At the beginning of September, Kaley Cuoco filed for divorce from Karl Cook. It was kind of a strange breakup because they were always a strange couple anyway. They were united in their love of horses and dogs, he was the privileged (and odd) son of a billionaire, and Kaley is a self-made and very rich actress. They had a prenup and there is very little gossip about them beyond “maybe she’s banging her costar Pete Davidson.” And we haven’t even heard anything about that in weeks, so I don’t know. In any case, Star Magazine had this interesting little item about how Karl wants Kaley to give back all of the jewelry he gave her.
Two weeks after Kaley Cuoco and Karl Cook announced they were ending their marriage “despite a deep love and respect for one another,” Cook submitted his response to Kaley’s divorce filing – and it’s looking a little petty.
While agreeing to the terms of the prenup, Karl – whose dad is worth $6 billion – had a special request. In the court papers, he asked for the return of “miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects.” Including, a source tells Star, family heirlooms, as well as baubles Kaley thought were hers to keep.
“She’s not going to squabble over a few jewels,” adds the insider. “But Kaley thinks it’s a low blow. She thought these were gifts, not loaners.”
[From Star Magazine, print edition]
Family heirlooms, okay. If he gave her some pieces which belonged to a grandmother or a great-aunt, of course Kaley should return those pieces. But if he’s asking for her to return jewelry gifts which he purchased for her… no, that’s tacky as hell. I also wonder – and I’ve always wondered – how much Cook really has of his own. We know the whole “son of a billionaire” thing and all that, but I always felt like Kaley was smart to make him sign a prenup, because he probably would have tried to come for her money.
Photos courtesy of Kaley’s IG, Avalon Red.
Rich people and their jewelry. Unpopular opinion but jewelry is so worthless. Yes, I get heirlooms and all. But spending thousands on some Tiffany diamonds? I can’t even with that.
Especially when you can buy synthetic jewels that are no different from the real thing, except they didn’t involve hurting people to get them, and are way less expensive.
Seriously, natural gems (and diamonds in particular) are basically just shiny little pebbles of evil and exploitation.
Now if he had asked for a horse to be returned … My unpopular opinion is serious horse people are usually self-absorbed, socially awkward people who sing one note (horses).
Agreed. He seems socially awkward to me too.
I think if he came for any of Kaley’s animals, the gloves would come off.
This describes the “horse people” I know.
Hi, my name is Giddy and I’m a jewelry slut. I gaze longingly at Bulgari ads. I love looking in Cartier and Tiffany windows. My husband knows that the path to my heart is paved with 14 karat. I may not have a lot, but what I have I love. Yes, I’m a shallow jewelry slut. I’m so ashamed.(-;
Is there room on that couch? If so, move over, Giddy.
All these people…. the only car anyone needs is a used Toyota Corolla to get from A to B. If anyone has anything fancier than that it’s “jewelry”: Radio. Moon roof. Nice color. power windows. All jewelry.
All the things/experiences people buy because “thing” makes them feel good/fancy/happy is “jewelry”. Completely subjective.
And I follow jewelry the way this site follows celebrities.
Workers at Graff: “oh hell, it’s her again outside the window drooling. Get the squeegee”
You are right. I went to a book signing where the author who is a gemologist told us the true price of diamonds and the gentleman behind me whispered loudly to his wife, “Well that was a waste of $80,000 for your ring! I might as well thrown it out the window.” Apparently each carat is only worth around $300 on the diamond market and only slightly more for clarity, etc. However I had broken up with a former fiancé (his fault) and I gave him back his ring because it had been in the family for over two hundred years. Had it been a new ring I would have kept it for all the heartache he caused.
Buy them secondhand if you want them. They are WAY cheaper. You can always get them set how you want them.
I confess I have ordered a necklace of my signature in gold (filled). I have a beautiful sig and I never get to use it anymore because everything is done digitally now.
It may unkind to speculate, but this makes me think of William and Kate and what would happen to Diana’s engagement ring (as an heirloom) if they were to divorce.
Diana kept it after her divorce. I would expect that Kate will keep it too and hand it down to one of her children.
I am not sure if she can keep it.
It may belong to some collection?
It still technically belongs to William. Unless in a divorce William gives it to Kate, it will stay William’s.
Honest question, @Wiglet Watcher — How does this work? In most of the divorce proceedings (and even broken engagements) I’ve seen where the ring has come into question in court, the ring has always gone to the party it was given to in the proposal or ceremony. This has included one acquaintance who kept the groom’s family heirloom (it was petty, but there were *reasons*).
I would assume that if there’s a prenup this is a non-issue, but rings generally aren’t considered marital property, so why wouldn’t Kate be allowed to keep this gift? Is it a loaner that she wears for formal engagements, and she has a private ring (or set of rings) that she wears (or doesn’t — no judgement) at home? How can it both be her wedding ring and Billiam’s property?
I thought the engagement ring was Harry’s, and he gave it to William to give to Kate.
@Cathy It would be best if Big Blue got lost in the deep blue forevermore, so it doesn’t return to curse a third generation.
As for KC: how cheap.
I’ve wondered that, too. But then, I’ve also always thought it was kinda weird to give her his mother’s engagement ring in the first place. That was an absolutely miserable marriage, and if I were Kate, I don’t think I’d want that bad juju. He could’ve just had the gems from that ring set in a new piece!
I am sure Waity, being the doormat that she’s always been, ever had a say in the matter.
I totally agree – why would you want a ring that represents a miserable marriage?
