Will Vanessa Bryant Keep Kobe's $4 Million "Apology" Ring?
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant is a player both on and off the court.
On Friday, Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from her Laker hubby after 10 years of marriage. But this wasn't the first time the couple encountered some major marital strife.
PHOTOS: Hollywood's ugliest divorces
In 2003, Kobe, 33, was accused of sexually assaulting a female hotel employee in Colorado. The charges were later dropped and he famously purchased a $4 million dollar, eight-carat purple diamond ring for Vanessa, 29, as an apology.
So once Kobe and Vanessa's divorce is finalized, who will get to keep the bling? "It may not be a true gift," Christopher C. Melcher, a family law attorney, told the Los Angeles Times.
In California, something doesn't qualify as a gift unless there's a signed document noting that it was actually a gift, he told the paper. This means there's a likely possibility that the ring is considered community property and would be among the assets split.
PHOTOS: Cheating scandals of the year
According to documents obtained by TMZ, Vanessa is seeking joint custody of the couple's daughters, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. She and Kobe reportedly do not have a prenuptial agreement.
Tell Us: Should Vanessa get to keep Kobe's apology ring?
Tell Us What You Think
11Marriage has become a gong show, dont get married in the first place if yor are going to get a devorce.People are all blind sided about who really gets hurt, its the Kids. Vanessa got into the marriage knowing that Kobe was a professional basketball player, its obvious they are other women out there that will do anything to get with the Black Mamba. If she didn't want his money and just loved him for who he was, then why didn't she ask for a prenup. Yes her and not him so that he would know that shes not after the money. Shes no different from any other trick, her payday came after 10 year. if Kobe hadn't married the trick he would still have been rich , she probably in her life would never had owened a million dollars and now its a hundred million dollars, I feel for these stars same thing with Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Its not easy for these guy there is so much temptation out there. Women these days will do anything to get a dollar. How many broke man have affairs and their women stick by them. Problem is you want riches and fame that the down side of it. And for Kobe not to get a prenup.......really, Every marriage should have a prenup and this should be passed by the law and we will see how many gold digging ,triffling tricks will want to get married to these rich people knowing that if they divorce they get nothing, you will see the true colors then. And for people who say kobe is egotistical or a womanizer you are wrong its these filthy women with no morals also trying to get a dollar who throw them selves at these stars(groupies) . People should be more worried about the kids and how its going to affect them ,not how much and what goes where. Just goes to show the immorality of the world we leave in today.
Kobe is an egotisical womanizer. Usually im against the whole man working and the wife taking half, but she had to endure his affairs, one of which was a rape accusation. He's a moron.
wow, this divorce is going to big. Wrong state to live in because California has that 10 year exception. If u are married 4 more than 10 yrs everything is split down the middle, plus anything else she can get her hands on.
wow, this divorce is going to big. Wrong state to live in because California has that 10 year exception. If u are married 4 more than 10 yrs everything is split down the middle, plus anything else she can get her hands on.
of course she'll keep the ring , that apology happen long ago, and they we're married at the time so why should she give it back. it's not like he needs the money.
What a stupid law for any state to have, it's not considered a gift unless it's documented that it's a gift. WTF is that? Oh thanks for the beautiful ring or whatever it is hun...but would you please sign this paper saying that it's a gift in case we ever want end our marriage I don't have to split the asset with you. How damn ridiculous does that even sound. I would be pissed if I didn't get to keep it, it was given to me.
this is bs....first off, i would've accepted the ring, cashed it in, and said byebye, but she was young and didn't know any better...she deserves that ring...
Someone is looking for a spot on Basketball Wives!
Sell it for a penny!
Did he lend it to her? Was she going to pay him back for it? No. Then, that ring is definitely a gift.
why would she want it? talk about keeping a reminder. ..