Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Hey, hey, hey everyone!
So I'm sure by now everyone has heard of the impending divorce between Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa. I'm sure you've also heard by now that there was no prenuptial agreement between them. This brings us to the question of the day.
If you are (or were to become) a man or woman of significant wealth, would you have your significant other sign a pre-nup before marriage?
If you are NOT a man or woman with means, would you still have your significant other sign a pre-nup?
Like Chris Rock said: "If I'm making $30 million, and my wife wants 15, so what...I ain't starvin'. But if I'm making $30 thousand, and my wife wants 15, I might have to kill her!"
Also, would you be offended if your partner asked you to sign a pre-nup? Would you take that as a sign that the other person planning the divorce before they plan the wedding, or does it make smart financial sense?
Let's hear it, go!
-b
29 comments:
fiiiiirist
And for those of you that don't speak Haydenese, that says FIRST BIATCHES!!
But seriously, if you are a man of limited means and you break up. WHatever you have truly is a function of both of you being together. However if you come into a relationship with a man who already has a fortune, you shouldn't be offended when he asks you for a prenup.
Where the hell did Hayden come from!? DAMMIT!
I wouldn't be offended if a rich man asked me to sign a prenup, I'd expect it. But if Joe Schmoe asked me to sign one, I'd probably laugh. But then again, maybe he anticipates being rich, so I'd have to think that over ;)
I'd ask a man to sign one if I was rich like Oprah.
If I was rich like Oprah, and never planned on having children, then I wouldn't even bother getting married :)
I'd have a woman sign a prenup in a heartbeat. Kobe's wife hung in there just long enough to get the max. You KNOW if you marry someone of his fame and fortune, he's going to cheat on you, giving you a great reason to divorce him when he f*cks up. I knew it was just a matter of time before she decided to cash in.
And not blaming her either. He was stupid for not asking an 18 year old to sign a prenup.
He's not pressed though. If she gets $75 mil, like CR said, he's not starving. He'll give it to her and keep it movin. He needs to worry about getting along with his new coach.
Would be offended if a rich woman asked you to sign one Cable Guy?
Yes, prenup if one of them has already amassed some wealth. No, if the two are starting out in similar financial standing.
If you grow your wealth together, then 50/50 is only right (this includes stay-at-home moms, which is a tough job).
Weddings are for the heart but a marriage is a business contract as much as it is about love.
Prenup, Definitely, prenup.The only money either party should be entitled to is the money that was earned during the marriage. What was yours before the marriage should stay yours, what was his should stay his.
@Stephanie,
So you think ALL couples should sign one, no matter what their financial situation?
Vanessa though is looking for half of the assets PLUS spousal support! What the fark is that?
So she did the 10 years and he has to pay until she marries again? ( which isn't going to happen.) At the end of the day Kobe Bean made his bed, but I will say that this woman in no way shape or form contributed to this man getting his basketball contract, endorsements or anything else that generates income in the Bryant household. You tell me what she came into this marriage with? Bubkiss! If you divorce me then you leave the lifestyle that is associated with ME! Like Jay-Z said: " Now what I look like Givin a chick half my trap
like she wrote half my raps, yeah, I'm havin that
you be the same chick when you leave me
the bankbook and the credit cards and take everything you came with"
In other words I am a strong advocate of a prenup! I am supposed to take care of my children not you bish! Get outta here and get a job!
Floyd
@Floyd,
So do you think she should be paid to actually TAKE CARE of the kids? Paying for children isn't just writing a check, someone has to be physically with them at all times caring for their well being. So unless he's willing to do that full time, I believe she should be paid, because as V stated, that's a tough job.
@Courtney, does the constitute half?? Let me ask you this if he was making 30k instead of 30 million what would she have to do for her children?
Floyd
AND technically Vanessa DID help him KEEP those endorsements. If she would have left him when he went thru that "rape scandal" he would have definitely lost some money. So by her staying & keeping him the FAMILY man she did help him.
Anywho I don't think anyone should be offended if asked to sign a prenup. It's a document a contract. It's not going to make you break up NOR is it going to keep you together...
I WOULD HOWEVER LIKE TO POINT OUT IF I WAS GEORGE LOPEZ WIFE AND I GIVE MY HUSBAND A KIDNEY...IF HE DECIDES HE WANTS TO CHEAT ON ME OR LEAVE ME HE BETTER MAKE SURE THAT BITCH HAS AN EXTRA KIDNEY CUZ I AM TAKING MY SHIT BACK... IF I HAVE TO CUT IT OUT MYSELF I WILL BE LEAVING WITH IT.
Oprah was a genius for not getting married. JLO should STOP getting married. It should be illegal for Kim K to get married. :-)
For the record I never said that a check was the only factor in raising children. Secondly, why should someone be paid for taking care of their own children! Last time I checked she was their mother not the nanny! If my wife divorced me why would she have to pay me to watch my children!
Floyd
PRE-NUP!!!!!
ALWAYS make them sign a PRE-NUM dammit!!!
KOBE is a Fool anyway!!!!
Keep??? Really? The man was accused of raping a white woman in Colorado! A not guilty verdict helped that man keep those endorsements!
@ Brooke, Yes I do. You never know what could happen in the future. Money makes people do crazy things. Things they would of never even considered before they had money.it's good to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. This way both sides are protected.Love is grand and all but I don't think one person should profit because their spouse suddenly becomes rich.
It's like woman who marry athletes,they aggravate me so much. Yes he is a baller and she is usually a housewife taking care of the kids.9 The most important job in the world) But you can't tell me this heffa is entitled to half his $$$ that he before he met her simply because she had his kids. She's already gonna get child support which the kids deserve and she will most likely get alimony until she get's re-married. And 9 times out of ten a home for the kids to live in.
