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Today β€” 9 January 2025News

40 of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings of all time

9 January 2025 at 10:25
Jay-Z and BeyoncΓ© posed together at the premiere of "Mufasa: The Lion King."
Jay-Z married BeyoncΓ© in 2008.

Gilbert Flores/Contributor/Variety via Getty Images

  • Celebrities have been known to splurge on expensive engagement rings.
  • In 2016, billionaire James Packer reportedly spent $10 million on a ring for Mariah Carey.
  • Kris Humphries auctioned off the engagement ring he gave Kim Kardashian for $749,000.

On Sunday, stars gathered at the Golden Globes to kick off the 2025 awards season, yet all anyone could talk about was the apparent engagement ring Zendaya debuted on the red carpet.

The "Euphoria" star has been in a confirmed relationship with fellow actor and "Spider-Man" costar Tom Holland since September 2021, and though the pair has yet to confirm if they're actually engaged, experts have already estimated the ring may be worth upward of $300,000.

If the speculation is true, Zendaya's cushion-cut diamond would rank as one of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings of all time.

So, while the internet anxiously awaits an official announcement, here's a look back at 40 other memorably expensive celebrity engagement rings, from Prince William and Kate Middleton's $500,000 diamond-and-sapphire bauble to James Packer and Mariah Carey's $10 million emerald-cut stone.

Prices are based on available estimates, reports, and auction prices.

Amy Daire and Brenna Opelka contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson
Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson attending the premiere of "Asteroid City" at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson got married in 2020.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Staff/Getty Images

Jost and Johansson were first spotted together in May 2017, and have had a low-key relationship ever since, minus the occasional "SNL" joke and red-carpet appearance.

They got engaged in May 2019, but the ring wasn't revealed until two months later.

Representatives for Rare Carat, a diamond search engine, told Business Insider in July 2019 that Johansson's diamond is an old cut that has great clarity, especially for a light-brown diamond, and estimated the ring would cost $450,000.

Jost and Johansson tied the knot in October 2020, and they welcomed their son in August 2021.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posed for photos to announce their engagement in 2017.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been married since 2018.

DANIEL LEAL/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their engagement to the world on November 27, 2017, with Markle debuting a three-stone diamond ring designed by Prince Harry and jeweler Cleave & Company.

People magazine reported that the ring features a 3-carat, cushion-cut center stone sourced from Botswana β€” a location of special significance to the couple β€” while the side stones are two round diamonds from Princess Diana's jewelry collection. Experts estimated it cost $350,000.

The couple married the following May and now reside in California with their two children.

Prince William and Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton and Prince William, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended a morning service in Quebec.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married since 2011.

Mark Large-Pool/Getty Images

Kate Middleton's unique 12-carat sapphire β€” surrounded by diamonds, no less β€” popped perfectly with her navy dress when the royal couple announced their engagement in 2010.

The $500,000 heirloom might not be the most expensive ring on the list, but its sentimental value is worth much more. Princess Diana famously wore this ring while she was engaged to Prince Charles.

The pair wed in April 2011 and have since welcomed three children.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
Blake Shelton spoke at Gwen Stefani's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in 2023.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have been married since 2021.

Christopher Polk/Contributor/Variety via Getty Images

Shelton and Stefani got engaged in October 2020 after five years of dating, and they announced the happy news with matching posts on Instagram.

But the "Hollaback Girl" singer didn't give fans a closer look at her ring until a few weeks later on her Instagram story.

"We're looking at a gorgeous 8-carat, radiant-shape diamond with trapezoid sides β€” an Art Deco look," Rare Carat founder and CEO Ajay Anand told BI in November 2020. "We're talking $500,000 in all, as the center stone is an icy white D-to-F color diamond."

Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney posing at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney ended their engagement in July 2016.

John Shearer/Contributor/Getty Images

Lady Gaga never ended up saying "I do" to "Chicago Fire" star Taylor Kinney, who proposed in 2015 on Valentine's Day with a 6-carat, heart-shaped diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz.

The $500,000 ring had a micro-pavΓ© platinum band and was engraved with "T β™‘ S," which stands for Gaga's birth name, Stefani Germanotta.

The couple split in summer 2016, but seemingly remained friendly, with Kinney telling Entertainment Tonight in 2019 that "the sky is the limit" for Gaga after her success with "A Star Is Born."

Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo
Olivia Culpo posed at the alice + olivia by Stacy Bendet presentation at New York Fashion Week in 2024.
Culpo and McCaffrey got married in 2024.

Gotham/Contributor/WireImage/Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers running back proposed to the model and former Miss Universe winner in April 2023 after almost four years of dating with a three-stone ring designed by Ring Concierge.

