In an ongoing disagreement with a friend, I contend that celebrity divorce rates are no higher than the general public, but you hear about celebrity divorces in the media making them seem more prevalent. I searched both the web and journal-based literature, but could not find anything on celebrity divorce rates.
Any thoughts, leads, or data on this topic?
Define celebrity. Only one famous person in the marriage, or do they both have to be public figures?
In the context of the argument, it is two celebrities in the marriage.
I think the ratio is higher because what happens is the Guy and Gal meet on a movie set when single and sparks fly. All their moves and actions are reported and photographed and sent around the world within hours of happening. How can anyone make an informed decision on another person when you are to busy ducking the press?
They decide for whatever reason ( usually tru wuv) to marry, but because both are high profile people with major demands and probably major emotional needs as well, they are pulled different directions…and on the set of a new movie…individually, things start falling apart. And they find a New Love …lather rinse repeat.
Hollywood couples are kinda like showdogs.
Pretty to look at but a buttload of maintence and nuerosis galore!
I’ve also held the beleive that Hollywood weddings are promo/career moves mutually agreed upon by both parties with legal consel.
I think they are probably higher. At least, the number of very short marriages is probably higher for the attention whore celebrities that try to keep themselves in the media. The traits that cause that behavior aren’t very compatible with marriage.
So what went wrong with Renee Zellwegger and Kenny Chesney? 
There’s also the whole entourage of publicists and aides and the like who don’t want the gravy train to end, so relationships that friends would discourage, go forward because there’s no one to say “that’s a really bad idea”.
Robin
I don’t know if it is any higher. It’s certainly more public. I knew a woman who had been married and divorced 9 times. And that was ten years ago. I’m sure she has a few more under her belt.
There are marriages that last and last and there seem to be some that marry young, then divorce and then later marry for life.
Like a lot of non famous people I know.