Nobody seems surprised when the portly, silver-haired Italian media mogul-politician gives his young girlfriend lavish gifts like solid gold jewelry. The Sultan often brings his harem to dinner at a Beverly Hills restaurant patio for dinner. We know of Frenchmen, of a certain social standing, who spend part of August sailing on yachts through the Aegean in the company of much younger women. The recent shenanigans of a wealthy older Los Angeles business man have spotlighted his relationship with a much younger woman and his expensive gifts. Although the press describes his situation with his wife of decades as "estranged" they still share a home in Malibu. They attend social functions and sporting events together. They dine together at local steakhouses and take vacations together and entertain family and friends at a massive July fourth beach party with fireworks. Don’t these people believe in divorce?
Trending – the “no-divorce” divorce is now in vogue. Call it marriage, 3.0 -- the new platform. What better way to protect those joint assets, portfolios and properties. Screwing the lawyers is the icing on the cake. The well-to-do have had an epiphany. Why, they ask, end up in court suing each other in a bitter battle when they can continue reaping the benefits of shared homes, joint accounts and the admiration of family and friends. The rich don’t get divorced anymore. They’re “nesting” in their own homes and they like it. In their new lifestyle, she can carry on with her tennis or golf pro, taking daily lessons which might spill over to dinner. He, the older but wiser man, can buy a snappy BMW convertible for his sweetie and pay for her cooking school tuition at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Napa. Mr. and Mrs. "not divorced" but guilt-free, may seem a puzzle to you and me but they’re saving themselves the stress of divorce and a ton of money as well.
The no-divorce divorce allows the couple to share the holidays with their children and extended family. It gives them the opportunity to keep all their mutual friends and to celebrate milestone events together. It prevents them from having to pay legal fees and split the assets of community property. Now they can live in a state of blissful denial – happily ever after.
