Celebrity Couples Who Split After Decades Together

Originally appeared on E! Online

Let's get to the heart of the matter: Breakups can be difficult.

And splitting after decades together can be even more complicated. Now, add in having to do it all in the public eye and the situation doesn't get any easier.

Still, there have been longtime celebrity couples who've expressed their intent to put their best foot forward as they navigate this new chapter. Take Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman, for instance—who were together for 33 years and married for 26 before recently announcing their divorce.

"We are incredibly proud of the loving family we have created and our countless memories together," the fashion designer and the venture capitalist—who share sons Skyler, 13, and Kaius, 10—stated in a Sept. 9 Instagram post. "Our number one priority has been and will always be our children. We are committed to co-parent our boys and continue to work together within the many businesses we share."

More from E! Online

Similarly, Leah Remini noted she and husband Angelo Pagán made their decision to divorce after 21 years of marriage with "a lot of thought and care" and a "positive outlook because we know it's what's best for us."

"We are proud of how we have worked through this together," The King of Queens actress, who was with the Swordfish actor for a total of 28 years, tweeted on Aug. 29. "Yes, we're sad, and we've got some figuring out to do as we continue to move forward into our new normal—together still in many ways, and apart in some new ones. But here's the thing: we've been best friends for so many years. We are still celebrating holidays together, watching our favorite tv shows together, and gathering as a family."

Image Press Agency/NurPhoto / Shutterstock, Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for HollyRod Foundation

So why did Leah and Angelo—whose family consists of 20-year-old daughter Sophia as well as his sons Angelo Jr., Alex and Nico from a previous relationship—split if they're on such good terms?

"To put it simply, we both changed, as people do, and we got used to playing roles that didn't fit us anymore," the Kevin Can Wait alum continued. "After a lot of effort and consideration, we've decided to take this step, which reflects who we are today. Our bond is still strong—it's just evolved into something different. We think a marriage that lasted this long and created so many beautiful memories, especially raising our incredible daughter, is something to celebrate. From our perspective, this marriage was a huge success."

And while some formerly wed couples are raising a glass to their years together, other are…well, keep reading to find out.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen

The NFL star and the supermodel touched down in divorce court after 13 years of marriage, confirming Oct. 28, 2022, on their respective social media platforms that they had finalized the terms of their split.

"We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together," Tom, who shares kids Benjamin and Vivian with Bündchen, wrote in his Instagram Story message. "We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way. We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve."

The Super Bowl MVP—who is also dad to son Jack from his previous relationship with Bridget Moynahan—noted that he and Gisele didn't take their decision lightly.

"Doing so is, of course, painful and difficult, like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world," he continued. "However we wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written."

Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus

Parents to daughters Miley and Noah as well as son Braison (plus he adopted her daughter Brandi and son Trace and fathered son Christopher in a previous relationship) the couple tied the knot in 1993.

The country singer filed for divorce in 2010, saying in a statement at the time that they were "trying to work through some personal matters." Mission accomplished, at least temporarily, because Billy Ray withdrew his petition in March 2011. However, he refiled in June 2013, and she counter-filed. And yet, they stayed together again, Tish crediting couples therapy for bringing them closer.

But they would later find themselves drifting apart. Th ough Tish filed for divorce a third time in April 2022, her petition stated that she and her husband of 29 years had actually been living apart since February 2020.

"It is after 30 years, five amazing children and a lifetime of memories, we have decided to go our separate ways—not with sadness, but with love in our hearts," the exes told People in a joint statement. "We have grown up together, raised a family we can be so proud of, and it is now time to create our own paths."

Later that year, Billy Ray got engaged to Firerose, whom he wed in October 2023. But after less than a year of marriage, the "Old Town Road" artist filed for divorce in June 2024. Following a contentious split, they settled their divorce two months later.

Meanwhile, Tish accepted Prison Break star Dominic Purcell's proposal in 2023 and married him that year.

Bill and Melinda Gates Sean Penn and Robin Wright

Both recently divorced, Sean from Madonna and Robin from Dane Witherspoon, the actors fell in love making the 1990 crime drama State of Grace. They welcomed daughter Dylan in 1991 and son Hopper in 1993 and tied the knot in 1996. They purposely moved to Northern California to raise their kids away from "the bubble of celebrity," Robin would later explain to Vanity Fair, but tumult followed and, after a few false starts, they officially divorced in 2010.

"I believe we were together not only to have our beautiful children but to learn how to love...for the next time around, the right way," the House of Cards star said. "And then, what I'm looking for in people now is kindness."

