The Longest Celebrity Divorces of All Time: See Which Hollywood Couples Took Their Time Splitting Up

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

Like most people who tied the knot, Arnold and Maria Shriver thought their marriage would last forever — but sadly it didn’t. The former first lady of California filed from divorce from the Terminator star in 2011 after they had been married for 25 years. Even though they’ve been separated ever since, the pair are still legally married.

That’s right, Arnold and Maria never finished their paperwork, and it seems they don’t plan on finalizing their divorce anytime soon. Apparently, just being separated from each other works for them and their adult kids — Katherine, 29; Christina, 27; Patrick, 25; and Christopher, 21.

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow

After Chris and Gwyneth announced they would be going their separate ways in 2014, it took them two years to officially end their marriage.

“Both Chris and I have made a commitment to continue to love the things about each other that we’ve always loved and to really continue to develop our friendship and to find ways to continue to communicate,” Gwyn said on Today about their amicable split. “There’s been a long process to it, at some point maybe I’ll write a book because you really have to focus on forgiveness and spite that comes up, you have to let it go.”

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

In 2014, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey decided it was time to go their separate ways. Even though fans were devastated that Hollywood’s “It Couple” wouldn’t be an item anymore, their breakup probably shocked Mariah the most because she had already welcomed two kids with the Wild ‘N Out comedian since they were married in 2008.

“I never thought I would have babies with someone and then get divorced. Like, ‘Oh, great job. Repeat your past,'” Mariah shared to Complex. “But life happens. And it was supposed to happen. It’s fine.”

Nick and Mariah’s divorce dragged out for two years before they were able to finalize things in 2016. Even though they’re not together anymore, the pair still make it work for their 8-year-old twins — Monroe and Moroccan Cannon.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had one of the most shocking celebrity splits of all time. After getting married in 2004 and having twins in 2008, no one thought that they would ever file for divorce until they actually did it in 2011.

Once the paperwork was in, it took them three years to get all of their assets in order and figure out how they were going to coparent their 11-year-old twins — Max and Emme. In 2014, their divorce became final.

Even though J. Lo is set to get married to Alex Rodriguez fairly soon, she still maintains a great coparenting relationship with her ex.

“Marc and I are very good friends, we’re very supportive,” the “Waiting for Tonight” singer said on HuffPost Live in 2014. “I feel it’s my responsibility as a mom when their dad is not there to let them know that their dad loves them very much because that’s the doubt that they have when he’s not around or they haven’t seen him. That’s my job to do that the same way it’s his job when he’s with them to say, ‘Mommy is working and she loves you.'”

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

Who remembers the time when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were a married couple? We do! In 2005, they tied the knot and, more than a decade later in 2018, they announced their separation.

“After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the two actors said at the time in a carefully written statement. “We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to coparenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding.”

Ben and Jen’s situation gets a little bit difficult to understand once you realize that they never really filed for divorce. Technically they’re only separated and like Arnold and Maria, and it doesn’t seem like they plan on making their divorce final anytime soon.

Richard Gere and Carey Lowell

Did you think that Richard Gere and Carey Lowell would have been together forever? We certainly did! In October 2016, the couple — who were married in 2002 — finally got divorced after they had to appear in court numerous times. This after officially separating in September 2013.

Apparently, they were able to move on after they agreed on joint custody of their 19-year-old son, Homer, and figured out how they would deal with Richard’s fortune.

No wonder it took them a long time to break up!

Amy Poehler and Will Arnett

Amy Poehler and Will Arnett — who were married in 2003 — had a difficult time separating once they announced they were splitting in 2012. Even though they don’t really talk about the issues that they had in their marriage, the couple must have been very relieved once their divorce was finalized in 2016.