Last September, Kaley Cuoco stunned absolutely no one when she filed for divorce after 21 months of marriage. Ryan Sweeting and Kaley Cuoco had a whirlwind romance – she was on the rebound after her sudden and odd romance with Henry Cavill ended abruptly, and Ryan was winding down an insignificant pro-tennis career. He moved in with Kaley basically after the first date, and they were engaged within a few months. Many people thought Kaley was crazy to marry a new version of K-Fed, but as it turns out, Kaley was smart enough to protect her assets – she got Sweeting to sign an airtight pre-nup, which turned out to be needed because Ryan requested spousal support from Kaley. Well, their divorce has been finalized and the terms are fascinating. Kaley walks away with almost everything!
Kaley Cuoco is leaving her divorce like a boss … protecting the hell out of her ‘Big Bang Theory’ fortune. We obtained the settlement agreement between Kaley and her now-ex hubby, tennis pro Ryan Sweeting, and she made out well, and the key is her prenup.
Kaley got hitched in 2013, and months later she reportedly signed a staggering $72 million contract — $1 million an episode for 72 shows. That money is protected under the prenup — it’s all hers. On top of that, she gets their home in Tarzana and their Santa Barbara area beach house.
Ryan did … not so well. He walks away with a lump sum parting gift of $165,000. She’s also agreed to pay the $195,000 bill for his 2 personal trainers. Oh, one other thing. He gets to keep whatever cash and gift certificates in his possession. So, dinner at Chili’s?
I take “whatever cash and gift certificates in his possession” to mean that Ryan gets to keep whatever gifts Kaley gave to him throughout their marriage. Like, if she bought him a car, he gets to keep that because it’s in his possession. Plus, she probably did give him some gift certificates, stuff that came with various gift bags she received from all of the events they attended together. But yeah, Kaley had a GREAT pre-nup. I mean, she only has to give him $165,000? That’s amazing, especially considering her already-sizeable net worth when they got together.
I hope Kaley’s new horsey boyfriend takes note of these developments. Even if she does have another “whirlwind engagement,” this lady protects her assets.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, WENN.
Yay! Good for her!
I knew it was over when, in desperation, she put the hyphen in her name to “prove it would last”.
I thought it was the butterfly tattoo on her upper back/neck. sigh.
This is the perfect example of why you get a prenup to protect yourself!
Yes! For everyone saying how un-romantic or calculating or shrewd or cheap or whatever it is, this is why it’s done! Protecting yourself isn’t selfish or defeatist.
Also, I think it’s worth noting that tons of people get pre-nups that never need to use them so we don’t hear about them.
Or, just do the sensible thing and not get married in the first place. Marriage is for suckers. Just have a commitment ceremony and a big party – same thing, no strings.
Yeah, it’s slightly archaic, but marriage has its benefits.
I don’t consider myself a sucker, my husband got a substantial raise for being married, I got free health insurance with no deductible or co-pay, free life insurance, and a secure portion of his retirement. All for walking into a clerk of court’s office and signing a wee piece of paper. The sucker is someone who makes sacrifices with no possible return or recompense.
Here in the US marriages gives you a ton of legal protections that you wouldn’t get as simply a committed couple. The sucker is someone who doesn’t think they need a piece of paper in order to do things like make decisions should your partner become incapacitated. Or be protected financially should the relationship go south.
Do they always hold up in the US, or/and are they often challenged? I heard a renowned lawyer here in Australia recently say that, under our laws, pre-nips don’t mean much. Good for Kaley, though. It seems pretty fair for a couple of years of fun for him.
Don’t know the numbers, but if the judge decides the terms are unfair then it can be ignored totally or partially. So it depends on the judge who signs off on the divorce. A pre-nup is still useful, but it isn’t a guarantee. It certainly makes sense for the two people to think about such things pre-wedding if one or both have a ton of money or potential for getting same.
Cannot believe she’s worth that much money — wow!!!
That whole cast got so lucky.
More like Jim, her and Johnny. Kunal, Melissa, Mayim and the rest of them have much smaller paychecks because they are “disposable” – though I disagree. That show would be nothing without Kunal Nayaar . I think he’s hilarious 😀
I disagree..that show would be nothing without Jim Parsons.
Yes, obviously. I just got carried away but the show centers on Jim and Johnny and Penny, but if I hat to ditch the remaining cast, I’d keep Raj. And maybe Amy.
Actually Mimz – and I’m not sure if I’m wrong – I think I read it on this site that all the actors got together to petition for higher/more equal pay for all of them? Unless I’m confusing it with another show.
Dani, They all petitioned for a higher more equal pay yes but only Jim Kaley and Johnny got the million dollar mark, while the others had a raise but were allegedly threatened to be let go of, since they are not “essential” to the show. Everyone did get a raise, but only the three of them got the million dollar/episode.
