The rumor mill is working overtime around the Guy Richie/Madonna divorce, but the one I find most interesting is the speculation that there is no pre-nup. Did the woman with the reputation of being incredibly controlling, forthright and an excellent business manager actually marry for love? And forget to protect her not inconsiderable assets?

The New York Daily News says that Guy is after a chunk of money from his former Mrs.

Madonna didn’t make Guy Ritchie sign a prenuptial agreement – and now he’s going after a chunk of her massive fortune, a friend of hers told the Daily News Wednesday.

The pop icon and her director hubby are said to be worth $521 million, but the Material Mom brought most of that to the marriage.

“Guy wants to make himself out to be a gentleman who’s above money,” the Madonna pal said hours after the couple confirmed they’re splitting.

“If only that was the case. The truth is he’s looking for a nice piece of the pie.”

But Australian and British news outlets report that Guy won’t ask for a single penny.

This fact that Madonna married for the same reason us common folk do could actually be an excellent chance to show a new, softer side of Madonna. In recent years her body has hardened along with her reputation, but the fact that she truly marries for life (well, she thought it was going to be, don’t we all?).

Madonna also supposedly told friends that Guy is the cause of the break up. Again, revealing a softer side of her. Speculation has been that her desire to adopt another child, as well as how much time she spends in the United States, was responsible for a rift in the relationship that they could not heal:

The superstar singer told pals she had decided to end her seven-year marriage to film director Guy, 40, because he:

REFUSED to dip into his own £30million fortune to pay for their lifestyle — while sponging off her massive wealth;

IGNORED her pleas to spend more time in New York and shunned her love of the Kabbalah faith;

FAILED to support her emotionally over child adoption plans, and;

MOANED about her being in the limelight as his career disappeared.

Madonna, 50, was also furious about Guy’s involvement in a London pub he bought with her and pals — telling friends that he put it before his family.

The Sun

Of course, Madonna also has a reputation for being a master of media manipulation, for all we know she’s about to release an album of tear jerking breakup songs, and this is warming us up for it.

Madonna has apparently hired divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who represented Paul McCartney in his divorce. These rumors have surfaced previously in the past few months, which gives credence to another bit of talk – that the divorce will be finalized in short order, and that it has been underway for some time.

Deep down in my little heart, I truly, deeply believe that the most romantic thing a couple can do is talk about the legal specifics of their love. What says “I am passionately, over-the-moon in love with my new spouse” more than calling Ryan Seacrest three days after you got married to tell him about your pre-nup? You’re sitting there silently because the answer to that question is obvious: nothing. Nothing says love more than chatting amicably with Seacrest’s hair spikes about your big day.

And as a wedding gift to his new wife, that’s exactly what Pete Wentz did this morning. Actually, he snuck out of his bedroom while Ashlee was still asleep. But that’s just a technicality.

“We have signed a pre-nup,” the newlywed rocker admitted on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show Tuesday. (Ashlee was alseep, he said.) He said “she legally is a Wentz … I don’t know what she’ll do with her stage name, that’s up to her. She hasn’t decided that.”

He said they’re skipping out on a honeymoon (for now) and have been hanging out in their basement in L.A. “We got some blow-up palm trees,” Wentz said. “A little fake-n-bake tanning booth. We’re eating DiGiorno’s pizza, getting in that tanning oven every once in a while, it’s great. It’s gonna look like we’re on that private jet,” he added. “We’re gonna save that 30 grand, you know?” I feel great!” he said. “It is sunny and 65 in my head.”

Wentz still refused to confirm Simpson’s pregnancy. When Seacrest asked why they decided to wed now, Wentz replied, “I get the backdoor question you’re asking me, but it’s been something we’ve been planning for a long time. I gave her a promise ring four months ago.” Seacrest later asked if he’s thought about baby names. Wentz laughed. “Ryan, this baby has not been confirmed,” he said. “The only thing I’m confirming now is that we’re in the basement on our honeymoon with these blow-up palm trees.”

[From Us Magazine]

Um…

Um…….. alright. Where to start. [JayBird inhales deeply]. I didn’t HEAR the interview, so it’s hard for me to tell if/to what extent Pete Wentz is teasing. On the one hand, my instinct is to think Ryan Seacrest must have asked him what they were doing instead of a honeymoon, and Pete was just joking. On the other hand, it’s Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson, and having a bunch of blow-up palm trees and a microwave pizza for a basement honeymoon doesn’t seem that out of character.

I will point out that Pete said this” baby has not been confirmed. Not “a” baby has not been confirmed. To me, the phrasing he used is a little more personal, and implies that a baby does indeed exist. But frankly my brain is so boggled from trying to figure out if there’s a blow-up kiddie pool in the Simpson/Wentz basement that I’m not sure I’m able to dissect the inner-workings of Pete Wentz’s brain. And I’m pretty much okay with that.

Here’s Pete Wentz trying to eat Ashlee Simpson’s face at the Cloverfield premiere on January 1st. Images thanks to WENN.

