Hollywood marriages have never been known for their longevity, but some unions were short even by Tinseltown standards, lasting mere months — or in some cases being effectively over before the ink was dry on the marriage certificate. Of course, Hollywood isn’t the only place where couples don’t stay together. Here is a look at the divorce capital of every state.
Drawing on a variety of online sources and verifying the information independently whenever possible, 24/7 Tempo has put together a catalogue of particularly short-lived celebrity marriages, involving everything from veteran actors from an earlier era to reality TV stars of today. The duration of the marriages cited stretches from the moment of matrimony to the date of annulment or the date on which unreconciled separations took effect, not necessarily to the date of the final divorce decree.
In some instances, the young age of the bride and/or bridegroom may have doomed the relationship. Nicky Hilton, Ashley Hamilton, Milla Jovovich, and Drew Barrymore are among the celebrities who were still in their teens when they wed — quite possibly too young to make a life-altering decision.
Many of the couples on this list met and started dating while cast as lovers in a movie or TV show. Unfortunately, they soon learned that real life was different than the onscreen version. Kim Kardashian, for instance, wed basketball star Kris Humphries in a lavishly produced televised ceremony, only to have the union falter after 72 days. That’s not how things usually work out on screen in the best romantic comedies of all time.
Some unions were volatile from the start, like those between Robin Givens and Mike Tyson or Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Others dissolved for reasons of infidelity or that old standby excuse “irreconcilable differences.”
Click here to see the shortest celebrity marriages of all time
Whatever the reason, at least some of the celebrities who’ve suffered failed marriages have gone on to more successful ones, which we hope won’t find a place on lists like this in the future.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
> Duration of marriage: 456 days
Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met on the set of “The Rum Diary” in 2009, and began dating in 2012. Married in 2015, Heard filed for a divorce in May 2016, alleging physical abuse. The couple agreed to a $7-million out of court settlement in August 2016 and the divorce was finalized the following year. Heard wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in late 2018 saying that Depp had abused her, and the actor responded by filing a $50 million defamation suit against her. The courts ruled against Depp and he has subsequently been denied the right to appeal twice.
[in-text-ad]
Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose
> Duration of marriage: 425 days
Rapper Wiz Khalifa and model Amber Rose got engaged in 2012 and married in July 2013. By September 2014, Rose had filed for divorce. Today, the couple shares custody of their son.
Katy Perry and Russell Brand
> Duration of marriage: 425 days
Actor Russell Brand and singer Katy Perry met when she filmed a cameo for his movie, “Get HIm to the Greek” in 2008, and began dating in 2009. A year later, the two married in a ceremony in India. A mere 14 months after that, Brand filed for divorce. Perry later told Vogue, “Let’s just say I haven’t heard from him since he texted me saying he was divorcing me December 31, 2011.”
Mike Tyson and Robin Givens
> Duration of marriage: 365 days
Public feuds marked the brief marriage of boxer Mike Tyson and actress Robin Givens. After marrying him in 1988, Givens accused Tyson of physical abuse. Meanwhile, Tyson countered that Givens and her mother stole money from him. The nasty divorce ultimately ended with a $10 million settlement award to Givens.
[in-text-ad-2]
Helen Hunt and Hank Azaria
> Duration of marriage: 334 days
After years of dating, actors Helen Hunt and Hank Azaria married in 1999. But after 17 months, the marriage fell apart. No specific reason was ever given for the breakup, but Azaria later admitted he was a bit jealous of Hunt’s success.
Jennifer Lopez and Ojani Noa
> Duration of marriage: 313 days
Ojani Noa has the distinction of being the first of Jennifer Lopez’s three husbands. The two met when he was a waiter at a restaurant owned by Gloria Estefan, and were married from 1997 to 1998.
[in-text-ad]
Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly
> Duration of marriage: 273 days
After divorcing his first wife in 1995, Carrey got hitched to Holly — whom he had met on the set of “Dumb and Dumber” — the following year. The marriage lasted less than a year. Carrey later struck up a relationship with actress Renee Zellweger, but that didn’t last either.
