Empowering Families

Lifestyles of the rich and famous—we hear about that all the time. And lately, we’ve been hearing a lot about the divorces of the rich and famous: the Bezos divorce, the Ross divorce, and now the Gates divorce. Many people wonder, what do the rich and famous worry about when they’re getting divorced? I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce attorney in New York City and Westchester County, New York, for over 30 years. I’ve represented a lot of very wealthy people, and I can tell you that they worry about some of the same things you do.

One major concern is their privacy and dignity. You might have read that Melinda Gates rented a private island to escape the paparazzi and protect herself and her children during the divorce process and the post-divorce adjustment period. While she has far more resources to protect her privacy than most of us, this is still something that deeply worries her. I’ve spoken to many people who are really concerned about how others will perceive them, how to handle pity, and how to create a narrative that allows them to maintain their dignity and self-worth without attacking the other person.

Another big concern for the wealthy, as it is for many, is their children. You might think it’s easier for kids in wealthy families, but it’s actually quite challenging. It’s hard for children in these environments to develop their own identities separate from their family name. Just like you, they worry about their kids and the pressure that comes with growing up in such an environment.

Lastly, they worry about maintaining a sense of normalcy and preserving their lifestyle. This might involve things we don’t usually think about, like private plane hours or exclusive golf memberships—things that are incredibly expensive. But it’s the same concept: what life looked like and what it felt like before the divorce. Believe it or not, even the very wealthy can worry about whether they’ll be able to afford their lifestyle post-divorce.