Nicole Wegman, Ring Concierge's founder and CEO, told People, "We worked with Christian to thoughtfully design a ring that encompassed Olivia's trendsetting style while still remaining timeless β€” a beautifully cut Oval flanked with Epaulette side stones in a handcrafted gold and platinum setting." It's estimated that the ring is worth $600,000.

The pair tied the knot in June 2024 in a lavish Rhode Island ceremony.

George and Amal Clooney
George and Amal Clooney at the premiere of "Money Monster" at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.
George and Amal Clooney have been married since 2014.

Clemens Bilan/Stringer/Getty Images

Actor George Clooney proposed to British international human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin (now Clooney) with a 7-carat, emerald-cut diamond.

The solitaire ring, which features side baguettes set in platinum, is worth an estimated $750,000.

The couple publicly revealed their engagement in April 2014, and by September of that year, they had tied the knot. They later welcomed twins in 2017.

Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie
Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie attended a hockey game in 2013.
Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie were married from 2010 to 2016.

Noel Vasquez/Contributor/Getty Images

In February 2010, professional hockey player Mike Comrie proposed to Hilary Duff while the pair were on vacation in Maui.

E! News reported, per Forbes, at the time that Duff's 14-carat, princess-cut ring cost $1 million.

The couple kept their engagement short, marrying in August of that year. They later welcomed their son in 2012 before announcing their separation in 2014. The couple's divorce was finalized in February 2016.

Duff has since gone on to marry musician Matthew Koma, with whom she shares three daughters.

Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka'oir Davis
Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka'oir attended an NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks in 2023.
Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka'oir Davis have been married since 2017.

Paras Griffin/Contributor/Getty Images

In 2016, Gucci Mane proposed to entrepreneur Keyshia Ka'oir during an Atlanta Hawks game with a 25-carat, cushion-cut diamond ring.

And three years later, the rapper decided to up the ante with a whopping $1 million, 60-carat round-cut diamond creation by Pristine Jewelers Ben Shimon and Avi Davidov, BET reported.

The outlet added that it took the jewelers 45 days to complete the ring.

The couple wed in October 2017 and have since welcomed two children.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones posed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of "Jeanne du Barry" in 2023.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been married since 2000.

Marc Piasecki/Contributor/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Michael Douglas did pretty well choosing a $1 million antique Fred Leighton 10-carat engagement ring for Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their relationship isn't so bad either β€” the actors have been together for more than 20 years and have two children.

Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Travis Barker
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker at the UFC 285 event in 2023.
Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Travis Barker have been married since 2022.

Jeff Bottari/Contributor/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker proposed to Poosh founder Kourtney Kardashian in October 2021 with an engagement ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz.

"It's a flawless, beautifully cut diamond stone," Schwartz told People.

Kathryn Money, SVP of Merchandising and Retail at Brilliant Earth, told Brides that the center stone β€” an elongated oval solitaire diamond β€” is likely 10 to 12 carats with an estimated cost between $500,000 and $1 million.

The pair went on to host three weddings β€” in Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, and Portofino, Italy β€” throughout 2022. They welcomed their son in November 2023.

Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston
Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston walked the red carpet at the 85th Annual Academy Awards. Aniston was pointing at the camera with her left hand so her engagement ring was visible.
Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston divorced in 2018.

Steve Granitz/Contributor/WireImage/Getty Images

In August 2012, Justin Theroux asked for Jennifer Aniston's hand with a $1 million 10-carat diamond ring designed by her friend Jennifer Meyer, E! Online reported.

The couple announced their divorce in February 2018, but remain close friends.

Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich
Demi Lovato posing at the 2020 E! People's Choice Awards.
Demi Lovato was engaged to Max Ehrich for two months in 2020.

Christopher Polk/Contributor/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

In July 2020, Demi Lovato announced her engagement to actor Max Ehrich on Instagram.

Rare Carat CEO Ajay Anand told BI that the ring appeared "to feature a 10-carat, emerald-cut stone" and estimated that it "would sell for no less than $1 million."

But Lovato and Ehrich's engagement was short lived β€” they split just two months later in September 2020.

"I think I rushed into something that I thought I was supposed to do," Lovato said in her 2021 documentary "Dancing with the Devil," adding, "I realized as time went on that I didn't actually know the person I was engaged to."

Lovato is now engaged to musician Jordan 'Jutes' Lutes.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union posed at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party.
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union have been married since 2014.

Daniele Venturelli/Contributor/Getty Images

Gabrielle Union said yes to former NBA star Dwyane Wade and the $1 million 8.5-carat, cushion-cut diamond he chose for her.

