When an Oscar-winning actress and a Grammy-winning country musician end a 19-year marriage, the world watches. But Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban refused to let the public dictate their story. Instead, they executed one of Hollywood’s cleanest, most deliberately private divorces, a $300 million dissolution negotiated behind closed doors long before anyone knew the marriage was crumbling. The paper trail starts quietly.
The $300M Divorce Nobody Saw Coming
Nicole Kidman, 58, and Keith Urban, 58, married June 25, 2006, at a chapel in Sydney. They share 2 daughters: Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14. On September 30, 2025, Kidman filed in Nashville, Tennessee. By January 6, 2026, Judge Stephanie J. Williams finalized it. Both waived spousal and child support. Court wording hints more.
What Actually Happened Behind Closed Doors
The couple had been living apart since early summer 2025. Sources told TMZ Kidman took primary responsibility for the 2 children, while Urban got his own Nashville residence. “She wants to remain the ‘primary residential parent of the minor children,'” court documents say. Yet Kidman still posted “Happy Anniversary Baby @KeithUrban” on June 25, 2025. Timing matters.
The Quiet Signatures That Changed Everything
Keith Urban signed the Marital Settlement Agreement on August 29, 2025. Nicole Kidman signed September 6, 2025. Kidman filed for divorce on September 30, 2025. That 3-week gap signals heavy pre-negotiation before filing. Judge Williams wrote both parties’ “settlements on splitting assets and child custody are sufficient.” They waived appearing at the hearing. Custody details followed.
306 Days For Her, 59 Days For Him
Kidman secured custody for 306 days per year, while Urban received 59 days annually, basically every other weekend. Sunday Rose, born July 7, 2008, and Faith Margaret, born December 28, 2010, would spend about 84% of time with Kidman. She became “primary residential parent,” controlling education and medical decisions. Money terms were striking.
A $0 Order With Big Implications
Despite combined incomes exceeding $100,000 monthly, neither spousal support nor child support was ordered. Filings said both “waived any spousal support and child support.” Under standard California guidelines, such income and custody split could exceed $20,000 to $40,000 monthly. Instead, the judge approved $0. Documents referenced Urban’s “prepaid child support obligations.” One prenup clause raised stakes.
The Sobriety Clause Worth $11 Million
According to multiple sources, Urban’s prenuptial agreement included a “sobriety clause” worth about $600,000 per year if he stayed abstinent from drugs and alcohol. Urban has been sober since 2006 after treatment at the Betty Ford Center. Over the marriage, that could total more than $11 million. Reports say the clause was not enforced. That silence shaped the settlement.
The Prenup That Set The Rules
With Kidman at $250 million net worth and Urban at $75 million, their prenuptial agreement was reportedly extensive. It protected separate property, keeping assets owned before the June 2006 marriage individually shielded. High-net-worth prenups usually cover property distribution, spousal maintenance, and estate rights. Their agreement likely defined how future purchases became marital or separate property. But how did real estate get handled?
The $30 Million Property Puzzle
Kidman and Urban amassed at least $30 million in real estate worldwide. Their main Nashville home, a 12,000-square-foot mansion, was bought in 2008 for $3.5 million. They also owned a Beverly Hills property bought for nearly $5 million in 2008, plus Sydney penthouses over $27 million and the $6.5 million Bunya Hill farm. Ownership structure became decisive.
The Quote That Defined Their Public Story
“I wasn’t in any recovery program of any sort. Meeting Nic and falling in love with Nic and starting a relationship with Nic became—I realize now in hindsight—my sobriety,” Urban told Rolling Stone, via Recovery.com records dated June 25, 2006. He entered Betty Ford Center 4 months after marrying. Kidman flew from Rome to support him through 90 days. Yet secrecy later prevailed.
The Clause That Kept Everyone Quiet
Both agreed to a strict non-disparagement clause blocking public criticism of each other or families. “Neither side is meant to air grievances, no matter how raw the breakup might have been,” sources told Radar Online. Another insider alleged, “Agreeing not to speak badly of each other is effectively agreeing not to speak at all about what went wrong.” Breaches could trigger damages. Public comments stayed scarce.