Amen Stephanie!
Preach on Stephanie!!!!!!
You are so Right!!!!!!!
I think any man not smart enough to get a prenup deserves half his income taken, especially if he's rich like Kobe. If you know the law is skewed, especially in California, you deserve everything you get - especially if you're willingly violating your marriage. Being rich doesn't entitle you to cheat, and if you do, you better be willing to face the consequences if you were stupid enough not to get a prenup.
This isn't about what's fair, it's about what the law says is fair. If you KNOW the law says she gets half, then be smart and protect yourself. If you don't, you have no one to blame but yourself.
@Anonymous...he is a black man accused of raping a white woman. The Not Guilty verdict HELPED YES.. But let's be perfectly honest... Who is the first person Kobe, Spitzer,and ALL high profile men apologize to during their press conferences??? THEIR WIFE???? Why not because they are sorry? Cuz they apologized at home for already.. They are doing it on air for MILLIONS of people to see their lovely wife smiling back at them telling them it's ok.. So that the world can accept them back too.... Look at ALL the front pages?? What were they focused on? The wife standing next to him, what will SHE do next? Is she leaving. If his wife having his back didn't mean anything there would be NO Need for the circus.
@ Courtney agreed,Being rich doesn't entitle you to cheat. Then some of them are dumb enough to sign a fidelity clause. The law is clear, especially in LA.If you don't want to loose half your shit, don't marry or settle in LA.LOLOL.
As a mother I can attest that it is the hardest yet most underpaid job in the world..... But I have a question...
In the state of California doesn't she get 1/2 because she stuck it out for 10 years??? She didn't have to have kids to get half?
Anna Maria, you are correct. She will get 1/2 regardless. My comment was simply that my responsibility from this point on would be to my children and not to my ex-wife if she chooses to leave and take the children with her. I will ensure that my children have a roof over their heads, food in the belly and clothes on their backs! I will make sure that I see and spend as much time with my daughter's as possible cause girls need their DADDYS in their lives!
My only argument is that I, as their father, should be tasked with doing everything from spending money to time for my children ONLY! Once my wife DECIDES to leave, the husband obligations to her are over! Of course you can live in the house that our children live in etc. BUT THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION IS WHAT DO I OWE YOU??? You are the one who wants to leave me! You are telling me that, as their mother, that I need to compensate you personally for taking care of our children! OF course I will put you in a safe and functioning car that you can transport the children back and forth to where they need to be! Where does it say that ride has to be my Ferrari?? Kids can't even travel in the 'Rari! This is the point that I am making! You had none of these worldly things when I met you, why are you entitled to them now when I am not with you? If you wanna be done with me, be done with me...but BE DONE WITH ALL OF ME, do not keep the part of me that is convenient for you! That includes my money! I will do for you within reason! Half my bank ain't reasonable! Especially when you have done nothing to contribute to this bank! Hell Tiger did some unscrupulous shit, lost crazy endorsements and all that, but you know what I learned a long time ago in this country...everyone loves a comeback! Everyone loves a winner! So go ahead with the whole wife being by his side thing! Cause Elan wasn’t ! Once Tiger starts winning again, I GUARADAMNTEE YOU we will be seeing that Cablasian MF back on TV! Look at the coverage when the MF won the other day! Folks been starving for Tiger to win! C'mon son! Am I the only one watching the movie on IMAX? Let's see the bigger picture!
Back to Brooke's original question - yes, I'd sign a prenup if asked, and I wouldn't be offended. And yes, if I was rich, I'd have my woman sign one.
As for half, Kobe knew where he was getting married. In LA, you can expect that a woman will get half if she leaves. He gave her reason to leave. So it's his fault he's in that bind. Not saying half is fair, but that's what the law says in Cali and he's smart enough to know that. Kobe isn't some project kid, he grew up with a father who played in the NBA, so he should know first hand the implications of his actions. He's not innocent in any of this. And looking at her, I don't see how he expected anything less.
I doubt he's losing sleep over it. He'll be fine.
1. I'm making my wife sign a pre-nup if I'm in a position of wealth. No question.
2. Kobe was never found "not guilty" of anything. The case never went to trial. Due to increasing evidence the accuser was lying, the case was dropped - by her. She later went after and got a civil judgment, because it was highly unlikely she was going to win in a regular court. The case was so absurd the lead DA lost his job for even pursuing it.
3. Kobe WAS dumb. But please remember he himself was a kid when he married her - it's not like this was a fully grown adult. Anyway, who cares - an NBA star cheating is like one of us drinking water. Happens daily.
The whole situation is a mess. But all I care about is the Lakers getting it together to field a competitive squad this season.
I think I'd sign a prenup. I believe I will be filthy stinking rich one day, so I may make any husband of mine sign one anyway - even if I only have a condo and my '98 Sentra when we get married. Gotta plan ahead and be positive about your earning potential, right? But, we WILL have gone through premarital counseling to hopefully avoid these kinds of issues.
I think you have to make sure the terms of the prenup are right. Grant it, Vanessa never dribbled a ball or won a championship, but if you are the wife, homemaker, mother and support system, there's a technically no price for that, but you sorta have to determine it beforehand otherwise that's where things get tricky. Maybe you decide that you should part with whatever you came into the marriage with and then set a lump sum amount (I think Michael Douglas and CZJ have this kind of arrangement) for the "richer" party to pay the departing spouse.
I think Kobe's marriage was doomed to fail anyway and wasn't based in reality. Who really "wifes" the high school video chick whose parents were going bankrupt anyway? He should have listened to Papa Joe!
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