We don’t often discuss celebrity relationship issues, however, we must take note when the richest couple in the world get divorced. For those who may not know, Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of amazon.com (A company worth almost 800 billion dollars.) His personal wealth is estimated at 137.1 billion. Unfortunately for the couple Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos will be filing for divorce after 25 years of marriage. The most astonishing fact is that the couple is being amicable and have seemingly agreed to split all assets down the middle.
One of the largest divorce settlements in history
This means that MacKenzie is due roughly 60 billion dollars once proceedings have concluded. Apart from this unimaginable amount of money, the couple is also one of the largest landowners in America. It has been reported that they share ownership of over 400,000 acres of land. They also have a diverse portfolio with stakes in companies like The Washington Post, Zappos, Whole Foods and dozens of other companies. You might be asking yourself, “With so much money at stake, why did they not have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement in place?”
We can only speculate the answer, but a few facts may give us some insight into the matter. The first point is that they were married in 1993 before Amazon was ever created in 1997. This means that the company will almost certainly be considered a marital asset. Business minded individuals and entrepreneurs may decide to enact a postnuptial agreement after a company has experienced a certain level of success. This option has both positive and negatives. On the positive side, this agreed upon contract can help save company interest should the CEO every gets divorced. On the other side, a postnuptial agreement can be uncomfortable to bring up. This is especially true for the couple that has been together for a quarter of a century who plan on being together for the rest of their lives.
What we can take away from this news story?
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is, “wow that is a lot of money.” On a more serious note, this story is a reminder to ensure your assets are protected should a divorce be on the horizon. For now, it seems like the couple is going to have an agreeable and non-contested breakup. We cannot all assume that parting with our significant other will go as smoothly. If you live in the Salt Lake City area out lawyers can help with both prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Not only can these agreements help with financial issues, but they can also cover a wide range of topics. Call out office today to learn more and request a case review.