Everyone assumed that music superstar Mariah Carey didn’t have the wherewithal to protect her assets before she married 9 years’ younger rapper/actor Nick Cannon in a super secret ceremony in the Bahamas last week. Carey and Cannon knew each other as acquaintances in the music business for years, but only started dating after Cannon worked with Mariah on a music video less than three months ago.

Since Mariah and Nick got married so fast, everyone was kind of chuckling and wondering how much of her fortune the lucky guy would walk away with when they inevitably split. It turns out that Mariah did get a prenup, according to sources quoted by Fox News.

The happy couple is also said to be planning a larger reception and perhaps another ceremony when they get back to NY from their honeymoon:

Mariah Carey — yes, she’s married, it’s confirmed, it really happened down there in the Bahamas. She is now Mrs. Nick Cannon. You always thought you’d marry Mariah? Well, you’re too late now!

More importantly: Miss Mariah and Mr. Cannon have a very nice prenuptial agreement.
Mariah apparently told a mutual pal of ours: “Anyone who thinks we didn’t have a prenup is smoking something!!!”

This is not the Mariah Carey of old. She is a smart, smart business woman. Just for example: post Tommy Mottola, Carey nabbed $50 million from her short lived deal with Virgin Records. After “Glitter,” they just paid her all that to walk away!

She’s had three hit albums since then: “Charmbracelet,” “Emancipation of Mimi,” and the current “E=MC2.” She has her own perfume line, as well. Mariah also has substantial real estate holdings. And let’s not forget the publishing royalties. Her name is on every song. This is not Whitney. She has a small fortune, and she’s not about to lose it, even in love.

As for the wedding, I know this much: Mariah’s cousin, Shawn McDonald, walked her down the aisle. And the Bahamas ceremony will not be the only one. When Mariah and Nick return from their honeymoon, expect a big party and maybe even a second ceremony, something not so secret, for all the singer’s New York pals.

[From FoxNews.com via Gossip Rocks]

I hope these two have several huge parties in NY to celebrate their wedding, because nothing says lasting love like having multiple parties as showy demonstrations of your newly-wedded bliss. Just ask Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock.

Whatever happens with Mariah and Nick, she’s not about to get fleeced and she’s not stupid. She is vain, though, so look for photos of Mariah wearing a gown and flanked by attendants in OK! or People Magazine in a month or two.

Nick Cannon is shown at the Tribeca Film Festival on 4/26/08. Nick Carey is also shown there on the same date, and they took pains not to be photographed together.

Beyonce and Jay-Z performing at Radio City Music Hall in June, 2006
Beyonce and Jay-Z got married in a moderately top secret small wedding and reception at Jay-Z’s Tribeca penthouse apartment in early April. The paparazzi were crowded outside, surrounding guests limos like zombies hungry for brains, but apart from some subdued photos of people coming and leaving there were no pictures of the event. For a female performer known for multiple elaborate costume changes and extravagant wigs, Beyonce kept her special day surprisingly private. It wasn’t without its luxuries of course. The venue was decorated all in white, guests were instructed to wear white, and 50 to 60 thousand white orchids were imported from Thailand.

Rumor has it that Beyonce is expecting a child with Jay-Z, and that may have prompted the longterm couple to get married quickly, but the date of their wedding had special significance for them and suggests it was planned well in advance. Their birthdays both fall on the fourth of separate months, they have roman numeral IV tattoos on their ring fingers, and their wedding was held on 4/4/08.

If Beyonce is pregnant, a potential child with Jay-Z is worth $5 million under her prenuptial agreement. She has her own empire and is a multi-millionaire in her own right. Jay-Z is worth at least $300 million, though, and his financial advisers are said to have encouraged him to draw up a prenup to protect his assets. He supposedly made it generous in order to be fair:

“The prenup calls for Jay-Z to pay Beyonce $10 million if the marriage ends after two years, and $1 million dollars a year for each further year she remains in the marriage, up to 15 years,” revealed a source familiar with the deal.

“If they do split, he’s promised to pony up $10 million to buy her a home..

“He’s promised to pay her an additional $5 million for each child she bears him – for her ‘loss of income’ during the pregnancy and child-rearing years.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 12, 2008]

Other provisions in the rumored prenup include “access to their private jet and a fleet of cars,” and all expenses paid college educations for their future children.

Doesn’t it seem like the prenup should pay out more the longer you stay with the person, like the amount increases per year so that spouses aren’t encouraged to cash out early? Maybe they assume that if you’re with someone for financial reasons it’s better not to include incentives to stick it out under false pretenses.

It seems like a necessity for celebrities and people with money to get prenuptial agreements since everyone’s chances at a lasting marriage are about 50/50. You also never know if you’ll have a successful career and eclipse your spouse’s earnings, and how your circumstances may change. I remember reading Suze Orman and being impressed by her reasons to always get a prenup.

Beyonce and Jay-Z have been together for a while, and there have been faint rumblings that they’re fighting or having trouble, but they’ve stuck it out and kept their relationship private. I bet they’ll last, and that they’re aiming for 4 kids.

