Swift & Kelce Said "I Do." But Did They Say "Prenup"?

Taylor Swift announced that Travis Kelce proposed in an Instagram post on August 26. Since then, the world has been buzzing with excitement – and speculation. Alongside the fanfare about wedding venues and possible love songs, another practical question inevitably surfaced: what about the prenup?

Some still view prenuptial agreements as unromantic, but the reality is that prenups are not about planning for divorce, they are about planning responsibly for the future. Think of it this way: Taylor Swift protects her music catalog with ironclad contracts, and Travis Kelce protects his body with insurance and training…why wouldn’t they protect their personal and financial lives with a prenup?

The power couple has a combined estimated net worth of about $1.67 billion, according to Forbes. But a prenup doesn’t have to just focus on the finances. For high-asset individuals like Taylor and Travis, a prenup serves several purposes:

Protecting Premarital Wealth – Swift’s estimated fortune exceeds one billion dollars, while Kelce has earned and continues to earn tens of millions from his NFL contracts, podcasts and endorsements. A prenuptial can safeguard assets each partner brings into the marriage. Plus, brands are loving their engagement. A prenup can address endorsements and work they get together and separate that begins before, during and potentially after their marriage.

Clarifying Marital vs. Separate Property – In Pennsylvania, the Divorce Code and principles of equitable distribution govern how property is designated as marital or separate, the value or increase thereof, and division of such. By executing a prenup, the couple can clearly define what will be shared versus retained individually and therefore prevent messy disputes later.

Addressing Future Earnings – For celebrities and athletes, income can fluctuate drastically. A prenup can outline how royalties, brand deals, and sports contracts are treated during and possibly after the marriage.

Safeguarding Businesses – A prenup can address and prevent ownership disputes if one or both spouses own a business.

Debt Protection – Perhaps irrelevant to this power couple, addressing debt is just as important as protecting assets. Prenups can keep one spouse from being responsible for the other’s liabilities.

Alimony – Pennsylvania recognizes three types of financial assistance between spouses: spousal support, alimony pendente lite and alimony. Couples can use a prenup to memorialize how much, if any at all, one spouse will support the other should they ever separate.

Ensuring Privacy – Taylor Swift has always maintained privacy about the specific details of her romantic relationships. The couple could use a prenup to protect their privacy should anything go south in their marriage. From precluding disparaging social media posts or interviews, precluding announcing a potential divorce or separation, to selecting an alternative dispute procedure rather than requiring any potential divorce to be heard by a judge, there are many ways to give clarity to a future hypothetical scenario.

While the headlines may focus on rings and romance, their relationship is a perfect example of why high-asset individuals – and couples – should carefully consider a prenuptial agreement before marriage.

Our firm regularly supports clients through the complexities of prenuptial agreements with compassion and discretion. If you are preparing for marriage and want to understand your options, book a consultation with attorney and Swiftie, Madeline Felix here.