Longest Celebrity Divorces: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, More

Credit: Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shutterstock; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Shutterstock (2)

Longest Celebrity Divorces: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, More

Getting messy! Celebrity divorces aren’t as glamorous as their Hollywood beginnings, and some last almost as long as the marriages themselves. Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, were separated for 10 years before finalizing their divorce in December 2021. The couple split after the Kindergarten Cop actor admitted to fathering a child with their housekeeper Mildred Baena while they were married. "I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family," the actor said in a statement after calling it quits on the 25-year marriage. "There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry." Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been legally single since April 2019 but have yet to agree on a custody arrangement for their six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne, following their initial 2016 split. In March 2021, the Wanted actress accused Pitt of domestic violence amid their years-long divorce battle. A source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that Jolie was “weaponizing their children in a last-ditch effort to gain a favorable outcome that will allow her to move the kids out of Los Angeles at her whim, without Brad’s approval or knowledge.” [jwplayer z0TkLFZz-l3ahXupL] The insider added: “This process had taken a toll on Brad, and he has taken accountability for his role in the breakdown of the marriage.” While the source assured Us that Pitt “never” laid a hand on any of the children or his estranged wife, he feared the filing would sway custody in the actress’ favor. “The kids have had endured so much trauma and this is just piling it on, but it’s out of Brad’s control,” the insider said. “The time for compromise is over. He is done and won’t be manipulated by her ever again.” Eight years after separating from her husband, Bethenny Frankel finalized her divorce from Jason Hoppy in January 2021. Hours after news broke in March 2021 of her divorce being complete, the Skinnygirl founder celebrated getting engagement to Paul Bernon. The couple had sparked engaged speculation earlier that month when Frankel was spotted with a giant diamond ring on her left hand while soaking up some sun on the beach in Florida. Celebrity duos including Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck and Amy Poehler and Will Arnett also had prolonged separations lasting three and four years, respectively from split to legally single. Scroll down to relive the longest divorces in Hollywood. [podcast_block]

Credit: Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shutterstock; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Shutterstock (2)

Longest Celebrity Divorces: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, More

Getting messy! Celebrity divorces aren’t as glamorous as their Hollywood beginnings, and some last almost as long as the marriages themselves. Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, were separated for 10 years before finalizing their divorce in December 2021. The couple split after the Kindergarten Cop actor admitted to fathering a child with their housekeeper Mildred Baena while they were married. "I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family," the actor said in a statement after calling it quits on the 25-year marriage. "There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry." Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been legally single since April 2019 but have yet to agree on a custody arrangement for their six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne, following their initial 2016 split. In March 2021, the Wanted actress accused Pitt of domestic violence amid their years-long divorce battle. A source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that Jolie was “weaponizing their children in a last-ditch effort to gain a favorable outcome that will allow her to move the kids out of Los Angeles at her whim, without Brad’s approval or knowledge.” [jwplayer z0TkLFZz-l3ahXupL] The insider added: “This process had taken a toll on Brad, and he has taken accountability for his role in the breakdown of the marriage.” While the source assured Us that Pitt “never” laid a hand on any of the children or his estranged wife, he feared the filing would sway custody in the actress’ favor. “The kids have had endured so much trauma and this is just piling it on, but it’s out of Brad’s control,” the insider said. “The time for compromise is over. He is done and won’t be manipulated by her ever again.” Eight years after separating from her husband, Bethenny Frankel finalized her divorce from Jason Hoppy in January 2021. Hours after news broke in March 2021 of her divorce being complete, the Skinnygirl founder celebrated getting engagement to Paul Bernon. The couple had sparked engaged speculation earlier that month when Frankel was spotted with a giant diamond ring on her left hand while soaking up some sun on the beach in Florida. Celebrity duos including Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck and Amy Poehler and Will Arnett also had prolonged separations lasting three and four years, respectively from split to legally single. Scroll down to relive the longest divorces in Hollywood. [podcast_block]

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Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger — 10 Years

Us confirmed in July 2011 that Shriver filed for divorce from her husband of 25 years after Schwarzenegger admitted to cheating on his wife more than 10 years prior with their housekeeper Mildred Baena. The couple announced their separation in May 2011 after the Terminator actor confessed to fathering a child with Baena during their affair. Shriver and Schwarzenegger, who share four children, Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher, finalized their divorce in December 2021.

