Vera Wang & Arthur Becker
The bridal gown queen whose own marriage ended after twenty-three years
Key Facts
What Happened
Vera Wang, the designer synonymous with wedding gowns, married Arthur Becker in an interfaith Baptist-Jewish ceremony in 1989. The couple adopted two daughters, Cecilia and Josephine, and built both a family and a fashion empire together. Becker, a financier and real estate investor, became deeply involved in Wang's business, joining her management team in 2010.
The separation announcement came in July 2012, just two weeks before their twenty-third wedding anniversary. The couple issued a joint statement describing the split as mutual and amicable, emphasizing their devotion to their daughters. The irony of the world's most famous bridal designer divorcing was not lost on the media, which amplified the story globally.
The business entanglement made the separation particularly complex. Becker had been instrumental in growing the Vera Wang brand internationally, and his role on the management team meant the divorce required untangling both personal and professional relationships. The specific financial terms were never disclosed, but the complexity of separating a spouse who is also a business partner added layers to the proceedings.
Wang later described herself as a 'fashion nun,' focusing entirely on her work after the separation. She has spoken about the emotional difficulty of ending a long marriage while maintaining a public persona built around wedding celebrations. The case resonated with many business-owning couples who recognized the additional complexity of divorcing when your spouse is also integral to your livelihood.
Legal Breakdown: Separating business and marriage when your spouse is also your business partner
Spouse as Business Partner
When your spouse is also your business partner, divorce requires simultaneously dissolving the personal relationship and restructuring the business relationship. This often requires separate legal counsel for the business aspects and the family law aspects of the separation.
Brand Built During Marriage
The Vera Wang brand was established during the marriage, making it a marital asset subject to division. However, because the brand is tied to Vera Wang's personal identity and ongoing creative work, valuation and division are more complex than splitting a conventional business.
Amicable Divorce Strategy
The Wangs' amicable approach likely involved mediation or collaborative divorce rather than litigation. In cases where both parties have significant assets and a desire to avoid public conflict, these alternative dispute resolution methods can preserve both relationships and business value.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If your spouse is involved in your business, establish clear operating agreements that address what happens to their role if the marriage ends.
- →Collaborative divorce or mediation can preserve business value that litigation would destroy through publicity and conflict.
- →When separating from a business-partner spouse, hire both a family law attorney and a business attorney to address all dimensions of the split.
- →An amicable divorce requires genuine commitment from both parties -- do not assume goodwill will survive the stress of asset division.
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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.