Nick Cannon & Mariah Carey Divorce

What Happened

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey married on April 30, 2008, at Carey's private estate on Windermere Island in the Bahamas. They renewed their vows annually, a romantic tradition that masked growing tensions. They welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe in 2011. By December 2014, the couple separated, though the divorce would not be finalized until November 2016.

The financial stakes were enormous. Carey's net worth was estimated at over $300 million, while Cannon's was closer to $50 million. Their combined estate approached $570 million. However, a prenuptial agreement that Cannon had agreed to before the wedding proved to be the linchpin that kept the divorce manageable.

Under the prenup, each spouse kept the individual income they earned during the marriage. Cannon was required to place $5,000 per month in a trust fund for the twins. Carey agreed to pay Cannon's travel and lodging expenses when he visited the children. In a unique clause, the agreement stipulated that the twins could not refer to anyone other than Mariah and Nick as their parental figures. Carey also signed over a 2012 Ferrari to Cannon.

The Cannon-Carey divorce is often cited as a model for how prenuptial agreements can prevent protracted litigation. By establishing clear financial boundaries before the marriage, both parties avoided the bitter asset disputes that typically accompany celebrity splits of this magnitude. Cannon has since spoken about how the divorce, particularly losing Carey, was a trauma that influenced major life decisions.

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