce agreements of such couples look much more like business contracts. But this doesn't mean there is no emotional pain as in any separation process.

In the past, children from affluent backgrounds were considered at lower risk of psychological problems than those from economic hardship. However, recent studies indicate that children of high socioeconomic status are at increased risk for problems such as addiction, alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety, and depression. One hypothesis is that these difficulties are side effects of living in a high-achieving home and being away from parents.

After their parents' divorce, children from rich families seem to adapt better to life in two households compared to those from poor families. Most families barely manage to survive with one household. The splitting of financial and time resources into two households can be fatal, at least in the first years. This makes it easier to understand why children of wealthy people, whose standard of living is not affected by their parents' separation, manage to adapt better psychologically to the new situation.

On the other hand, divorce is more common among people without money. Financial problems and disagreements about dealing with them are common issues in relationships. Hence, children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds whose parents divorce might know more peers and families in the same situation than children of the very rich.

If this still doesn't impress you and you envy them, it's understandable. But keep in mind that periods of enrichment are very sensitive in relationships, and the risk of divorce increases during periods of significant financial change. Couples starting to get rich now have a new and sensitive type of subject they can disagree on: financial and business conduct.