Like most millennial women, I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. When News dropped this afternoon that she and Travis Kelce are engaged, it felt like my own version of a royal wedding. I love love, and I’ll be cheering for this couple all the way down the aisle. But even as a hopeless romantic, I can’t ignore the practical side of me that says: Taylor should still get a prenup
Taylor has spent nearly two decades building a music empire. From the Eras Tour to reclaiming of her masters, her career is a masterclass in strategy and grit. A prenup is about making sure the person who built the empire gets to keep it. Without one, courts decide what’s fair… and history shows us that can get messy.
Look at Paul McCartney and Heather Mills: without a prenup, his divorce settlement cost nearly $50 million. Or Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving, whose lack of a prenup reportedly cost Spielberg around $100 million in the 1980s. That’s not just expensive, it’s also disruptive to the legacy they worked so hard to create.
To me, a prenup doesn’t signal doubt in love. It signals respect. As Taylor sings in Love Story: “This is our place, we make the rules.” With a prenup, a couple sets their own rules for finances instead of leaving it up to the court.
And some celebrities prove just how valuable that can be. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had a prenup that reportedly protected Kim’s businesses and ensured a clear separation of assets if (and ultimately when) their marriage ended. Similarly, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had one in place that allowed their split to be finalized in just 11 days. Having represented clients through years of litigation, it’s clear that a prenup can actually make breakups less dramatic.
Life is unpredictable and as Taylor has reminded us, relationships can shift from Enchanted to All Too Well in a heartbeat. A prenup helps couples avoid messy courtroom drama by setting expectations now.
It’s not about expecting the worst, but about planning wisely. Think of it like tour insurance: you hope you’ll never need it, but you’ll be glad you have it if things go sideways.
I’ll always root for Taylor and Travis, and I truly hope their story lasts forever. But even for the most magical love stories, a prenup is smart. It protects both partners, keeps love at the center, and avoids distractions if life doesn’t go as planned.
I love love. I believe in forever. But I also believe in being practical. Even in a royal wedding (especially in a royal wedding) a prenup is part of the happily-ever-after.