The couple married in 2014 and welcomed a daughter via surrogate in 2018. Union is also stepmother to Wade's three children.

Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky
Michael Polansky and Lady Gaga posed at the UK premiere of "Joker: Folie Γ  Deux."
Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky have been engaged since April 2024.

Samir Hussein/Contributor/WireImage/Getty Images

Lady Gaga has her mother to thank for her fiancΓ©, businessman and philanthropist Michael Polansky.

Gaga told Vogue in September 2024, "My mom met him and she said to me, 'I think I just met your husband,' and I said, 'I'm not ready to meet my husband!'"

The pair officially met in December 2019 and got engaged in April 2024, the outlet reported. For the occasion, Polansky chose a large oval-cut diamond set on a pavΓ© band.

Zack Stone, CEO of UK-based jewelry retailer Steven Stone, told InStyle in December 2024 that the ring appears to be 15 carats and estimated that it was worth around $1.25 million.

Justin and Hailey Bieber
Justin and Hailey Bieber in New York City in June 2024.
Justin and Hailey Bieber wed in 2018.

Gotham/Contributor/GC Images/Getty Images

Justin originally proposed to Hailey in July 2018 with an 18-carat Solow & Co engagement ring, Vogue reported.

However, six years later, the "Peaches" singer decided to upgrade the Rhode founder's ring, this time selecting a piece by Lorraine Schwartz that she debuted on her Instagram in May 2024.

After tabloid speculation about the new ring's size, Hailey Bieber told W Magazine in July 2024 that her new bauble "is only one carat bigger" than her original ring. "It's just elongated," she said. It's estimated that the upgraded ring cost $1.5 million.

The couple have been married since September 2018 and welcomed their first child in August 2024.

Justin Verlander and Kate Upton
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton posed with his 2019 Cy Young Award at the 2020 Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards Dinner.
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton have been married since 2017.

Mary DeCicco/Stringer/MLB Photos via Getty Images

In 2016, model Kate Upton said yes to MLB pitcher Justin Verlander and a one-of-a-kind ring by Anita Ko, featuring an 8-carat, round-cut diamond in a unique six-prong setting that was estimated to cost $1.5 million.

The couple have been married since 2017 and they share one daughter.

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise
A closeup shot of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise posing at the UK premiere of "War Of The Worlds" in 2005. Holmes' left hand was resting on Cruise's shoulder so her engagement ring was visible.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise were married from 2006 to 2012.

MJ Kim/Staff/Getty Images

Tom Cruise proposed to Katie Holmes with a 5-carat rock in 2005.

The center oval-cut diamond was surrounded by another 6 carats of diamonds and has been estimated to cost as much as $1.5 million, per Who What Wear.

They welcomed their daughter in 2006 before splitting in 2012.

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian
Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian during an appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" in 2011.
Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian's divorce was finalized in June 2013.

Kevin Winter/Contributor/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian's marriage to Kris Humphries only lasted 72 days, and the best thing to come out of it was the 16-carat center diamond designed by Lorraine Schwartz.

While the ring was initially reported to be worth nearly $2 million, in 2013, when Humphries auctioned it off at a charity event, it went for $749,000.

Paris Hilton and Carter Reum
Carter Reum and Paris Hilton at their wedding in 2021.
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum got married in 2021.

Todd Williamson/Contributor/Peacock/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Paris Hilton and M13 Ventures founder Carter Reum got engaged in February 2021.

The following month, Hilton shared on "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" that Reum designed the ring with Jean Dousset, the great-great-grandson of Louis Cartier.

"It is a three-stone ring design with an emerald-cut center stone, featuring baguette-cut and trapezoid accent diamonds," Dousset said in a 2021 interview with The Knot.

He added, "The design of the ring derives from a combination of classical and Art Nouveau era influences. The geometric shapes of this ring are befitting to resemble the structure of the Grand Palais in Paris." It's estimated that the ring cost $2 million.

The pair wed in November 2021 and share two children.

Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka
Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka posed at the premiere of "The Death and Life of John F. Donovan" at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival.
Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka ended their engagement in November 2018.

George Pimentel/Contributor/Getty Images

Before Reum, Hilton was engaged to actor Chris Zylka from January to November 2018.

Hilton kept the $2 million 20-carat pear-shaped diamond after their split, telling "The Jenny McCarthy Show" in December 2018, "The person who we got it from got millions and millions of dollars of free publicity, so I love how social media has basically become a new form of money. It's pretty sick."

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend," she added.