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Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy — 8 Years

More than eight years after their split, the Real Housewives of New York City alum and her ex-husband finalized their divorce in January 2021. Us confirmed at the time that a judge signed off on the former couple’s divorce judgement. The former Bravo star announced the pair’s separation in December 2012 after two years of marriage. They share daughter Bryn.

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John Schneider and Elvira Schneider — Nearly 5 Years

Elvira filed for divorce from the Dukes of Hazzard actor in December 2014 after 21 years of marriage, but it wasn’t until August 2019 that a judge signed off on the divorce. Ahead of finalizing their legal separation, John had a wedding ceremony with his longtime girlfriend, Alicia Allain, in July 2019 in front of friends and loved ones. Their wedding came one year after John was sentenced to three days in jail in June 2018 for failure to pay more than $150,000 in owed alimony payments to his estranged wife.

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — 4 Years and Counting

The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor and the Tomb Raider actress separated in September 2016 after two years of marriage. Although they were declared legally single in April 2019, their divorce has not been finalized. The duo are working on coming to an agreement regarding custody of their six children. A source exclusively told Us in September 2020 that Pitt was seeking “50/50 physical and legal custody of the kids.” Two months later, he was able to spend Christmas Day with his youngest three, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne, after they spent the night with him on Christmas Eve.

Three months later, the pair’s divorce turned dark once again when Jolie filed court documents regarding incidents of alleged domestic violence involving the actor. The filing stated that both the Maleficent actress and her children are willing to offer “proof and authority in support” of their claims against the Fight Club star. Jolie agreed to provide testimony herself, along with the “testimony of minor children.” A source told Us at the time that Jolie has used the pair’s children to “hurt” Pitt in the past.

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Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee — 3.5 Years

The Grey’s Anatomy star had a lengthy legal battle with Drake-Lee following their initial split in April 2017. The actor was married to the real estate broker for more than four years before they decided to go their separate ways. In September 2019, the pair reached an agreement that awarded both parents joint legal and physical custody of their daughter Sadie and son Maceo. The settlement stated that Williams must pay $40,000 per month in child support but would keep what he earned from the ABC series since they split. He also was not responsible for spousal support after settling two outstanding payments from 2019. In October 2020, a judge signed off on the settlement and deemed them legally single as of August of that year.

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Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom — 3 Years

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star filed for divorce from the NBA star in December 2013 after four years of marriage. Kardashian later withdrew the papers when Odom suffered a near-fatal overdose in October 2015. At the time, the Revenge Looks Better Naked author served as her estranged husband’s caretaker. Once he was better, Kardashian filed for divorce a second time in May 2016. Their divorce was finalized seven months later, with both parties waving spousal support.

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Richard Gere and Carey Lowell — 3 Years

The Pretty Woman star split from Lowell in September 2013 after 11 years of marriage. The duo, who share son Homer, resolved custody issues early on, but didn’t finalized their legal separation until October 2016. Gere moved on with Alejandra Silva, whom he married in April 2018. The pair welcomed their first child, son Alexander, in February 2019.

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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony — 2 Years

Anthony filed for divorce from the Hustlers actress in April 2012 after they separated in July 2011. The exes, who share twins Emme and Max, finalized their divorce two years later in June 2014. The “Jenny From the Block” singer was awarded primary custody of the kids.

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Amy Poehler and Will Arnett — 2 Years

Us exclusively broke the news in September 2012 that the Parks and Recreation alum and the LEGO Movie star were separating after nine years of marriage. Nearly two years later, Arnett, who share sons Archie and Abel with Poehler, filed for divorce in April 2014. Their divorce was finalized two years later in July 2016.

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner — Nearly 2 Years

Affleck and Garner announced in a joint statement in June 2015 that they were calling it quits on their 10-year marriage. They both filed for divorce nearly two years later in April 2017. A year later, the Argo star and the 13 Going on 30 actress finalized the details of their divorce, agreeing to joint custody of their three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, in October 2018. A month later, a judge officially signed off on the divorce, making them both legally single.