Elisabeth Moss and Fred Armisen
> Duration of marriage: 243 days
A guest spot on “Saturday Night Live” brought Elisabeth Moss and SNL cast member Fred Armisen together in October 2008. Six months later the pair were engaged, and in October 2009, the two were married. The following September, Moss filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger
> Duration of marriage: 225 days
In a surprise move, country singer Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger married in May 2005 after a five-month relationship. Just four months later, the two announced the annulment of their marriage. Later, Chesney admitted he had a difficult time committing to both marriage and a music career.
[in-text-ad-2]
Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd
> Duration of marriage: 218 days
Jennifer Lopez met backup dancer Cris Judd when he performed in her music video, “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” in 2001. The two danced away from each other after less than a year of marriage.
LuAnn “The Countess” de Lesseps and Tom D’Agostino Jr.
> Duration of marriage: 216 days
“Real Housewives of New York City” star Luann de Lesseps, known as “the Countess,” and businessman Tom D”Agostino Jr. got hitched on New Year’s Eve 2016. After just seven months of marriage, de Lesseps filed for divorce amid allegations D’Agostino cheated on her.
[in-text-ad]
Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad “Nicky” Hilton
> Duration of marriage: 205 days
In 1950, Elizabeth Taylor wedded her first husband, Hilton Hotels heir Conrad “Nicky” Hilton. Both were quite young â she was 18, he was 24 â which perhaps doomed their union after eight months.
Nicky Hilton and Todd Andrew Meister
> Duration of marriage: 186 days
Brief marriages apparently run in the Hilton family. Hilton heiress and socialite Nicky Hilton — who was named in honor of her grand-uncle Conrad “Nicky” Hilton (see above) married money manager Todd Andrew Meister in August 2005. Two months later, Hilton checked out of the marriage by having it annulled.
Shannen Doherty and Ashley Hamilton
> Duration of marriage: 182 days
Actress Shannen Doherty and actor-musician Ashley Hamilton (son of actor George Hamilton) married in October 1993, when he was only 19. A divorce followed in February of the next year.
[in-text-ad-2]
Aaliyah and R. Kelly
> Duration of marriage: 182 days
Controversial singer R. Kelly married singer Aaliyah in August of 1994, when she was only 15. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn later charged Kelly with bribing an Illinois official to allow him to marry Aaliyah with false ID claiming she was 18. The marriage was annulled the following February. Tragically, Aaliyah died in a plane crash in 2001.
Drew Barrymore and Tom Green
> Duration of marriage: 163 days
Actors Drew Barrymore and Tom Green struck up a relationship in 1999, andmarried in 2001. It soon ended, but the two appear to have remained on good terms. Green appeared on Barrymore’s talk show last year.
[in-text-ad]
Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush
> Duration of marriage: 163 days
Actors Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush met on the set of the teen drama “One Tree Hill” in 2003. The two married in 2005, but the union lasted only five months before Bush filed for an annulment based on “fraud.” Rumors of cheating by Murray dogged the couple during their brief marriage.
Charlie Sheen and Donna Peele
> Duration of marriage: 146 days
Hollywood bad boy Charlie Sheen’s first marriage was to model Donna Peele. They wedded in September 1995 after only six months of dating. Six months later, Sheen filed for divorce, reportedly saying the marriage was “suffocating” him.
Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock
> Duration of marriage: 122 days
Actress Pamela Anderson and singer Kid Rock married in July 2006, but by November of that year, Anderson had filed for divorce and a marriage apparently not made in rock ‘n’ roll heaven was over. Reports have suggested her role in the movie “Borat” prompted the split.
[in-text-ad-2]
Colin Farrell and Amelia Warner
> Duration of marriage: 120 days
Irish actor Colin Farrell and British actress Amelia Warner started dating in 2001 and were married in July of that year. Four months later, the two announced their split. Maybe their youth had something to do with the divorce: He was 25 and she was 19.
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Esposito
> Duration of marriage: 120 days
Actors Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Esposito tied the knot in the south of France in December 2006. A mere four months later, Esposito filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
[in-text-ad]
Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley
> Duration of marriage: 108 days
Actor Nicolas Cage has been married five times. In 2000, he met Lisa Marie Presley, singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis. She became his second wife in August 2002, but three months later, the two filed for divorce. The union officially ended in 2004.
Eminem and Kim Mathers
> Duration of (second) marriage: 91 days
Rapper Eminem met Kim Mathers in high school in 1988. In 1995, they had a daughter, Hailie Jade, and the two tied the knot four years after that. They divorced in 2001, only to remarry in 2006. But the second go-around ended after a few months.
