Monday, Nov. 23
Posted 2 p.m. EDT
Who doesn't want to believe in the happily-ever-after version of love? But the phrase "money talks" is as true in a marriage as it is in business -- and the more money there is, the louder it talks. Though we'd all like to give it a shot, many of the rich stumble badly when trying to incorporate a fortune into their family life.
And so brings us to actors Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, who are taking a bath in the media for reportedly renegotiating their three-year marriage contract, which expired this month.
The details, described by various news outlets, provide plenty of fodder for the gossips: Holmes is supposedly demanding an increase to $2 million in her clothing allowance, an additional $500,000 for supporting his Scientology religion, $11 million to give birth to a second child, and so on.
Predictably, representatives of the couple aren't talking, or they're denying the stories. After all, marriage and money are supposed to be private. In June, Forbes magazine ranked Cruise No. 47 in its Celebrity 100 in pay scale, with an annual take of $33 million. Frankly, the news would be more shocking if someone with that amount of wealth didn't have a marriage contract.
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