Ciara and Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson and Ciara attended The Serpentine Gallery Summer Party in June 2022.
Ciara and Russell Wilson have been married since 2016.

Ricky Vigil M/Contributor/GC Images/Getty Images

When NFL quarterback Russell Wilson put a ring on it, he made sure no one could miss the news by gifting Ciara a 16-carat round, brilliant-cut center diamond.

And that's not all β€” the center stone is flanked by a trapezoid-shaped and pear-shaped diamond on each side, bringing the ring's total estimated value to about $2 million, per The Knot.

They married in July 2016. They have three children together and also parent Ciara's son whom she had in her previous relationship.

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey
Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey attended the AFI FEST screen of "Precious" in 2009.
Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey divorced in 2016.

Steve Granitz/Contributor/WireImage/Getty Images

Mariah Carey got engaged to Nick Cannon in 2008, who proposed with a 17-carat, emerald-cut pink diamond by Jacob & Co.

"I wanted to do something extremely special, something that Mariah would really appreciate," Cannon told People magazine at the time, adding, "We got the pinkest stone we could find, surrounded by other diamonds."

People reported that the center diamond was surrounded by 58 smaller pink diamonds and two half-moon diamonds, leading it to cost an estimated $2.5 million.

The two married in 2008 and had twins, but they got divorced in 2014. Cannon now has 12 children.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively at the premiere of "The Adam Project" in February 2022.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been married since 2012.

Jamie McCarthy/Staff/Getty Images

Blake Lively's trendy 12-carat, oval-cut diamond set in 18-carat rose gold was made by celebrity favorite Lorraine Schwartz and reportedly cost her husband, Ryan Reynolds, $2.5 million.

The two wed in 2012 and have four children.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Aristotle Onassis
Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Aristotle Onassis at their wedding in 1968.
Jackie Kennedy wed Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

Bettmann/Contributor/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

The former first lady wed Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate, in 1968.

He proposed with the Lesotho III diamond, a 40.42-carat, marquise-cut diamond.

The ring sold for $2.6 million at auction in 1996.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian posed at the 94th Annual Academy Awards in 2022.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have been married since 2017.

Mike Coppola/Staff/Getty Images

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian proposed to 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams with a $3 million 17-carat, emerald-cut engagement ring in December 2016, The New York Post reported.

The pair wed the following November in New Orleans and now share two daughters.

Donald and Melania Trump
Donald and Melania Trump at the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.
Donald and Melania Trump have been married since 2005.

Timothy A. CLARY/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

Current President-elect Donald Trump proposed to wife Melania in 2005 with an emerald-cut diamond from Graff Diamonds that weighed more than 10 carats.

At the time of their engagement, he told The New York Times he got a $1 million discount on the ring β€” however, according to Forbes' reporting in 2018, Trump paid the full price of $1.5 million.

Regardless, he upgraded Melania's ring in 2015 for their 10th wedding anniversary, selecting another Graff Diamonds piece that weighed 25 carats and cost $3 million.

Alexa Dell and Harrison Refoua
Harrison Refoua and Alexa Dell at their engagement party in May 2018.
Harrison Refoua and Alexa Dell got engaged in December 2017.

Stefanie Keenan/Contributor/WireImage/Getty Images

In December 2017, tech heiress Alexa Dell got engaged to real-estate investor Harrison Refoua at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

The Daily Mail estimated that the 12-carat diamond ring is valued between $2 million and $3 million.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant posed together at the 2004 World Music Awards.
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant were married from 2001 to 2020.

Frank Micelotta/Staff/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant upgraded his wife Vanessa Bryant's ring in 2003 to "an eight-carat, emerald-cut purple diamond worth $4 million," Brides reported.

Kobe and their daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian posed at The WSJ Magazine 2019 Innovator Awards.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian finalized their divorce in November 2022.

ANGELA WEISS/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

In October 2013, Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) proposed to Kim Kardashian with a 15-carat, cushion-cut diamond ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz that was estimated to cost upward of $3 million, per E! News.

And almost three years later, West surprised his wife with another Lorraine Schwartz ring, this time weighing 20 carats.

However, Kardashian was robbed of the ring just weeks later while on a trip to Paris in October 2016; lawyers and police officials estimated that it was worth about $4.5 million.

The couple finalized their divorce in 2022 after six years of marriage. They have four children.

Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez
Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez backstage at Samsung's 9th Annual Four Seasons of Hope Gala in 2010.
Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez were married from 2004 to 2014.

Kevin Mazur/Contributor/WireImage for Samsung/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez said "I do" to Marc Anthony in 2004 after he proposed with an 8.5-carat blue diamond ring by Harry Winston worth an estimated $4 million, according to E! News.

