The 72-Day Marriage That Took 536 Days to Divorce

What Happened

Kim Kardashian and NBA player Kris Humphries married on August 20, 2011, in a lavish ceremony at a Montecito estate with 450 celebrity guests. The bride wore three Vera Wang dresses valued at $20,000 each. The wedding was filmed as a two-part television special for E! and reportedly earned the couple $17.9 million in media deals.

Just 72 days later, on October 31, 2011, Kim filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. The filing sent shockwaves through celebrity culture and immediately raised questions about whether the marriage had been a publicity stunt orchestrated for television ratings and brand promotion.

Humphries refused to accept a standard divorce and instead petitioned for an annulment, arguing the marriage was a fraud specifically staged for the Keeping Up with the Kardashians television franchise. This legal maneuver transformed what could have been a simple dissolution into a protracted 536-day court battle that did not conclude until April 2013.

In the final settlement, Humphries received no money despite initially requesting $7 million. Each party was responsible for their own attorney fees. Kardashian was required to return the 20.5-carat emerald-cut engagement ring, even though she had reportedly paid for most of it herself. The case became a textbook example of how the annulment-versus-divorce distinction can dramatically extend litigation timelines.

Legal Breakdown: Short marriages can create long legal battles when annulment vs. divorce is disputed

What This Means for Your Divorce