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40 of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings of all time

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€” 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

The famously private Zendaya and Tom Holland are rumored to be engaged. Being secretive is good for their brand.

Tom Holland and Zendaya hold hands in maroon outfits.
Tom Holland and Zendaya in New York in October.

XNY/Star Max/GC Images/Getty Images

  • Zendaya wore a ring to the Golden Globes, sparking rumors that she's engaged to Tom Holland.
  • Zendaya and Holland are known for keeping most of their relationship details private.
  • PR experts said the ring could be interpreted as a nod to an engagement without needing a statement.

Zendaya wore a ring on her left ring finger to the Golden Globes on Sunday β€” reigniting theories that she and Tom Holland are engaged.

Two branding PR experts told Business Insider that this approach could generate more attention than a simple statement.

Holland met Zendaya in 2016 when she auditioned for 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming," in which he played Spider-Man. Zendaya's character, Michelle Jones, became Holland's love interest in the sequels to "Homecoming," leading fans to speculate about whether the actors would date as other former "Spider-Man" costars did.

Holland confirmed their romance to GQ in November 2021. He also criticized journalists for publishing a photo of them kissing in a car earlier that year, before they were ready to go public.

Since then, Zendaya and Holland have appeared in public as a couple but kept most details about their relationship private.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reporter Amy Kaufman said that when asked if she was engaged, Zendaya "kept showing her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders mysteriously."

On Monday, TMZ and People reported that they were engaged, citing unnamed sources.

Neither Zendaya nor Holland have commented, and their representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

A close-up of a diamond ring on the ring finger on Zendaya's hand at the Golden Globes 2025.
Zendaya had a ring on her left ring finger at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Taylor Hill / FilmMagic

Kayley Cornelius, a celebrity PR specialist from Manchester, England, said Zendaya's choice to wear the ring could be a clever PR stunt, as it could get double the attention.

She added that fans and journalists were already speculating about whether the couple were engaged and that the conversation would restart if they addressed the rumors.

"If they just came out with a statement saying they're engaged, the moment would've lived and died by the end of this week," Cornelius said.

Mayah Riaz, a PR and personal-branding expert based in London, said she wouldn't label the moment a publicity stunt but thought Zendaya's team "would be fully aware of the buzz it would generate."

"It has excited fans and media, driving attention without either of them having to make a formal statement," Riaz said. "This understated approach is very in line with their brand of letting their work speak for itself while occasionally letting personal moments shine."

Holland and Zendaya's choice to stay private helps their relationship look authentic

Zendaya wearing a hazel dress and heels on the Golden Globes 2025 red carpet.
Zendaya at the Golden Globes.

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic

Riaz said the private approach reinforced the actors' brands as "mature, focused professionals."

"They've cultivated trust and respect from their fan base, as they are seen as prioritizing their personal lives over publicity," Riaz said. "Doing this allows them to focus public attention on their work rather than their personal life, which can be beneficial for those wanting to be taken seriously in their craft."

Cornelius said this approach made Holland and Zendaya's relationship seem more relatable and authentic.

"They're probably losing out on money by not being as public as they are and building up that brand and identity together," Cornelius said. "So the fact that they're willing to lose out on that, keep things private, it shows that they're likely very genuine and they very much care about one another."

Comparing the couple to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Cornelius said it was smart for Zendaya and Holland to keep their brands separate in case they break up.

"Unfortunately for Travis, he is going to find it very hard to ever shift his brand from being Taylor Swift's boyfriend," Cornelius said. "And because they've been so public together, everything that Travis does now is going to have that association with Taylor Swift."

Riaz and Cornelius said that by rarely sharing public moments together, Zendaya and Holland garner more attention than celebrities who are often out together.

They said this increased interest in the couple could backfire if fans overstepped boundaries to find out more information or if false rumors spiraled out of control.

But overall, they said, the benefits outweigh these risks.

"Tom and Zendaya have struck a great balance by being private yet not completely inaccessible," Riaz said. "They've neither denied nor overshared, allowing them to maintain respect from their fans and the media."

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I thought I was going to get engaged during a romantic weekend away. It happened in a parking lot instead.

A couple stand in an empty parking lot.

Marccophoto/Getty Images

  • My husband and I met on eHarmony and had a whirlwind relationship.
  • I knew a proposal was coming, and thought it might happen while we were enjoying a weekend away.
  • The proposal didn't happen when or where I expected, but it was still wonderful.