The pair welcomed twins in 2008 and were married for 10 years before divorcing.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly
Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly posed at the Kelly family home after announcing their engagement in 1956.
Prince Rainier III of Monaco married Grace Kelly in 1956.

Frank Hurley/Contributor/New York Daily News Archive via Getty Images

When Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed to Grace Kelly in 1955, he pulled out a 10.47-carat, emerald-cut diamond ring by Cartier then worth about $4 million.

The couple married the following year, and remained so until Kelly's death in 1982. They had three children.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez out in New York City in 2019.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez ended their engagement in April 2021.

Jackson Lee/Contributor/GC Images/Getty Images

Lopez was engaged to the former New York Yankee from 2019 to 2021.

At the time of their engagement, experts from James Allen estimated to BI that the emerald-cut diamond ring was 15 carats and worth at least $1 million, while gemologists at Rare Carat estimated the ring was 20 carats and worth around $4.5 million.

Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis and Paris Hilton
Paris Latsis and Paris Hilton posed outside The Kabaret Club in London in 2005.
Paris Hilton and Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis were engaged for four months in 2005.

Niki Nikolova/Contributor/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis proposed to Hilton in 2005 with a 24-carat canary diamond.

She stopped wearing the reported $4.7 million ring just four months after they initially announced their engagement.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom on the red carpet at the Tenth Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have been engaged since February 2019.

Anna Webber/Contributor/Variety via Getty Images

Orlando Bloom proposed to Katy Perry in February 2019 with a floral-inspired engagement ring.

It was widely reported that the center stone is either a ruby or a pink diamond, while eight white diamonds flank it to resemble petals. Since the center stone composition has never been confirmed, experts' reported price estimates have ranged from $25,000 all the way to $5 million, The Knot reported.

The couple welcomed their daughter in August 2020, and despite their engagement happening nearly six years ago, they've never announced if they're officially married.

However, they've continued to support each other publicly at events, with Bloom presenting Perry with the MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award in September 2024.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez posed at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on 2024.
Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck in August 2024.

Michael Buckner/Contributor/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images

Bennifer rekindled their romance in 2021 and got engaged in April 2022 with a three-stone ring featuring a rare light-green radiant-cut diamond as the center stone.

Lopez told Apple Music in 2023 that Affleck also had the words "not going anywhere" engraved on the band as a reference to his email signatures when they reconnected.

Unfortunately, the couple's second chance was too good to be true; Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024 after just two years of marriage, though she will keep the $5.6 million ring, People reported, citing their divorce settlement.

Jay-Z and BeyoncΓ©
Jay-Z and BeyoncΓ© posed together at the premiere of "Mufasa: The Lion King."
Jay-Z and BeyoncΓ© got married in 2008.

Gilbert Flores/Contributor/Variety via Getty Images

One of the world's most iconic musical duos said "I do" in 2008 at a secret wedding. Her engagement ring has an overwhelming 24-carat, emerald-cut flawless center diamond.

Jay-Z gave BeyoncΓ© the center diamond set on a split shank band with micro-pavΓ© diamonds in platinum. It reportedly cost $5 million.

Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias
Anna Kournikova in the audience at one of Enrique Iglesias's concerts in 2012.
Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias have been together since 2001.

Gary Miller/Contributor/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias were lowkey about their relationship until she went public with a large radiant-cut canary diamond.

The unique, yellow diamond is set in platinum and has two other diamonds on either side β€”Β but this may be her second engagement ring. The tennis pro was spotted with a huge 11-carat, pear-shaped pink diamond back in 2004 which was reportedly worth as much as $2.5 million dollars.

These days she has mostly been spotted with the yellow one, paired with an equally impressive wedding band, though the two have long maintained that they're not interested in getting married. They have three children.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton for the first time in 1964.

Keystone-France/Contributor/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

When Elizabeth Taylor wed Richard Burton for the first time in 1964, she had said yes to an emerald Bulgari brooch, not a traditional engagement ring, Vogue reported.

However, four years into their marriage, Burton purchased the 33-carat Asscher-cut Krupp diamond for $305,000 β€” it sold for $8.8 million at a Christie's auction in 2011.

Mariah Carey and James Packer
Mariah Carey and James Packer applauding at the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in May 2016.
Mariah Carey and James Packer ended their engagement in September 2016.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Staff/Getty Images for GLAAD

Mariah Carey and billionaire James Packer broke the record for most expensive celebrity engagement ring in 2016 with a whopping 35-carat, emerald-cut diamond.