“It’s Always Family First” In 2023
“It’s always family first in his household,” Urban told Fox News Digital in 2023. “It’s balanced, so it means it goes out of balance sometimes, and we just put it back in balance. It’s never perfectly in balance, but we get it back on track,” he said. Less than 2 years later, the couple was living separately by early summer 2025. When did the ending actually start?
The Uncontested Filing That Protected Privacy
Both waived formal discovery, including interrogatories and depositions, limiting public paperwork. They retained separate counsel who negotiated privately. By filing an uncontested divorce with a fully executed Marital Settlement Agreement, they avoided disputed hearings and open-court fights. Judge Williams approved the settlement without either appearing. Confidentiality agreements helped keep financial and personal details sealed. The same strategy simplified their global assets.
How Their Properties Avoided Court Drama
International real estate can trigger appraisals and forced sales, but filings suggested each would “retain their own assets.” That implies properties were titled individually or held through separate entities, not jointly. The Nashville mansion, Beverly Hills home, Sydney units, and Bunya Hill farm still required classification as marital or separate property. LLC structures and separate titling reduce disputes dramatically. But their daughters’ lives also guided choices.
The Girls Kept Moving Forward
Sunday Rose, 17, debuted at Paris Fashion Week with Miu Miu in 2024 and has built an early fashion profile. She appeared as a background performer in Kidman’s HBO work including “Big Little Lies” and “The Undoing.” Faith Margaret, 14, voiced in “The Angry Birds Movie 2” and attended major events. Both appeared at AFI Awards April 2024 and a December 2024 gala. Stability was prioritized.
Kidman’s Earnings Never Slowed Down
Kidman has ranked among the world’s highest-paid actresses for decades. From September 2019 to September 2020, she earned about $22 million, including $10 million for Netflix’s “The Prom.” Her HBO “The Undoing” salary hit $1 million per episode. On “Big Little Lies” Season 2, she made $1 million per episode, up from $250,000 in Season 1. In 2024, Forbes listed $31 million. Urban’s finances mattered too.
Urban’s Empire Went Far Beyond Albums
Urban has sold 20.7 million equivalent album units in the U.S. as of December 2022, including 14.9 million traditional sales. His songs generated 26.1 million downloads and 4.76 billion streams. Touring averaged $700,000 per show, with 70 dates potentially reaching $49 million. He earned $3.5 million to $8 million per season on “American Idol” Seasons 12-15. In August 2022, he sold master rights to Litmus Music. That leverage shaped negotiations.
“She Wanted To Save The Marriage”
TMZ sources said Kidman “didn’t want the separation and had been trying to salvage their marriage.” They claimed she had been “taking care of their 2 children and holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone.” Urban reportedly “acquired his own residence in Nashville and moved out of their family home.” Yet by August 29, 2025, he signed the settlement agreement. What changed so fast?
Co-Parenting Rules With Teeth
The agreement required both parents to support the children’s relationship with the other and barred insults at home. “Neither Shall Disparage the Other” appears directly in the co-parenting provisions. Both had to complete a parenting seminar within 60 days. Kidman’s 306-day schedule and Urban’s 59-day schedule were structured around every other weekend plus vacation time. Kidman held major decision authority, with Urban consultative rights. The structure reflects a broader playbook.
What Their Clean Divorce Got Right
Their divorce showed a high-net-worth approach: a prenup, private negotiation before filing, uncontested proceedings, and confidentiality clauses that limited leaks. They avoided public court fights and prolonged litigation. Both had experienced counsel known for discretion. By resolving custody and assets before September 30, 2025, they controlled the narrative even after it became public. Still, one question lingers: how much can privacy really be bought?
Sources
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Divorce Documents. Family Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, January 2026
Nicole Kidman files for divorce from Keith Urban in Nashville. LiveNOW from FOX, September 30, 2025
Keith Urban on sobriety and Nicole Kidman support. Recovery.com, June 25, 2006
Keith Urban says “It’s always family first”. Fox News Digital, 2023
Nicole Kidman tops highest paid actress list. Forbes, 2024