At the time she was back on with ex-fiancé Ben Foster, but after that ended she moved on with Clement Giraudet, marrying him in 2018. TMZ reported in September 2022 that Robin filed for divorce, citing July 31, 2022, as their date of separation.

Sean famously dated Charlize Theron for a couple of years and then married Leila George in January 2020, but she filed for divorce in October 2021.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

A power couple even before they were governor and first lady of California, the bodybuilder-turned-actor and renowned journalist announced in May 2011 that they had separated after 25 years of marriage.

A week later, Arnold came clean about fathering a son with his family's former housekeeper of more than 20 years. Joseph Baena enjoys a relationship with his dad (as well as an affinity for the weight room) and is pursuing his own career as an actor.

The Shriver-Schwarzenegger union, which produced daughters Katherine and Christina as well as sons Patrick and Christopher didn't officially end until December 2021, when The Terminator star and the author finalized their divorce.

Teresa and Joe Giudice

Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins

Married for all intents and purposes, if not on paper, the Oscar winners separated in the summer of 2009 after 23 years together, having met making the rowdy 1988 baseball romance Bull Durham.

They share sons Jack and Miles plus Tim helped raise Susan's daughter Eva Amurri.

"People were coming up to me in the street and saying, 'I cried and cried when I heard,'" the Thelma & Louise star told The Telegraph in 2010 after her breakup with the director. "Well, I was sadder! I didn't think it would ever happen, either. You bring people into your life at certain times. Maybe you have a relationship to have children and you realize that it's fulfilled after that point."

Tim ended up marrying actress Gratiela Brancusi in 2017, but it wasn't widely known they'd taken that step until he filed for divorce in January 2021.

Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore

Though Robyn didn't file for divorce from the father of her seven children until April 2009, according to Reuters, their separation began just days after his explosive drunk-driving arrest in July 2006.

"Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so," they said in a 2009 statement confirming the end of their union. At the time, Mel was already expecting a child, his eighth, with then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. (He's since become a dad of nine, welcoming son Lars in 2017 with Rosalind Ross.)

"It was an unfortunate incident," the Braveheart actor said on Variety's Playback podcast in 2016, referring to his 2006 arrest and the resulting backlash over antisemitic comments he made to the officer that pulled him over. "I was loaded and angry and arrested. I was recorded illegally by an unscrupulous police officer who was never prosecuted for that crime...So, not fair. I guess as who I am, I'm not allowed to have a nervous breakdown, ever."

Kody and Christine Brown

The TLC star's third of four sister wives—and mother of six of his 18 children—left the family's Arizona home in November 2021 after 27 years together and moved to Utah.

"I started thinking maybe this isn't working for me," Christine told People in August 2022. "And then I stopped believing in polygamy. I realized I didn't really want to live it anymore. I didn't like sharing a husband or feeling like I wasn't important."

Kody legally married first wife Meri Brown in 1990, after which sister wives Janelle Brown and Christine joined him in spiritual matrimony in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He and Meri divorced and fourth wife Robyn Brown became his legally recognized spouse in 2014.

"I want a guy who actually loves me and wants to be with me intimately," Christine, who wed David Woolley the following year, added. "I will be a monogamist from here on out."

Janelle has also since left the fold, Kody revealing in the December 2022 reunion special that they were separated. Meri followed suit soon after, with her and Kody announcing in January 2023 they decided to "permanently terminate" their spiritual marriage.

Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott

OK, so the couple that earn their first billion together don't necessarily stay together.

News of the Amazon founder and sometimes-richest-man-in-the-world's divorce from his wife of 25 years came as a shock in January 2019—though mainly because Jeff was already involved with not-yet-divorced Good Day L.A. co-host Lauren Sanchez and the National Enquirer published their romantic text messages. (Jeff, who shares four children with MacKenzie, countered that they were long-separated so the tabloid didn't have muc h of a scoop.)

MacKenzie, who married Seattle science teacher Dan Jewett in March 2021, received a reported $38.3 billion worth of Amazon stock in her divorce settlement, turning her into one of the world's richest people as well. She signed The Giving Pledge, a promise to give at least half of her fortune to charity, in 2019.

Dan made the vow as well after their wedding, but MacKenzie filed for divorce on Sept. 26, 2022, and it was finalized in early 2023.

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman

Married for 30 years, the Matilda co-stars announced in 2012 that they were separating—but the parents of three never pulled the trigger on a divorce.

"We're still separated, but we see each other often, and we're still a family," Perlman told People in August. "We can do things together, we can do things separately. I'm really, really glad that Danny and I were able to navigate some rough days to be able to have this different kind of relationship. I think it's pretty rare, but we agree on so many things that it makes sense."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

View comments