Big Shakeup in Hollywood
Back in 1989, famous movie director Steven Spielberg and actress Amy Irving got a divorce. The reason why it’s still a big deal? It cost Spielberg a whopping $100 million. But what’s really interesting is how it happened. It all came down to a prenuptial agreement, written casually on a cocktail napkin. Yes, a cocktail napkin turned out to be a very pricey mistake.
How a Scribble Cost Spielberg
Spielberg and Irving got married back in 1985. They decided to make a prenuptial agreement. What’s that? It’s an agreement that couples make before they get married. It usually talks about things like what happens if they ever decide to break up or if one of them passes away.
Usually, lawyers are involved in making these agreements. But Spielberg and Irving took a different route. They put their agreement on a cocktail napkin. No lawyers were there when they did it. Just them. It seemed like a relaxed and personal idea at the time. But it would cost Spielberg later on.
The Law Takes a Call
In 1989, the couple decided to part ways. Irving took a critical look at the napkin agreement. With no lawyer around when it was made, she contested its validity. It caused a big ruckus. It wasn’t just a local issue anymore but made headlines around the world.
The court decided in favor of Irving. The laws in California stated that Irving would get half of what Spielberg earned during their marriage years. The court’s decision gave a $100 million settlement to Irving. This left people, and undoubtedly Spielberg, surprised. It was, and still is, one of the most talked-about and costly celebrity divorces.
Inside the Love Tale of Spielberg and Irving
Spielberg and Irving’s relationship started in the mid-’70s. They met each other through a friend, Brian De Palma. Spielberg was looking for someone for his film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He saw Irving but eventually, someone else got the role. Despite that, Spielberg fell for Irving.
They dated on and off from around 1976 to 1989. Irving, during their relationship, did her best to be herself. She felt that Spielberg’s fame was overwhelming her own career. The couple called it quits but then got back together in 1985 when Irving was expecting their son, Max. But, the reunion didn’t last long. Some people say that Irving was still feeling suffocated due to Spielberg’s thriving career.
Lessons from their Story
The whole scenario of Spielberg and Irving’s divorce stirred quite the scene. People were quite interested to learn about the cocktail napkin agreement. There’s a key takeaway. No matter how well you trust someone, legal matters need a professional hand.
While Spielberg and Irving’s love story ended on a sad note, there’s a lesson for everyone. Any agreement, no matter how casual it seems, needs proper attention. A lawyer should be present, even if it feels unnecessary. Their story is a reminder that legal issues, especially in marriages, are not to be taken lightly.
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/spielbergs-100-million-divorce-the-cost-of-a-cocktail-napkin-prenup/