This Day in History | 2001 – Hollywood’s ‘golden couple’ divorce

Hollywood superstars Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise have divorced.

The final decree came just hours after Kidman and Cruise separately attended the première of their new film, The Others.

Both were reluctant to comment on their impending divorce at the event in Los Angeles.

But Cruise told reporters: “It’s over, we’re moving forward with our lives and I think it’s important for people to mind their own business.”

Cruise and Kidman, who have two adopted children, Isabella, 8, and Conor, 6, separated in February.

Cruise filed for divorce claiming “irreconcilable differences”.

Now the divorce is final, attention will focus on the value of the divorce settlement which may be the largest that Hollywood has yet seen.

Cruise’s fortune is reported to be in the region of $250m (£170m) – it includes five houses, two aeroplanes and around $1m (£680,000) worth of jewellery.

The couple must reach a private settlement before October to avoid a court battle.

The result could be expensive for Cruise.

California law states the assets of the marriage must be divided equally if a couple have been together for 10 years of more – Kidman and Cruise married in 1990.

Cruise’s lawyer Dennis Wasser told the BBC: “He will provide what is required by law and as I have said many times this means Miss Kidman will leave the marriage with tens of millions of dollars.”

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The couple eventually reached an “amicable” out-of-court settlement over the division of their assets.

They were granted joint custody of their two children.

The amount Kidman received was not disclosed but it was widely believed to have been more than the $100m (£69m) film director Steven Spielberg paid out to his ex-wife Amy Irving in 1989.

Since their separation both Kidman and Cruise have been linked romantically with other people.

In 2005 Tom Cruise announced he was engaged to actress Katie Holmes. And a year later Nicole Kidman got engaged to singer Keith Urban.