The wedding was called off just months later, but luckily for the "Always Be My Baby" singer, she got to keep the $10 million ring since Packer was the one who broke it off, Us Weekly reported. She sold it in 2018 for just over $2 million, Page Six reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Fani Willis appeals disqualification from Trump's election interference case

9 January 2025 at 10:14

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification in the election interference case against President-elect Trump, according to a court filing.

Why it matters: Willis' disqualification from the case over a conflict of interest was seen as a major win for Trump, and a blow to the last effort to prosecute him for his allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results.


  • "No Georgia court has ever disqualified a district attorney for the mere appearance of impropriety without the existence of an actual conflict of interest," Willis' appeal stated.

Catch up quick: The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled in December to disqualify Willis over a conflict of interest stemming from a romantic relationship she had with the lead prosecutor on the case, whom she hired.

  • Trump's legal team has repeatedly accused her of impropriety and cast the indictment against him as tainted because of the relationship, which Willis publicly acknowledged.
  • The trial judge overseeing the case previously allowed Willis to stay on it as long as the prosecutor, Nathan Wade, stepped aside.

Flashback: Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted in August 2023 under Georgia's RICO law, which is typically used to prosecute organized crime.

Between the lines: Willis easily won reelection in November against Republican challenger Courtney Kramer, who served as a White House legal intern in the Trump administration.

Go deeper: Fani Willis disqualified from Trump's Georgia election interference case

Vox Media shakes up leadership and lays off staff for the 2nd time in about a month

9 January 2025 at 10:04
Jim Bankoff on a stage in front of two red chairs and a partial Vox Media logo
Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff.

Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vox Media

  • Vox Media laid off at least 12 staffers at Vox.com, the company's second round of cuts in about a month.
  • The company also announced expanded duties for its top leaders.
  • Vox Media faces challenges as digital advertisers move toward Big Tech platforms over news sites.

Vox Media laid off staff on Thursday for the second time in just over a month, this time at its general news site Vox.com.

Vox Media didn't specify the number of people let go but said several teams were impacted in what was a "difficult but necessary step as the industry evolves." The Writers Guild of America East, which represents the Vox newsroom, said the layoffs included 12 of its members. As of 2022, the Vox Media Union had 360 members across Vox Media sites.

Vox also announced a raft of C-suite leadership changes Wednesday, expanding duties for two top leaders as it looks to diversify the business. Pam Wasserstein was named copresident and vice chair of Vox Media and will serve as CEO Jim Bankoff's "strategic partner." She'll continue to oversee New York, Vox, and Vox Media Studios.

Also adding responsibilities is revenue head Ryan Pauley. He was also named copresident, adding oversight for the lifestyle brands and the podcast business and production. He continues to oversee advertising, commerce, consumer revenue, and marketing.

"These changes will create clearer focus, faster decision making, and increased executive capacity for tackling larger strategic questions," Jim Bankoff wrote in a company email viewed by Business Insider. "This is particularly important given our complex, multi-brand environment."

In December, Vox laid off staff at its lifestyle titles Thrillist, PS (formerly Pop Sugar), and Eater and said that Thrillist would be operated by Eater going forward.

At the time, Bankoff said the company would focus on areas where it saw the most opportunity, including building direct audiences and its Vox Media Podcast Network. Vox Media also recently put its tech-focused property, The Verge, behind a paywall.

Vox Media grew out of the boom in digital media, raising more than $400 million from investors, including NBCUniversal General Atlantic. It styled itself as the CondΓ© Nast of digital, with a collection of websites devoted to news and lifestyle topics. Its last funding round was in 2023 when it raised $100 million from Penske Media in a deal that made Penske the biggest shareholder with 20%, The New York Times reported.

As investor interest in digital media soured, Vox Media rolled up other properties including New York magazine, Group Nine Media, and NowThis, which it later spun off. Vox.com, the site of the most recent layoffs, focuses on news and politics.

Vox Media, along with many of its digital-media contemporaries, has faced challenges as digital advertisers flock to Big Tech platforms.

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Younger millennials and older Gen Zers were wise to not buy homes last year — but 2025 may be much different

9 January 2025 at 09:50
A couple touring a home
Younger homebuyers should be in better shape this year.

Suriti/Getty Images

  • One of the hardest years ever for hopeful homebuyers is officially in the books.
  • Property sales were weighed down once again by restrictive mortgage rates.
  • Here's why millennials and Gen Zers made the right call by not buying, and what will change in 2025.

Young would-be homebuyers largely put off their purchases last year, and for good reason.