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
> Duration of marriage: 72 days
It was a marriage that played out on reality TV: Famous-for-being-famous personality Kim Kardashian married former NBA star Kris Humphries in front of the cameras in 2011 in a special entitled “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding.” The fairytale ended 72 days later.
[in-text-ad-2]
Milla Jovovich and Shawn Andrew
> Duration of marriage: 60 days
Actress Milla Jovovich married her “Dazed and Confused” co-star Shawn Andrew in 1993. Two months later, the union was annulled. At the time of the marriage, she was 16 and he was 21.
Chris Kattan and Sunshine Tutt
> Duration of marriage: 43 days
Former Saturday Night Live star Chris Kattan and model Sunshine Tutt married in June 2008. They filed for a separation about six weeks into the union.
[in-text-ad]
Chad Johnson and Evelyn Lozada
> Duration of marriage: 41 days
“Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada switched leagues when she married NFL star Chad Johnson in 2012. The marriage ended soon after amid charges of domestic abuse by Johnson toward Lozada.
Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas
> Duration of marriage: 19 days
Drew Barrymore’s first husband was 31-year-old British bar owner Jeremy Thomas, whom she wed when she was only 19. She filed for divorce less than three weeks after the ceremony.
Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine
> Duration of marriage: 28 days
Singer Ethel Merman and actor Ernest Borgnine had a stormy relationship from the beginning, which is probably why their 1964 union (the third of Borgnine’s five marriages and the fourth and last of Merman’s) lasted only 28 days.
[in-text-ad-2]
Ali Landry and Mario Lopez
> Duration of marriage: 18 days
After dating for several years after they met in 1998, actress and model Ali Landry and actor Mario Lopez wed in 2004. Unfortunately, a long courtship didn’t result in a happy marriage: Two weeks after the ceremony Landry asked for an annulment, after finding out that her new husband had cheated on her at his bachelor party.
Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds
> Duration of (not legalized) marriage: 14 days
Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy met model Tracey Edmonds in 1988. They held a wedding ceremony in Bora Bora, in French Polynesia, in 2008, which technically was not legal in the U.S. They planned to make it official in the U.S., but the couple split two weeks later.
[in-text-ad]
Dennis Hopper and Michelle Phillips
> Duration of marriage: 9 days
On Oct. 31, 1970, actor Dennis Hopper, fresh from the success of “Easy Rider,” and singer Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas tied the knot. A mere eight days later they announced their split, amid charges that Hopper was abusive toward Phillips.
Catherine Oxenberg and Robert Evans
> Duration of marriage: 9 days
Famed film producer Robert Evans and “Dynasty” star Catherine Oxenberg wed in July 1998. Less than two weeks later, the pair agreed to an annulment. At the time, he was 68 and she was 36.
Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman
> Duration of marriage: 9 days
Basketball star Dennis Rodman and actress Carmen Electra wed in Vegas on Nov. 14, 1998. Nine days later, Rodman filed for annulment, saying he wasn’t of sound mind when the two married.
[in-text-ad-2]
Nicolas Cage and Erika Koike
> Duration of marriage: 4 days
In another short-lived marriage, Nicholas Cage tripped down the aisle with makeup artist Erika Koike in March 2019. Though the two had dated for a year, Cage filed for an annulment before the week was out.
Britney Spears and Jason Alexander
> Duration of marriage: 2 days
Singer Britney Spears married childhood friend Jason Alexander on New Year’s Eve 2004. Fifty-five hours later, an annulment was in the works, with the media reportedly saying that Spears didn’t understand what she was doing. Sadly, the impulsive marriage may have been a reason her father moved to establish the conservatorship over his daughter that the singer is now trying to end.
[in-text-ad]
Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe de Alba
> Duration of marriage: 1 day
Zsa Zsa Gabor was wed nine times. But her union with Mexican actor Felipe de Alba in 1982 was annulled immediately when it was learned that her divorce from her previous husband, Michael O’Hara, hadn’t been finalized.
Robin Givens and Syetozar Marinkovic
> Duration of marriage: 1 day
Actress and model Robin Givens wed tennis instructor Syetozar Marinkovic on August 22, 1997. Some tennis matches lasted longer than their union, which dissolved the same day.
Essential Tips for Investing (Sponsored)
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.