Andre Agassi & Brooke Shields: Crystal Meth, Smashed Trophies, and a $130 Million Split
He was using crystal meth. She found out too late. The divorce cost $130 million.
Key Facts
What Happened
Andre Agassi and Brooke Shields were one of the most glamorous couples of the 1990s. The tennis superstar and the iconic actress began dating in 1993 and married in April 1997. But behind the public glamour, the marriage was fracturing from the start. Agassi was secretly using crystal methamphetamine — a fact he would later confess in his 2009 memoir 'Open' — and his tennis career was in freefall, his ranking having dropped to 141st in the world.
The marriage lasted just two years before Agassi filed for divorce in 1999. In his memoir, Agassi detailed extreme jealousy that drove irrational behavior. When Shields guest-starred on the sitcom Friends, playing a character who licked Joey's fingers, Agassi reportedly stormed off the set in a rage, drove to Las Vegas, and destroyed his own tennis trophies. Shields, whose own mother had struggled with severe addiction, was devastated that Agassi had hidden his substance abuse from her and then refused her suggestion of couples counseling.
The financial settlement was staggering: approximately $130 million, making it one of the most expensive divorce settlements in sports history. Reports indicate the monthly payment structure was $8.45 million per month, reflecting Agassi's massive career earnings and endorsement deals. Without children together, the settlement focused entirely on financial division rather than custody arrangements.
Both rebuilt their lives after the split. Agassi got sober, won the French Open in 1999 to complete his career Grand Slam, and married fellow tennis star Steffi Graf in 2001. Shields married TV writer Chris Henchy in 2001 and has spoken publicly about the divorce, revealing in her memoir that Agassi told her during the split: 'We could have been the greatest love story ever told.' Shields responded years later: 'I don't know if he was sorry about what he did or sorry about how it ended.'
Legal Breakdown: Celebrity Divorce
Hidden Substance Abuse as Grounds
Agassi's concealment of his crystal meth use could have constituted fraud in certain jurisdictions — marrying someone while hiding a serious drug addiction deprives them of informed consent. While the divorce was filed as no-fault, the hidden addiction likely influenced settlement negotiations. In many states, substance abuse that dissipates marital assets (through lost endorsements, career decline, or direct spending) can result in a larger share going to the non-addicted spouse.
High-Value Celebrity Settlements
The $130 million figure reflects not just current assets but projected future earnings, endorsement values, and the standard of living established during marriage. Even in a short two-year marriage, courts can award substantial settlements when one or both parties have extraordinary earning capacity. The monthly payment structure of $8.45 million suggests a structured settlement designed to manage tax implications and cash flow.
Short Marriage, Large Settlement
Conventional wisdom holds that shorter marriages lead to smaller settlements. The Agassi-Shields case proves this wrong. In high-net-worth divorces, the length of marriage is just one factor. Others include: the standard of living during marriage, each party's earning capacity, contributions to the marriage (including career sacrifices), and any misconduct. Shields, who was already wealthy, nonetheless received a massive settlement — partly reflecting the disruption to her own career and emotional wellbeing.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Hidden substance abuse can become a major factor in divorce negotiations — if your spouse is concealing addiction, document everything and consult an attorney about how it affects your state's divorce laws.
- →Short marriages can still result in enormous settlements, especially when significant wealth and earning potential are involved.
- →Refusing couples counseling when your spouse requests it is often a turning point in marriages — if your partner asks for help, take it seriously.
- →Memoirs and public confessions made years after divorce can reopen emotional wounds. Consider how your version of events might eventually become public.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.