Lofty prices and elevated mortgage rates made 2024 an unusually tough year for all buyers, but they were especially formidable obstacles for those who weren't already homeowners.

First-time buyers only accounted for 24% of US home purchases last year, a new report from Realtor.com found. That's the lowest rate since at least 1981, researchers noted on January 9, even though home affordability has improved significantly from its late-2023 lows.

Millions of millennials and Gen Zers hoping to buy homes and were shut out last year weren't alone.

Housing market transactions underwhelmed for a third straight year during a stalemate between aspiring buyers and sellers. Home prices drifted down in late 2024, but not enough for some buyers to feel like they were getting good value, given where mortgage rates were. And owners held out for renewed price growth since they didn't want to sell for less than their neighbors did.

Home sales NAR

National Association of Realtors

"Prices have been so sticky; they just stay where they are," said Joel Berner, an economic researcher at Realtor.com who co-authored the report with Danielle Hale, in a recent interview. "People have seen the house down the street a couple of years ago sold for $700,000. Why would I list mine for $600,000?"

Some housing market analysts think property prices will get a second wind, likely starting in the busier spring and summer months. Realtor.com's official forecast is for 3.7% price growth, though that's way slower than a few years ago. And in some markets, prices could keep falling.

"It takes time for people to adjust to the new normal, and so prices are finally starting to drop," Berner said.

Why not buying a home paid off last year

Although buying a house and building equity is a worthy aim, many young Americans may end up glad that they waited to sign on the dotted line.

Mortgage rates remained a major headache last year, even though they were below their peak. The Federal Reserve's plan to cut interest rates more slowly may keep many iced out of the market, though the consensus among real-estate observers is that borrowing costs will still fall.

In the meantime, those who've opted for apartments likely aren't breaking the bank. Rent growth has stagnated as inflation remained below 3%, and Realtor.com's research shows that rent has fallen for the last 16 months. Whether rent was flat or down, there was little rush to buy.

"Rents have been so soft in the last year that people look around and they say, 'Why would I pay a $3,000 mortgage payment when I can rent the same place for $1,500?'" Berner said.

It makes sense that young renters were reluctant to swap their reasonably priced leases for exorbitant mortgages, especially if there weren't many attractive options available. Home inventory has long been limited and is only now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Inventory growth by region

Realtor.com

Steadily rising home supply is one of the healthiest signs possible for the housing market. While Berner said this isn't a buyer's market quite yet, improved inventory could send it that way.

Opportunities abound for young buyers

While millions are looking for homes, Hale and Berner focused their report on younger buyers, specifically those born in the 1990s who were between the ages of 25 and 34 last year.

Those younger millennials and older Gen Zers may want to start their search on the East Coast, which is home to most of the 10 best cities for first-time buyers, according to Realtor.com.

Their methodology is based on factors like home prices, the local economy, and price growth history. The typical home in each of these markets is below the US median of $416,880 and is also considered affordable, meaning monthly payments are less than 30% of a buyer's income.

Three of these top markets for 25- to 34-year-olds are in Florida, two are in Western New York, and three others are in the Mid-Atlantic region. Only one city cited by Realtor.com was west of the Mississippi River: North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Realtor.com top cities for young 2025

Realtor.com

"These larger, Eastern, older communities have a lot of things to offer," Berner said of the list. "They're well established; there's a lot of infrastructure, a lot of restaurants, a lot of daycares, etc. And the listing prices are pretty soft out there. So it's just kind of a good mix."

What's even more fascinating is which markets didn't make the list. So-called "Zoomtowns" that were trendy during the pandemic were absent, as were highly popular cities in Sun Belt states like North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Cities in California didn't come closer either.

Some of the hottest markets in recent years ranked well in previous renditions of this report, Berner said. If history repeats, young buyers who settle down in cities on this year's list will be glad they did since they'll see price appreciation in the years to come. And they also might be grateful that they didn't get suckered into a subpar deal last year.

"People saw the previous ones and they said, 'These are really good places to buy,' went and bought, and then those listing prices were up," Berner said. "We're kind of chasing our tail a little bit with things, trying to stay ahead of the market. And so it wouldn't surprise me next year if the list looks a whole lot different."

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Russia's devastating glide-bomb attacks are down, but they remain a serious problem for Ukraine

9 January 2025 at 09:42
A Russian Su-34 bomber drops a glide bomb to strike Ukrainian positions in August 2024.
A Russian Su-34 bomber drops a glide bomb to strike Ukrainian positions in August 2024.

Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

  • Russian glide-bomb attacks against Ukraine are down compared to a few months ago.
  • Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian airfields and ammunition depots helped to reduce the threat.
  • A Ukrainian soldier on the southern front said attacks are down by 70 percent compared to months ago.

