ELLEN’S $360M DIVORCE Ellen Degeneres
The Ring Is Off! finally accepts that her marriage is over — and prepares to fight Portia de Rossi over her fortune
She’s finally faced the truth. As Ellen Degeneres joined a male friend to shop for rugs in West Hollywood on June 6, her left hand was conspicuously bare — the wedding band she’s worn for nearly nine years nowhere to be seen. “For Ellen to actually ditch her ring,” which she’d been photographed wearing just five days earlier on June 1, says an insider, “is a huge sign.”
The talk show host’s marriage is over. “It’s happening. She and Portia [de Rossi] are breaking up,” the insider tells In Touch exclusively. “Portia’s ring has been off for a while now, and though she would occasionally slip it on to show Ellen she was trying, that’s over now.” Sadly, years of problems dominated by a heartbreaking power struggle took its toll, says the insider, and despite their best efforts, Ellen and Portia’s marriage has crumbled, leaving Ellen’s estimated $360 million fortune up for grabs. “There’s no turning back,” says the insider, noting that like many stars on the verge of a split, the pair have put multiple homes on the market in recent months (see sidebar). “It’s just a matter of time before the whole world knows.”
Ellen didn’t want this, says the insider. The 59-year-old, who canceled an appearance at a June 8 AFI Gala at the last minute, citing illness, “would prefer to stay married, but Portia was tired of living under her thumb,” says the insider. The couple had weathered many issues over the years, including concerns over Portia’s health, addictions ( Portia quietly went to rehab in 2014), cheating accusations and conflicting desires to start a family. But the one constant “is that Ellen can’t let go of her controlling behavior,” says the insider. “Bottom line, Portia feels Ellen didn’t let her be herself or develop her acting career more. She’s said she needs to break free or she’s going to snap.”
After so many years together, it could get ugly. Portia, 44, “feels like Ellen has given her a lot, but Ellen also took away a lot. Portia will make demands,” says the insider, who adds that while they had a prenup, there are plenty of loopholes. “Portia will go after half of Ellen’s fortune,” says the insider. “Ellen’s attorneys will fight it as much as possible, but Ellen wants to keep the details of the divorce private. The last thing she wants is her dirty laundry plastered all over. She’s beloved by millions, but they don’t know what she’s really like behind closed doors.”
And Portia knows all her secrets. “Ellen will pay to guarantee that Portia won’t go public with their relationship and marriage in a future tellall book,” says the insider. “Ellen wants to protect her reputation and her brand. If Portia plays her cards right, Ellen will give her whatever she wants.” ◼