Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel
Star’s prenup means any infidelity would be very costly
WHEN JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE WAS snapped in New Orleans canoodling with his movie co-star Alisha Wainwright last month, rumours swirled that he was cheating on his wife Jessica Biel.
The former boy band singer was forced to issue a grovelling apology on Instagram, admitting it was a “strong lapse in judgement” and denying that anything had happened between the pair, who play lovers in the coming film, Palmer. He added: “This is not the example I want to set for my son. I apologise to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation.”
The crisis brought into focus the prenuptial agreement the couple signed before their
$10 million Italian wedding in 2012, which reportedly states Biel would be entitled to $730,000 if he is unfaithful. It’s not clear whether the definition of ‘unfaithful’ would include his recent holding hands and stroking of legs.
If Biel did call time on their marriage, it’s unlikely she’d be entitled to much of her husband’s $292 million fortune due to the contract she signed. She is said to be worth $26 million in her own right.
The couple’s well-publicised prenup began a trend in so-called ‘lifestyle clauses’ within such arrangements, according to assetprotection lawyer Ann-Margaret Carrozza.
“These clauses can deal with items of concern such as substance abuse, infidelity, weight gain, spending and more,” she said.
In fact, almost anything about the relationship can be included.
“[They] address non-financial aspects of marriage, like who will do the housework, frequency of vacations, permissible number of visits from in-laws ... and even weight requirements,” finance expert Jeff Landers told Forbes. Some couples have even stipulated how many times a week they must have sex.
It’s been widely reported that Beyoncé’s marriage contract with Jay-Z states that she is entitled to $7.3 million for every child she has with him, as well as an additional $1.5 million annually for every year they are married, up to a maximum of 15 years.