Russia is carrying out fewer glide-bomb attacks on Ukraine compared to a few months ago, but the highly destructive weapons are still a severe threat to soldiers and civilians.

Factors behind the recent decrease in bombing runs include a string of Ukrainian drone strikes on airbases and ammunition storage facilities inside Russia during the summer and fall. Kyiv's forces are also getting better at defending against the glide bombs.

Russian aircraft have launched glide bombs at Ukraine throughout much of the war. The weapons are equipped with special kits converting dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions. They are quite difficult to intercept because they fly on non-ballistic trajectories, have small radar signatures, and have fairly short flight times.

Glide bombs come in various sizes, but among the larger is one weighing over 6,000 pounds that delivers tremendous destruction on impact.

A Ukrainian soldier fighting on the front lines in the south told Business Insider that glide bombs cause a lot of problems, but there has been a significant decrease in attacks since the summer.

A screenshot from a video FAB-3000 glide bomb mid-flight, surrounded by clouds, with the logo of the Russian defense ministry in the top-right corner.
A Russian glide bomb is seen mid-flight in July.

Russian Ministry of Defense/Screengrab via Telegram

Yuriy, a major in an electronic warfare unit of the Ukrainian National Guard, said that in his sector of the front, Russia has reduced the number of its attacks by around 70 percent compared to the summer.

He attributed the decrease to Ukraine's long-range strike campaign inside Russia. He also suggested that the presence of F-16 fighter jets, which made their combat debut for Kyiv last August, might be making Russian pilots hesitant to fly too close to the border.

The only way really for Ukraine to defeat glide bombs is to either shoot down the warplane before it releases the munition or strike the aircraft on the ground at its base. They can also destroy the ammunition stores.

During the summer and fall, Ukraine used domestically produced drones to carry out a string of high-profile attacks on Russian storage facilities where glide bombs were kept and airfields where the warplanes carrying them were based.

Ukraine has also benefitted from the Biden administration's decision to lift restrictions on Kyiv's use of American-made tactical ballistic missiles, known as ATACMS, in cross-border strikes. Ukrainian officials long argued more freedom in this space would allow them to threaten Russian airfields and reduce glide-bomb attacks.

Russian glide bombs are seen en route to their targets in August 2024.
Russian glide bombs are seen en route to their targets in August 2024.

Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Yehor Chernev, the deputy chairman of Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, explained to BI that Kyiv's strikes on the airfields forced Russia to move its tactical aviation deeper into the country and away from the front lines.

This campaign has led to a decrease in sortie rate β€” how often Russia can get its warplanes in the air to conduct the bombing missions β€” and has increased the detection time that Ukrainian forces have since the aircraft are approaching from farther out.

Chernev said that Ukraine has also been chipping away at the number of glide bombs in Russia's arsenal by targeting its ammunition depots.

But these strikes aren't a "magic tool," he said. The Russians can always build another storage depot to replace one that has been destroyed. Chernev said that while glide-bomb attacks are ultimately down, "it's still a problem for us because we cannot intercept these guided bombs."

Ukraine can, however, take actions short of interception. George Barros, the geospatial-intelligence team lead and a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI that Ukraine has gotten better at using electronic warfare to interfere with the Russian glide bombs, reducing their efficacy.

Firefighters put out a fire at an apartment building that was struck by a glide bomb in Kharkiv in August 2024.
Firefighters put out a fire at an apartment building that was struck by a glide bomb in Kharkiv in August 2024.

AP Photo/Andrii Marienko

On the front lines in the eastern Donetsk region, Barros said that he's observed a correlation between the decrease in the glide-bomb attacks and the rate of Russian advances, which have slowed over the past month or two.

"The Russian forces there are very tired and very much attrited," he said, acknowledging that as a contributing factor.

But hindrances impacting Russia's ability to drop glide bombs on Ukraine, coupled with the decreased effectiveness of these weapons, "also tracks with the observation of the Russian rate of infantry advance," given that Moscow uses these munitions to support its ground forces, Barros said, adding that "these all sort of align in a mutually supporting way."

He emphasized that to prevent the glide-bomb threat from reemerging, the US and NATO need to continue arming Ukraine with long-range missiles so it can keep the pressure on Russia's airbases.

Despite an overall decrease in glide-bomb strikes, these weapons are still causing death and destruction across Ukraine. On Wednesday, Russia attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia with two munitions, killing over a dozen people and injuring more than 30, authorities said.

"This shows once again what Russia truly seeks," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said later that evening. "They want only war, and only victims."

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