20 Celebrity Couples Who Regretted Getting Divorced
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
Sixteen months after one divorce, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were ready to try marriage all over again. Their second attempt lasted less than nine months, but the emotional story continued far beyond the paperwork. After Burton died, Taylor told Vogue, “I was still madly in love with him the day he died.” She even believed he still loved her.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
For Ben Affleck, one breakup stands above his other regrets. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, he called his divorce from Jennifer Garner the “biggest regret” of his life. The actor also spoke about the shame he carried afterward. He described shame as “really toxic” and said nothing positive comes from it.
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt
Back in the 2000s, few celebrity breakups attracted more attention than Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s. As tabloids obsessed over “Brangelina,” Aniston faced the collapse of her marriage in public. In a 2005 Vanity Fair interview, she admitted, “There’s a lot I would probably do differently.” Aniston suggested that taking more time away from their careers to focus on each other might have helped.
Courteney Cox and David Arquette
Marriage ended, but friendship stayed strong for Courteney Cox and David Arquette. The Scream co-stars married in 1999, separated in 2010, and divorced three years later. Cox later said, “In divorce, you always have regret.” She also explained that they had been married for a long time and had genuinely tried to make things work.
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates
Some life choices are harder to accept than others. Bill Gates made that clear when discussing his split from Melinda French Gates. The couple married in 1994, raised three children, and divorced in 2021. In a 2025 interview with The Times, Bill called the breakup “the mistake I most regret.” He also said the divorce was miserable for both of them for at least two years.
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley
Even the King of Rock and Roll could not escape heartbreak. Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley divorced in 1973, but people close to him believed the split deeply affected him. Joe Moscheo of the Imperials said it was a blow from which Elvis “never recovered.” Priscilla later revealed they had no bitterness and still held “hopes and dreams” of getting back together.
Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani
Divorce was never part of Gavin Rossdale’s plan. The Bush singer and Gwen Stefani separated in 2015 after more than a decade of marriage. They share three sons, Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo. Rossdale later said the breakup was “completely opposite to what I wanted.” He also described divorce as one of the hardest and most painful experiences a person can face.
Will Smith and Sheree Zampino
Nothing made Will Smith feel like a failure quite like his first divorce. He married Sheree Zampino in 1992, and they welcomed their son Trey before splitting in 1995. On Red Table Talk, Smith called divorce “the ultimate failure for me.” The hardest part was leaving the family life he shared with his two-year-old son. Smith said he had faced plenty of pain as an adult, but very little compared with ending that marriage.
Robin Thicke and Paula Patton
An album, love songs, and public pleas were all part of Robin Thicke’s attempt to win Paula Patton back. After their separation, the singer openly told concertgoers, “I’m trying to get my girl back.” He even named an album after her and asked fans to support his effort. Nothing worked, and the couple moved ahead with divorce.
Lamar Odom and Khloé Kardashian
Years after losing Khloé Kardashian, Lamar Odom finally had the chance to tell her how sorry he was. The former NBA player reunited with his ex-wife on The Kardashians in February 2025. Their marriage had suffered because of his cheating and drug addiction. Odom admitted he had “so much to be sorry for” and praised Khloé for supporting him during his darkest years.
Shaquille O’Neal and Shaunie Henderson
No excuses came from Shaquille O’Neal when he discussed the end of his marriage. The basketball legend has openly blamed himself for losing Shaunie Henderson. On The Pivot Podcast, Shaq said, “I was bad. She was awesome.” He admitted he failed to protect his wife and their marriage vows. He also spoke about getting caught up in a double life and later called himself “greedy.”
Vicki Gunvalson and Donn Gunvalson
If Vicki Gunvalson could change one major choice, she would keep her marriage to Donn Gunvalson. The Real Housewives of Orange County star filed for divorce in 2010 after 16 years together. Years later, she said she would not make the same decision again. Vicki called Donn a “great man” and “great husband.”
Samantha Lee and Tyrese Gibson
Hysterical tears were part of Samantha Lee’s divorce decision, which is exactly why she later questioned it. Lee shared that she was extremely hurt and angry when she chose to end her marriage to Tyrese Gibson. She remembered crying while on the phone with her attorney and later argued that people sometimes approach divorce too casually. She even said she would not advise another woman to proceed in the same state of mind.
Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian Sr.
Before becoming the Kardashian-Jenner family’s famous momager, Kris Jenner was married to Robert Kardashian. Their relationship lasted from 1978 to 1991 but ended after her affair with Todd Waterman. Years later, Kris openly took responsibility. On The Kardashians, she remembered Robert as a “great husband” and “great dad” and admitted she believed “the grass was greener somewhere else.”
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
Reuniting his family became a very public goal for Kanye West after Kim Kardashian filed for divorce. The rapper repeatedly asked for another chance and continued calling Kardashian his wife after the split. He also became involved in a public feud with her then-boyfriend Pete Davidson.
Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson
Just four days after meeting Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson married him. Their fast romance soon became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationships. The marriage faced serious problems and ended after three years. Still, Anderson later admitted how much the breakup hurt. Pamela called Lee the only person she was “ever truly in love with.” She also said she remained “forever grateful” to him as the father of her children.
Larsa Pippen and Scottie Pippen
The duo spent more than two decades together before divorcing. In a 2022 interview with Us Weekly, Larsa admitted she felt “guilty” because their children no longer had both parents living together. She had grown up in a traditional home and wanted the same life for her own family.
Kelsey Grammer and Camille Grammer
Kelsey Grammer regrets how he ended the relationship. The Frasier star admitted he should have honestly told Camille about his relationship with Kayte Walsh while they were still married. Speaking to Anderson Cooper, he said he should have gone home and explained the truth. “I regret not doing that,” he admitted.
Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey
Pain after divorce affected Nick Cannon in ways he did not understand at first. The entertainer has linked some of his later choices to the end of his marriage to Mariah Carey. On The Breakfast Club, Cannon said “it all started from a place of pain and not really healing properly.” He also described some of his behavior as “acting out.”
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
A huge cheating scandal changed Tiger Woods’ personal life forever. In 2009, news of his affairs became public and badly damaged his marriage to Elin Nordegren. The golfer later admitted he had caused her terrible pain. Woods wrote that his “regret will last a lifetime.” He also blamed his own “dishonesty and selfishness” for hurting Elin. The couple tried to repair their relationship, but the marriage still ended.