My first date with my now husband was on a cold December day. We had lunch at a diner, followed by browsing at Barnes & Noble. We had met on eHarmony, after years of trying to find love. It was a last ditch effort for both of us before giving up on online dating. Starting with that first date, I knew that there was something different, something special about him. While I'm not a person that expects grand gestures, I didn't anticipate that eight months later he would propose β€” in a hotel parking lot.

Our relationship was a bit of a whirlwind

We met in December, got engaged in August, and married the next December. It may seem fast to some people, but we both knew we had found the one that we wanted to spend our lives with.

In the summer we started talking about getting engaged. I couldn't imagine having a piece of jewelry that had so much significance β€” and that I was going to wear every day β€” and not having any input, so we went ring shopping together. Initially I thought I would pick a style I liked and then he would pick out the ring. Then I found a ring that I fell in love with.

He later told me he had ordered the ring, but I had no idea what he had planned for the proposal. I don't love surprises, so something elaborate, embarrassing, or public was definitely out β€” and he knew that.

A weekend away seemed like the perfect time for a proposal

The first weekend of August we drove a few hours away so my now-husband could fill in with a quartet that he used to sing with. I went into that trip with a feeling that he was going to propose. But as we were driving home at the end of the weekend and day turned into night I figured it probably wasn't going to happen, which was disappointing.

Then a song came on as we were driving through rural Delaware. It was "I Could Not Ask for More" by Edwin McCain, and he sang it to me. After the song was finished, he told me how much he loved me and how he could never ask for anything more. It sounded like a proposal speech, but no proposal came. He just said he wished he wasn't driving so he could hug me. I replied, "I wish you could just pull over and propose."

Selfie of couple with an ocean backdrop.
The author and her husband Tom while on a roadtrip in California in 2017.

Sara Rowe Mount

The proposal turned out to be a surprise, even to him

About a mile up the road, he pulled off into a Holiday Inn Express parking lot as I asked, "What are you doing?" After all, I hadn't been completely serious about pulling over. Turns out, he was. He parked, reached over and hugged me as he rooted in the back seat for something. That's when I knew it was happening. There sitting in the front seat of his car in a hotel parking lot he asked me to be his forever. I said yes.

I commented that he hadn't gotten down on one knee. So he took the ring off my finger, went around to my side of the car, got down one knee, and proposed again. He was crying, but I was so excited I just started laughing and jumping up and down.

Honestly, the entire thing was pretty on brand for our quirky, goofy relationship. There may not have been a romantic dinner with flowers and champagne or a scavenger hunt that had been planned out for weeks, but I didn't really mind. Yes, the proposal was spur of the moment, but I still think it was pretty romantic, even now that we've been married for nine years.

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We had an unconventional engagement and wedding. I proposed to him, my engagement ring came after the wedding, and we walked each other down the aisle.

Maria Polansky and her husband outside on a beach with a blue sky in the background.
The author and her husband had a nontraditional engagement and wedding.

Courtesy of Maria Polansky

  • My husband and I had an unconventional engagement and wedding.
  • We did most wedding traditions in reverse β€” or not at all.
  • I proposed to him, and we got my engagement ring after we got married.

My husband and I did pretty much every wedding tradition in reverse when we got married three years ago.

Though the low-key proposal came first, I got my engagement ring and had my bachelorette party after the wedding. We also did several things that went against Western wedding norms during the process: we had a simple registry office wedding where we walked down the aisle together, I kept my last name, and I opted for colored gemstones over diamonds in my ring.

Some of these decisions were circumstantial. We got married during the peak of the pandemic, so we couldn't have had a big celebration even if we wanted to. Others were based on our personal preferences. I've never considered myself a traditional person, and I knew I wanted to do things that felt right for me when it came to marriage.

I proposed to him and decided to keep my last name

Technically, I was the one that proposed. We're an international couple, which means immigration law dictates our ability to be together physically. I had moved to the UK (where my husband is from) on a two-year working holiday visa, but I knew I'd eventually need another visa for us to stay together long-term.

I didn't want to accrue student loan debt with a student visa and wasn't eligible for a work visa, making a family visa my only option. We hadn't been living together long enough to qualify for the unmarried partner visa, so I asked my then-boyfriend if he would consider marrying me. We knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, so we decided to go for it.

