Decades after their highly publicised divorce, the split between music legend Billy Joel and supermodel Christie Brinkley continues to captivate fans. The couple, once considered one of Hollywood's golden pairs, called it quits in 1994 after nine years of marriage.
Their relationship began in the early 1980s, with Brinkley appearing in Joel's iconic "Uptown Girl" music video. The pair married in 1985 and welcomed daughter Alexa Ray Joel in December of that year. However, by 1994, their marriage had reached its breaking point.
The Breakdown of a Celebrity Marriage
Reports at the time suggested that the pressures of fame and their demanding careers contributed to the divorce. Joel, known for his battles with substance abuse, reportedly struggled with personal demons during their marriage. Brinkley, meanwhile, was at the height of her modelling career.
The divorce proceedings became particularly messy when Brinkley discovered Joel was having an affair with 25-year-old model Katie Lee. This revelation reportedly came just days before their divorce was finalised.
Life After the Split
Despite the painful breakup, both stars have maintained a surprisingly amicable relationship over the years. They've frequently been spotted together at events celebrating their daughter's musical career. In interviews, both have spoken about putting their differences aside for Alexa's sake.
Brinkley went on to marry twice more, while Joel married for the fourth time in 2015 to Alexis Roderick. Both have stated they've found happiness in their post-divorce lives.
Their divorce settlement included Brinkley receiving their Sag Harbor home and a reported $20 million. The split remains one of the most expensive celebrity divorces of the 1990s.
