by Kristin Schaaf

Created on: April 06, 2009

With nearly one out of every two marriages ending in divorce, it comes to be not much of a surprise when we see many celebrity marriages break apart.

Why do celebrities' marriages seem to be topping the divorce charts? Just as any other relationship, there are several factors that can lead to these growing number of break ups.

Money

It is statistically shown that money plays one of the biggest roles in divorce, and celebrity relationships are no different. Even though celebrities make millions of dollars in a year and have money and free things thrown at them, there is still a drive for money and a desire to spend it. If the couple has different spending habits, and the one spending the money is the one getting less work, there will be animosity.

For example, one person in the relationship may be making several films in a year, while the other may not have any projects on the burner. If the person not working isn't even looking and is taking advantage of the partner's success, this can lead to resentment.

Celebrities, like any other couple, likely disagree as to what to spend their money on. While I may buy a twenty-dollar shirt at the mall without telling my husband until after the fact, it's a little different than a celebrity buying a car, home or a thousand-dollar handbag and not saying anything. Dropping thousands, if not millions, of dollars without consulting your spouse is a disaster waiting to happen.

Nowadays, many celebrity couples enter into a marriage with a prenuptial agreement, pre-arranging how the assets will be split should the marriage end in divorce. Those who do not have a pre-nup tend to have a much more difficult and drawn out divorce, ending with much bitterness and anger. Heather Mills' and Paul McCartney's marriage, as well as Britney Spears' and Kevin Federline's, did not have pre-nups and were highly publicized, painful breakups.

Competition

Celebrity couples may also have a competitive streak and compare salaries or try to out-work or out-do their partner. Or, one person may feel that they have to work harder to match what their partner is doing in order that they both appear successful in the public eye and tabloids. Paparazzi love to tear apart and analyze celebrity relationships, especially when one person in the relationship is more successful than the other.

This drive for both partners to succeed leaves little or no breathing room for the couple to relax and enjoy time together. Rather, they may be working on projects on opposite sides

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