Beyonce made a brief appearance at Jay-Z’s concert at Madison Square Garden on Friday. The first few bars of “Crazy in Love” came on and Beyonce did a dance on stage briefly. Jay-Z said “that’s some good shit right there,” which may have been a reference to the rumor that he got mad andmade the DJ stop playing “Crazy in Love” at an earlier show.

Beyonce sure can move, but it’s hard to tell if she’s pregnant or not. The camera stays on her upper body on the big screen on stage and never moves down.

Thanks to NecoleBitchie via ONTD for this video.

While pregnant teen actress Jamie Lynn Spears may have it easier than most teen moms-to-be in the financial department, her pregnancy has not been without stress and drama – and some of it even revolves around her money. First, there’s the fact that her older sister is a basket case and her parents are so caught up in taking care of her that poor Jamie Lynn seems to be on her own much of the time. Then there’s the father of her child, Casey Aldridge, who is pretty much a backwoods redneck who likes to pull guns on the paparazzi and bring the mother of his unborn child to barf parties. Now, as Jamie Lynn enters the final months of her pregnancy, she is attending therapy and taking parenting classes, while Casey is refusing to sign a prenup, as demanded by stage mom Lynne Spears.

As her June due date draws near, the pregnant 17-year-old is seeking the advice of a life coach near her Kentwood, La. home to deal with her difficult situation. It isn’t just an ordinary fear of childbirth, says in insider. Jamie Lynn is also afraid that the depression that seems to run in her family will overshadow her baby joy…

The pregnant teen is also losing sleep over her relationship with fiance Casey Aldridge. Though she and Casey are engaged, family friends doubt they will ever get married. “He doesn’t seem to be as committed,” the friend explained.

Another family friend added, “Casey and Jamie Lynn might not have the maturity level to get married. At this stage, it’s probably not a good idea.”

Although Jamie Lynn loves Casey, she may be having second thoughts herself. “An engagement is easier to end than a marriage,” says a pal. “Reality is setting in, and she’s freaking out.”

Does Casey want more money? Jamie Lynn is wearing Casey’s ring, but her 19-year-old fiance still hasn’t signed the prenuptial agreement- a document her parents have demanded he agree to before they can wed.

“Casey has had the prenup for a while,” says a Spears family insider. “It’s a sign there could be something wrong.”

Casey could be waiting for a bigger share of Jamie Lynn’s fortune if they divorce – or the teenager may just have cold feet about getting married.

[From In Touch Weekly print version, May 5, 2008]

The article also made a big deal out of the fact that Jamie Lynn has been spending a lot of time by herself, leaving Casey at home while she does errands and shops for the baby, but it’s more likely that the kid just doesn’t like being hounded by photographers. As for the prenup, given what happened to her sister, Jamie Lynn would be nuts to move forward on the wedding without one. She may not be worth as much as Britney yet, but she’s worked hard to earn that money and it would be a shame if this kid somehow could lay claim to it. Hopefully these issues will be resolved so she can relax and focus on the birth, but something tells me this situation is only beginning to get out of hand.

Jamie Lynn and Casey are shown on 4/4/08, thanks to Splash News.

Lynne Spears, still dealing with two daughters whose lives have gone off the rails, is now demanding that younger daughter, pregnant teen Jamie Lynn, draft up a pre-nuptial agreement before marrying her babydaddy, Casey Aldridge. Sources say that Lynne has come to terms with Jamie Lynn’s decision to marry Aldridge, but still harbors doubts about the boy’s intentions and level of commitment, which is why she suggested the pre-nup.

Pregnant teenager Jamie Lynn Spears has a diamond ring on her finger, but there are still obstacles to overcome before she and Casey Aldridge, 18, can be married. Her mother, Lynne Spears, has insisted that the couple sign a prenuptial contract to protect the Zoey 101 star’s assets.

“The contract is already drawn up and ready to go,” an insider confirms to In Touch. “Lynne’s not sure marriage is a good idea, but she’ll go along with that if that’s what Jamie Lynn wants — as long as Casey signs the contract.”

A Spears family confidant says that Lynne, who flew home to Kentwood, La., to celebrate Jamie Lynn’s April 4 birthday, is worried about Casey. “He doesn’t seem as committed to the relationship as Jamie Lynn,” says the confidant, adding that the family is aware of the rumors that he’s cheated. “Lynne is keeping an eye on him.”

[From In Touch Weekly]

Lynne is the one responsible for the Britney/K-Fed prenup as well, which probably saved Britney from losing half of her fortune during the ugly divorce and ongoing custody battle. While it’s true that Brit has been ordered to foot the bill for her ex’s attorney, and pay child support to him since losing custody of the children, K-Fed has no claims to her fortune other than the original $300k settlement he got when the divorced was finalized. Lynne actually did something right there! Funny how Lynne is smart when it comes to her daughters’ fortunes, but can’t seem to handle all the other aspects of decent parenting, isn’t it?

Jamie Lynn Spears is shown on 4/31/08, thanks to Splash News.