10 Celebs Who Got the Last Laugh in a Divorce

10 Celebs Who Got the Last Laugh in a Divorce

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the famous names who’ve arguably emerged as the “winner” from high-profile separations, even if their exes have sustained their own careers.

Katie Holmes

You’d have to be living under a rock to miss Holmes’ whirlwind romance with Tom Cruise. But after the couch-jumping euphoria faded, the pair’s marriage cooled off in the press. By 2012, Holmes had allegedly reached her breaking point under pressure from the Church of Scientology, initiating a swift divorce and reportedly distancing their daughter Suri from Cruise. Although Cruise remains a megastar, Holmes has never looked back. The actress has crafted a steady, independent career as a performer while embracing the responsibilities of motherhood. Raising her daughter away from the pressures of stardom, she’s successfully kept her personal life low-key and remained in charge of her own narrative.

Gwen Stefani

For a while there in the 2010s, Stefani’s career was overshadowed by the very public breakdown of her marriage to Gavin Rossdale. Reports linked Rossdale to an alleged affair with the family’s nanny, turning the “Hollaback Girl” star’s heartbreak into a media circus. Despite the contentious divorce, Stefani turned her pain into art, re-recording her next album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The singer soon found new love with her “The Voice” co-star, Blake Shelton, forming a powerhouse partnership that’s won them several more hits. While Rossdale remains associated with their messy split, Stefani’s star has continued to shine, especially after marrying Shelton in 2021, finding perfect harmony in both love and career.

Mary J. Blige

A multi-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee, Blige has one of the most decorated careers in showbiz history. But while her career surged, her 15-year marriage to Kendu Isaacs crumbled among allegations of infidelity. Things took an uglier turn when Blige was hit with massive alimony to her ex-husband. But rather than letting her trauma define her, Blige launched the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, telling The New York Post, “We empower, we inquire, we educate, we elevate each other with what we’ve learned.” At peace with her independence, Blige’s career has soared further, named among “Rolling Stone’s” 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list and inducted into the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Martha Stewart

Not many realize that “Stewart” isn’t Martha’s maiden name. Born Martha Kostyra, she was married to Andrew Stewart from 1961 to 1990. But it was after her divorce that she truly propelled herself into a media mogul. In her 2024 Netflix documentary, Stewart admitted the marriage was fraught with tension, saying, “He treated me really badly. And in return, I guess I treated him badly.” But with personal freedom, Stewart transformed her brand from cookbooks to a lifestyle juggernaut. She reinvented herself once again in the 2010s with an unfiltered, edgier persona, partnering up with unlikely collaborators like Snoop Dogg. Well into her 80s, Stewart remains in the public eye, proving that divorce can just be the beginning of something greater.

Nicole Kidman

Many were stunned when Kidman and Tom Cruise’s marriage ended in 2001. In an interview with “Ladies’ Home Journal,” Kidman admitted she was just as shocked as the public, though she’s always remained gracious over casting any blame. Speaking to “Vanity Fair,” she explained, “I was a child, really, when I got married. And I needed to grow up.” Even during her low point, her career rebounded instantly with an Oscar win soon after the divorce. Beyond filmmaking, Kidman has found equal success on the small screen with hits like “Big Little Lies” and “Nine Perfect Strangers.” Now married to Keith Urban, with whom she shares two daughters, Kidman has found renewed bliss and stability, leaving the struggles of her divorce as a distant memory.

Jennifer Aniston

The world watched as Aniston’s marriage came crashing down in the tabloids, with “Brangelina” dominating headlines. Instead of offering sympathy, the media hounded her with relentless scrutiny and wild rumors. However, Aniston chose to take the high road, remaining graceful and resilient despite all the bad press. Over the years, she’s become a symbol of restraint and maturity, refusing to indulge in the purported “Team Jolie” and “Team Aniston” feud. While Pitt’s marriage to Jolie eventually culminated in its own scandal, Aniston showed her strength of character by maintaining a friendship with her ex. With lasting acclaim in both film and television, her career has shone bright for the past three decades and counting.

Shania Twain

Love happens in mysterious ways. And when it comes to Shania Twain, that’s really saying something. Her first marriage ended when her husband, Mutt Lange, had an affair with Marie-Anne Thiébaud, her best friend and secretary! But what began as mutual pain blossomed into love, as Twain found comfort in Marie-Anne’s ex-husband, Frédéric Thiébaud, whom she married six months after her divorce. Her personal struggles coincided with a career hiatus, but Twain reemerged like she’d never left – her comeback album, “Now,” debuted at number one worldwide. Along with finding true love, Shania has reconciled her past betrayal with great maturity, telling Jamie Laing on “The Great Company” podcast, “Do I hate my ex-husband for making a mistake? No. It's his mistake. Not my mistake.”

Reese Witherspoon

Sharing sizzling chemistry in “Cruel Intentions,” Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe became one of Hollywood’s hottest couples in the late ‘90s. Married with two children, the pair seemed to make it work. That is, until they filed for divorce amid allegations of Phillippe’s infidelity, which he denied. Although under the tabloid microscope, Witherspoon quickly shook off the fallout from the divorce, while Phillippe admitted to “W” magazine that it was “the worst time in my life.” Meanwhile, Witherspoon carried her Oscar momentum beyond the next decade, expanding her influence by launching her own production company, Hello Sunshine. Though she’s endured a second divorce from Jim Toth since then, Witherspoon continues to define her own path as an A-lister, producer, and global entrepreneur.

Melinda French Gates

There was a time when Bill and Melinda were considered the ultimate power couple, admired as big-hearted philanthropists with the perfect media image. By their 2021 divorce, though, only Melinda walked away with her reputation intact. While Bill’s image took a steep plunge from allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct, ties to controversial figures, and the revelation of an affair during their marriage, Melinda has risen far above the scandal. She’s championed women’s rights across multiple avenues, ranking among BBC’s list of “100 Women” in 2021. Despite constant media prodding, Melinda refuses to slander her former husband, maintaining what she calls a “friendly” dynamic with their family in mind.

MacKenzie Scott

MacKenzie Scott received a reported $38 billion divorce settlement after Jeff Bezos’s affair with Lauren Sánchez became an international scandal. But unlike Bezos, who’s often called out for limited philanthropic efforts, Scott has become renowned for hers. Signing the Giving Pledge, Scott vowed to donate at least half of her wealth. She’s more than kept her word so far, donating a reported $19.3 billion by December 2024 to causes ranging from equality, education, and climate change. While Bezos’ lavish spending has been criticized, Scott is widely admired for her poise and integrity. Twice named on Forbes’ list of 100 most powerful women, she’s proven the settlement was never about “winning,” but turning a scandal into a story of purpose and progress.

Can you think of any other celebrities who got the last laugh? Let us know in the comments.