Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall: The $25 Million Annulment That Proved They Were Never Married
A Hindu ceremony in Bali, a chicken sacrifice, 4 kids, 22 years together — and a court ruling that none of it counted as a marriage
Key Facts
What Happened
Mick Jagger and supermodel Jerry Hall were one of rock's most glamorous couples for over two decades. They began dating in 1977 when Hall left Bryan Ferry for the Rolling Stones frontman. Together they had four children: Elizabeth (1984), James (1985), Georgia (1992), and Gabriel (1997). On November 21, 1990, they held a Hindu wedding ceremony in Bali, Indonesia, officiated by a Hindu priest who slit a chicken's throat to purify the venue.
The relationship survived Jagger's legendary infidelity for years, but in 1999, when Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez Morad announced she was pregnant with Jagger's child, Hall had enough. She filed for divorce in the High Court of England and Wales, seeking a share of Jagger's estimated $325 million fortune. Jagger's response was devastating: he publicly declared 'we are not married' and challenged the validity of their Bali ceremony.
The High Court agreed with Jagger. The Hindu ceremony was declared null and void ab initio — meaning it was legally invalid from the start. An Indonesian investigation revealed the couple had never registered their marriage as required by Indonesian law. Hall's attorneys argued common-law marriage and tried to establish the relationship as a de facto partnership, but English law does not recognize common-law marriage regardless of duration.
Hall walked away with an estimated $15–25 million — a fraction of Jagger's fortune — plus provisions for their four children. Had the marriage been recognized as valid, she could have claimed a far larger share under English matrimonial law. The case became a cautionary tale about destination weddings, the legal validity of religious ceremonies, and the critical importance of ensuring a marriage is properly registered. Hall later married media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2016 (they divorced in 2022).
Legal Breakdown: Celebrity Divorce
Legal Validity of Foreign Ceremonies
A wedding ceremony — no matter how beautiful — is not legally binding unless it complies with the laws of the jurisdiction where it takes place. Indonesian law required the Jagger-Hall marriage to be registered, and it never was. If you marry abroad, always verify registration requirements and obtain a certified marriage certificate.
Common-Law Marriage Limitations
Hall tried to argue that 22 years together and four children constituted a de facto marriage. However, England does not recognize common-law marriage at all. In the US, only a handful of states still recognize it (Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Rhode Island by case law). Never assume living together creates marriage rights.
The Financial Cost of an Annulment vs. Divorce
Because the marriage was annulled rather than dissolved through divorce, Hall's claim to Jagger's assets was dramatically weakened. In a valid English divorce, courts can distribute assets based on need, contribution, and standard of living. An annulment treats the marriage as if it never existed, limiting financial claims to child support and any separate agreements.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you marry abroad, verify that the ceremony is legally valid under both local law and the law of your home country. Obtain a certified marriage certificate.
- →Do not rely on 'common-law marriage' protections — most jurisdictions do not recognize them, regardless of how long you've lived together.
- →An annulment and a divorce produce very different financial outcomes. If your spouse challenges the validity of your marriage, get legal counsel immediately.
- →Religious or cultural ceremonies are beautiful, but without proper legal registration, they provide zero legal protection.
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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.