Taylor Swift: Prenup or pet-nup?  Why both might be on the table

With Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement lighting up headlines and social media feeds, fans and experts alike are buzzing about what comes next for the pop icon and American football star. But beyond the dazzling ring and romantic Instagram captions, one question looms large: Does Taylor Swift need a prenup — or perhaps even a pet-nup?

Why a Prenup might be essential for Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is worth an estimated $1.6 billion, thanks to her record-breaking Eras Tour, music catalogue, real estate empire, and brand partnerships.  

Travis Kelce, while no financial slouch, has a net worth of around $70 million, approximately 4.4% of Swift’s, bolstered by his American football career, podcasting, and endorsements. 

A prenuptial agreement is highly recommended for a couple with such disparate and substantial wealth. A prenup would likely cover how to divvy up:

  • Premarital assets (like Swift’s music catalogue and royalties); and
  • Future earnings from intellectual property and business ventures

And could also include:

  • Confidentiality clauses to protect both parties from public fallout
  • Social media clauses to prevent disparaging posts in case of a split 

The aim is to provide clarity, and for the parties to protect wealth that they have each independently of the other accrued.  While Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are based in America, and so the law of England and Wales will not be their concern, in this jurisdiction a court is not required to hold up a prenup’s terms upon a couple’s divorce.  The court retains its broad discretion to decide how to redistribute assets.  However, it will take the prenup into account, and if a prenup was entered into freely by both parties, and both had a full appreciation of its implications, it is likely to be upheld by the court, unless it would not be fair to hold the parties to it.  

What is a Pet-nup and why it matters

Pet-nups are agreements that set out what will happen to the couple’s pets should they separate.  These can be a stand-alone document, or contained within the terms of a pre-nup, and they are gaining in popularity.

Taylor Swift is famously devoted to her three cats; Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button.  A pet-nup is not usually concerned with protecting wealth, although that may be a consideration in Swift’s case given that Olivia Benson reportedly has a net worth of $97 million!  In any event, it could be used to set out the parties’ intentions in respect of their pets when they separate.  It may include:

  • Who retains ownership of each pet
  • Visiting rights, if any
  • Financial responsibilities for pet care
  • Guidelines for introducing a new pet

Courts in England and Wales would treat a pet-nup similarly to a pre-nup: it would not be legally binding, however if there were a dispute about ownership of the pet post separation, what was set out in the pet-nup would likely be upheld. 

Why both agreements matter

In Swift and Kelce’s case, both a prenup and a pet-nup serve the same purpose: protecting what matters most. For Swift, that includes not just her billion-dollar empire, but also her cats.  As one expert noted, “Prenups are like seat belts—you don’t expect a crash, but you want to be protected if it happens”

To discuss the topics raised within this article, please Contact us today for expert advice and support.

Lydia Davis
Solicitor, Family
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This reflects the law and market position at the date of publication and is written as a general guide. It does not contain definitive legal advice, which should be sought in relation to a specific matter.

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