Phil Collins & Orianne Cevey: Divorced for $46.7M, Reconciled, Then She Secretly Married Someone Else
He paid her $46.7 million. They got back together. Then she married another man while living in his house.
Key Facts
What Happened
Phil Collins, the legendary Genesis drummer and solo artist, married Swiss-born Orianne Cevey in 1999. They divorced in 2008 in a Swiss proceeding that resulted in a settlement of approximately $46.7 million — at the time, one of the largest divorce payouts in British celebrity history, though the divorce was actually governed by Swiss law due to their residence in the country.
In a twist that would strain credulity in fiction, the couple reconciled in 2016 and moved in together in Collins's $33 million Miami Beach mansion. They did not remarry. For four years, they lived as a couple again, with Collins reportedly believing they were rebuilding their relationship.
In August 2020, while Collins was in Europe, Cevey secretly married Thomas Bates, a 31-year-old musician, in a Las Vegas ceremony. She then refused to leave Collins's Miami home. Collins was forced to file an eviction lawsuit against his ex-wife and her new husband, who had installed armed guards at the property. Cevey countersued, claiming she had an oral agreement entitling her to a 50% interest in the home.
The legal battle was resolved in 2021 when Cevey vacated the property as part of a settlement. The terms were not disclosed, but Collins was reportedly forced to pay an additional sum to resolve her claims. Legal analysts described the case as a cautionary tale about the perils of reconciliation without proper legal protections — Collins's generosity in taking Cevey back without a cohabitation agreement or new prenup left him legally exposed when the reconciliation failed.
Legal Breakdown: Reconciliation Gone Wrong
Reconciliation Without Legal Protection
When Collins and Cevey reconciled without remarrying and without a cohabitation agreement, Collins had no legal framework governing their living arrangement. This left him vulnerable when Cevey claimed an interest in his property based on an alleged oral agreement.
Oral Agreements and Property Claims
Cevey claimed a verbal agreement gave her a 50% interest in Collins's home. Oral property agreements are difficult to prove but not impossible in some jurisdictions. Written cohabitation agreements eliminate this ambiguity entirely.
Eviction of a Former Spouse
Evicting someone from a property they have lived in — even if they are not on the title — requires formal legal proceedings. Squatter's rights and tenant protections can make this process slow and expensive, as Collins discovered when Cevey refused to leave.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you reconcile with an ex-spouse, get a cohabitation agreement or prenup before sharing a home again. Verbal understandings are legally meaningless.
- →Never allow an ex-spouse to move into your property without a written agreement specifying their rights and the conditions for vacating.
- →Oral agreements about property are dangerous. They are hard to disprove and can result in costly litigation. Put everything in writing.
- →Reconciliation is emotionally understandable, but legally it resets the playing field. Protect yourself as if you are entering a new relationship — because legally, you are.
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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.