But everyone has lots of money each month anyway.
How about the six Friends stars, still getting around $20 mill EVERY YEAR more than a decade after that show ended? Look at Seinfeld. Syndication. No one can plan this kind of stuff. It’s like winning the lottery.
I think that agreement was for only 10 years after the end of the show. I bet the BBT stars will walk away with a much, much better deal.
It was 5 years–they split $100 million a year, between the six of them, so they got 16.6 million a year in residuals…….so it ended in 2009/2010. Now I think they get like a million a year….. Which is probably why Jennifer Aniston got more and more into being the “face” of something i.e. Smartwater, Living Proof, etc…..because she had a loss of income from those residuals.
Me neither Alix, cause TBH that show is HORRENDOUS… Kinda like her Spermy Brows…
Phew!! I thought I was the only one (well, it seems like it anyway) that does not like that show.
That horrific show is an insult to the English language, and to human kind in general. It appeals to the lowest common demoninator and is insulting to the intelligence of normal humans. I literally am forced to dislike anyone who tells me they like it, the show is that bad.
Kudos to her lawyers, who seem to have crafted an excellent prenup, and shut down any negotiation of it rather quickly.
Agreed!!!
Great Lawyers…. GREAT lawyers.
Halle Berry and Francois-Henri Pinault…. really?
Cuoco out played you?? Really
she might be stupid in love, but she’s clearly not stupid with money.
Respect!!
In her million dollar income, this is almost nothing. Smart girl.
Too bad Dexter is off logging in Alaska or some remote parts, cause the guy in the last photo is definitely the Ice Truck Killer.
lol
I am happy to know that Kaley is a smart businesswoman. Good for her and her millions.
He was parked on her couch while she was going to work.
Now Ryan is time to find a job!
Good job Kaley! Smart girl!
I’m glad the amount was so small, but really-why should she have to give him anything?
Epic golddigger fail.
I’m surprised she was so stupid, yet so smart at the same time, but good for her.
Well, lots of people are smart in one area and stupid in another. At least this worked out for her.
Good for her.
Glad this girl knows to protect her earnings!
That whole relationship with Henry Cavill was so bizarre- I’m still fascinated
She’s still stuck with that hideous tattoo.
So, here’s the thing about gift certificates: you can give somebody a lot of gift cards or certificates, like hundreds of thousands of them, without it registering as a financial transaction. They are often used for money laundering, because they’re untraceable. So a banking transaction of $10k or more will automatically be reported (HELLO DENNY HASTERT WE SEE YOU) but gift cards will not. I read somewhere that Tennis Guy had a problem with pain pills, so giving him gift cards instead of cash may have been an attempt to keep him from buying pills easily.
Also, I was once told by a very smart money person that if you ever win the lottery, do not buy your mama a house. Or cars. Or any other taxable gifts. Instead, give them a joint credit card and pay the bill for them.
And I am very very fond of Kaley, so you go girl.
Interesting info about the gift cards, thanks. I’ve never thought of that. So, in her case, instead of giving him a credit card or cash to do the grocery shopping, she gave him Whole Foods cards instead, for example? Funny.
Oh boy, I am writing that one down. Just in case.
LOL. Me too, although I’m far from wealthy. I used to work in banking and this is news to me. I didn’t spend much time on the investments aspect, outside of CDs, etc.
I hope she learns something from this.
All that $ and her eyebrows still look like that…so unflattering.
LOL!
I agree. Also wondering why she keeps them looking that way?
Lol. But if we’ve learned anything from Trump it’s that money cannot buy style or taste, especially concerning one’s own appearance, no?
Girl, the next person you should marry is your lawyer, they clearly are looking out for you in a way no one else can.
Good for her.
It’s a shame that she feels the need to rush into marriage, but she’s rich as shit, successful in her field, and obviously a very passionate person. As long as she has a solid legal team, she can be as impulsive as she wants.
She may be really stupid about men but she’s earned my admiration for being smart about her money.
I am no fan of this woman, but in this case, good for her. This guy was another Eddie Cibrian. I’m quite an avid tennis geek, and even I’d never heard of him before she took up with him.
Yep. Rather than his career winding down, it was never wound up in the first place.
Okay, so clearly she knows what she’s doing. Who is her lawyer? Can more celebrities learn from her please? I wish i could be like her.
Why do I think Johnny Galecki gave her some sound fiscal advice as well. He strikes me as someone who would think that way. Not that she couldn’t be smart enough to do so on her own.
Honestly, when there’s that much money at stake, I think a pre-nup is the only way to keep things “romantic”. You both sign it to prove this really is about love and wanting to be together.
Kaley you were so smart to protect your assets…..Too bad Marie Osmond didn’t cover her ass-ets……..