For me, the most important thing was us being together, which is why I was perfectly happy with our quiet COVID-era wedding. I'd never dreamt of having a big, traditional wedding; I'm an introvert who struggles with party planning. We decided to walk down the aisle together because we liked the idea of entering our marriage as equal partners β€” a practice I've since learned is standard in Sweden and other Nordic countries.

I also decided to keep my last name following the wedding. I didn't want to deal with the logistics of changing a name in two countries in addition to visa paperwork, and I wanted to keep the name that reflected my heritage. My husband fully supported my decision.

My ring and bachelorette party came after the wedding

We also chose my engagement ring later because we were focused on securing a wedding date during the pandemic, which was no small feat. Once things were settled, my husband encouraged me to choose the design I'd want to wear for the rest of my life. I've always preferred colored and iridescent gemstones to diamonds, so I selected a ring featuring our two birthstones: opal (mine) and emerald (his).

The ring arrived on the day of my bachelorette party, which my friends hosted for me once COVID restrictions slightly eased. It felt funny to do things in reverse, but as the wedding taught me β€” the most important thing is simply being with the people you love.

We have spoken about having a bigger celebration, but we know it would be extremely difficult to plan with our family and friends living all across the globe. I won't be upset if it never happens, because it won't take away from our love for each other. When I think about our wedding day, I love that it was so intimate and relaxed. It felt like the perfect reflection of our relationship. My only regret? Not finding a way to sneak our dog into the ceremony.

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We got engaged, and then decided marriage isn't for us. We're staying together the Goldie Hawn-and-Kurt Russell way.

Adrienne Uthe and her partner, Eric.
Adrienne Uthe and her partner, Eric.

Adrienne Uthe

  • Adrienne Uthe, 32, got engaged to her partner a few months into dating.
  • A few years into being engaged, they decided against marriage but stayed together.
  • Uthe, an entrepreneur, said the risk of divorce made her worried about the future of her business.

I met Eric on Bumble over six years ago, after I moved to Salt Lake City from the Midwest. It took us about a year to officially get together; we were both dating around for a while.

Eric, who is 13 years older than me, proposed a few months into our dating, which completely took me by surprise. He had gone through a difficult divorce, both financially and emotionally, and told me he was very hesitant about ever marrying again. He said I was the only one he was willing to take that risk for. I said yes.

A few years later, we ended our engagement β€” but are still together. While we both respect marriage, we ultimately decided it wasn't for us. The risk of divorce was legally and financially too much. Even though we get jokes and questions sometimes, we're happy just being together without the paperwork.

I changed my mind because of my business

We have an age-gap relationship. We each had fully independent careers and accomplishments before we started dating.

I've always been about business and feel like I was put on this earth to build things. I own three companies, including a PR firm I founded. I've worked so hard and been so careful to get where I am as an entrepreneur. Eric, meanwhile, is a financial speaker and instructor who's traveled all over the world.

Beyond the emotional benefits of getting married, we didn't see any clear upsides from a business perspective because we're both self-employed. While marriage comes with some tax benefits and can protect assets for some people if they separate, divorce can also get very complicated when you own your own businesses like we do.

Disentangling our lives, if it ever came to that, would be costly and energy-draining.

While we wanted to merge our worlds, what was most important to us was safeguarding what we've each built and keeping it secure on both sides.

After talking it over, we decided to end our engagement and keep our finances 100% separate while still remaining together.

The risk of divorce doesn't feel worth it

We're pretty non-traditional; even if we were to get married, we would do something casual like a Las Vegas ceremony. Eric, who was raised in Utah, got married around 20 because it was the norm. Now that we're older, he and I are more concerned with doing what feels right for us.

In the time we've been together, we've seen multiple close friends navigate divorce. It's made us firmer in our decision to stay together without marriage; we don't believe in pushing ourselves toward something we don't want.

We tell people we're like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who have been together for 40 years but never married. Their reasons for not marrying are just like ours: they never want to deal with an ugly divorce.

We still don't know what to call each other

Introducing each other always feels tricky. "FiancΓ©" isn't accurate, but "girlfriend" doesn't cut it, either.

Eric had two sons in his previous marriage; one of them has lived with him full-time. I helped parent him and act as his stepmother, even though I'm legally not. He even calls me his stepmom. I feel like I've earned more of a title than "girlfriend," but I also know it's just a word.

Our connection feels stronger than a piece of paper. We wake up each day and choose each other not out of obligation, but because we genuinely want to.

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