My daughter wants my engagement ring that her dad gave me, even though we divorced. I’m thinking of having it remade into another piece of jewelry for her 16th birthday, because the diamonds really are pretty, even if the marriage wasn’t.
I agree. Totally bad juju. But Kate wouldn’t see it that way. The way she likes to cosplay Diana, she would see it as the ultimate accessory. A definitive statement that she has arrived.
@Mcmmom – get it reset and smudge the hell out of it. Gets rid of any lingering bad energy.
Somehow I have a soft spot for Kaley, she seem messy, but genuinely kind person. And her divorce is so strange this time!! They seemed to be such a chill couple, what could be the reason?!!…
The picture in the thumbnail had me dying hahaha
Regarding the pre-nupt: Karl’s family is rich. But Kaley herself is rich. He has a trust, she has capital.
(but yeah give Granny’s rings back)
I am of the mind, that while a “nice gesture” would be to give back a family piece, so it stays in the line (if wanted), HOWEVER, once a piece is gifted, it is the recipient’s to do with as they choose (unless otherwise stipulated when given).
I have a necklace that I had made out of my mom’s engagement diamond. I kept the stone, with its platinum corners (that make it look square) inserted into the open center of a diamond heart my uncle gave me. I used the baguettes of the ring for the bale. It has tremendous sentimental value to me. I put into my Living Trust that whichever of my nephews has a daughter/granddaughter, I’d like her to have it, or if they don’t, and a wife would like to wear it, it is given to use with the stipulation it is kept and passed down to a daughter/granddaughter of either nephew (ie: the wife can’t “keep” it if they split up).
Now, granted, I will be gone and have no way of knowing if this will be followed, but both of my nephews know my wishes, and that’s the best it will be.
As to the rest of my magpie collection 😊 , they can split it and use/sell as they see fit, as is stated in my trust. A gift is a gift is a gift. Theirs to do with.
IF I am around when they marry, and I wish to LOAN a piece prior, I sure as hell would expect it back, as it hadn’t been GIVEN yet,.
Just here to say I love how you called it your “magpie collection” haha I will have to steal it (I don’t have a magpie collection of serious jewels but if I start one that’s what it will be called!)
Karl has what Daddy gives him. Which is a lot by way of homes, horses, travel & expenses but he doesn’t have income outside of purses from eventing
Always thought he looked like a weird Eric Trump, if it’s even possible that he looks even weirder than Eric.
Oh geez now I can’t unsee that!
Same!
He does! That was my first thought as well.
YUP!!! He was always an “Eric” to me.
Except Karl doesn’t have the blank, stupid, mouth-breathing facial expression that Eric does.
Weirdo face trumps idiot face.
I can understand giving heirlooms back, but giving back non-heirloom gifts? That’s just petty asshole stuff. Either he’s being an asshole, or he desperately needs the money for selling the jewelry.
Yup, this is a total dick move. My dad wanted the jewelry back in the divorce and the judge said no, they were given as gifts so they were her property. Once she passed he told me he wanted them back, I told him the judge during the divorce claimed that they were her property and he wasn’t getting them back, period.
I love the picture of them in front of the “why him?” Background. Totally nails it for me.
He looks like a slightly cute version of Eric Trump
“That painting was a gift, Todd!”
If it isn’t an heirloom, then he’s just being petty. Jewelry holds it value so poorly that if he wants it back to sell it, he’s only going to get cents on the dollar.
Karma-wise, I believe whoever didn’t do the leaving gets to keep the jewelry, i.e. it’s a bad look to be the dumper and keep all the dump-ee’s jewelry and gifts.
(Obvious exceptions if the dump-er is improverished, abused, cheated on, etc. where it took a lot to walk away.)
But, say, you’re independently rich and cheated or got bored with marriage, dump your spouse, then try to keep their isht? That’s tacky.
We actually don’t know why they split up. Just speculation. Though there have been plenty of rumors about him being a cheater.
Equestrian circuit life is expensive and doesn’t make a lot of money unless you’re top tier consistently. I wonder if he’s 100% supported by daddy’s money or actually has a source of real income for himself.
When I divorces my ex husband, there was no way I’d be giving back any of the jewelery be gave me. I understand about wanting family heirlooms back though.
I hope she stays single for a while and eventually picks a good dude. She seems like a sweet person and likely wants a family.
If it isn’t an heirloom he’s griping about then that’s tacky. The law been shown that gifts aren’t obligated to be returned because…they were…given. Not loaned, but given.
He’s only 30?!?!! My god, I don’t get the appeal at all.
Legally she’s entitled to keep all gifts received during the marriage, unless they were specifically mentioned in the prenup. Of course it would be nice to give back family items or sentimental pieces.
I think engagement rings usually go back to the person who purchased if the wedding doesn’t happen (gift was given contingent on an event happening) – meaning the courts usually make someone return the ring or the value of the ring if the wedding is called off.
I think it’s fair game. I had a broken engagement back in my late 20’s. I gave back the ring and all the jewelry that his parents had gifted me over the years. It seemed way too expensive to keep when I was no longer going to be their daughter in law. The diamonds I got I assumed I did because they were intending for them to eventually be passed down to our children.
In NZ where I am an engagement ring is part of the contract of marriage. If the engagement is canceled the ring must go back. As soon as you are married the ring becomes the wife’s personal property. Any other jewelry acquired within the marriage belongs to the receiver and won’t be part of any matrimonial property to be jointly split. You can’t legally request gifts back. Even family heirloom cases have failed in court.