In a Hollywood twist that blends romance, redemption, and raw financial stakes, Nicole Kidman’s nearly two-decade marriage to country star Keith Urban is unraveling amid whispers of a prenuptial agreement clause straight out of a dramatic script.
Dubbed the “cocaine clause,” this unusual provision reportedly incentivized Urban’s sobriety with a staggering $600,000 annual payout - potentially totaling over $11 million now that the couple has called it quits. As divorce papers hit the courts, the story has resurfaced, casting a spotlight on Kidman’s role as both devoted wife and reluctant financier in Urban’s battle against addiction.
A Whirlwind Romance Born from Down Under
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s love story began in 2005 at the G’Day USA Gala in Los Angeles, an event celebrating Australian talent. Both hailing from the Land Down Under - Kidman from Sydney and Urban from Whangarei, New Zealand - the pair quickly bonded over shared roots and rising stardom.
Kidman, fresh off her high-profile marriage to Tom Cruise (which ended in 2001), was an Oscar-winning powerhouse with films like Moulin Rouge! under her belt. Urban, meanwhile, was a Grammy-nominated country crooner whose hits like “Somebody Like You” masked deeper personal struggles.
By June 25, 2006, they tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in Manly, Sydney, attended by 230 guests including Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts.
The fairy-tale wedding, however, came with a sobering reality: Urban’s well-documented history of substance abuse, including cocaine and alcohol addiction, loomed large. He had first entered rehab in 1998 in Nashville and faced multiple relapses. Kidman, undeterred, saw potential for a fresh start. But to safeguard their future, the couple inked a prenup that went beyond standard asset divisions - it delved into Urban’s personal demons.
The “Cocaine Clause”: Sobriety as a Six-Figure Incentive
At the heart of their prenuptial agreement was a clause so unconventional it’s been likened to a high-stakes behavioral contract. According to reports from RadarOnline and echoed across outlets like the Daily Mail and HELLO!, Urban would receive $600,000 for every year he remained sober from drugs and alcohol. This wasn’t mere pocket change; it was a deliberate motivator designed to anchor Urban’s recovery amid the temptations of fame.
The stipulation, often referred to as the “cocaine clause” due to Urban’s past with the drug, was born from necessity. Just four months after the wedding, in October 2006, Kidman staged a life-saving intervention. Urban later recounted the moment in interviews, including a 2010 chat with Oprah Winfrey, describing how his addictions had “blown [their] marriage to smithereens” almost immediately. “Nicole said, ‘You have to go to rehab,’” he shared. He checked into the Betty Ford Center that same month, marking the beginning of a sobriety journey that has now spanned nearly two decades.
Urban has credited Kidman as his rock, telling the AFI Achievement Award Gala in 2024: “Meeting Nic... became my sobriety.” Yet, the clause ensured accountability. For 19 years of marriage, this incentive reportedly accrued, amassing approximately $11.4 million (19 years × $600,000).
Some sources, like the Daily Mail, speculate it could climb higher to $17 million when factoring in additional assets. The couple’s combined fortune, estimated at $500 million, includes 11 luxury properties across the U.S. and Australia, from a Nashville mansion to a Sydney beach house.
Divorce Drama: Irreconcilable Differences and a $11 Million Payday
Fast-forward to September 30, 2025: Kidman, 58, filed for divorce in a Tennessee court, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The filing, submitted amid Urban’s High and Alive world tour, confirms the pair had been living apart since early summer. Urban, 57, reportedly moved out of their Nashville home while Kidman stayed with their daughters - Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14 - juggling a hectic schedule that included filming the Practical Magic sequel in London.
The permanent parenting plan emphasizes co-parenting harmony: “The mother and father will behave with each other and each child so as to provide a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship,” it states, prohibiting badmouthing and encouraging mutual affection. But the financial fallout has insiders buzzing. Sources claim Kidman is “livid” and “furious,” feeling “deeply betrayed” by the clause she once championed to support her husband. “She supported him through his addiction, and now she sees him benefiting from it,” one report quotes a confidant.
Urban, who has maintained sobriety without relapse, stands to walk away with a windfall that could fund his next chapter—rumors swirl of a new romance, though unconfirmed. The clause, intended to protect their union, now underscores its end, highlighting how love’s safeguards can turn into costly concessions.
The Savior Syndrome: Kidman’s Pattern of High-Stakes Heartbreak?
This isn’t the first time Kidman has played the role of redeemer in a turbulent romance. Her 10-year marriage to Tom Cruise (1990–2001) was marked by Scientology tensions and the couple’s shared adoption of Isabella and Connor amid personal strains. Post-divorce, Kidman spoke of feeling like a “rescuer,” a dynamic psychologists term “savior syndrome” - the compulsion to fix a partner’s flaws at great emotional (and now, financial) cost.
With Urban, it manifested in grand gestures: the intervention, unwavering public support, and that prenup payout. Experts note savior syndrome often stems from empathy overload, leading to codependency.
“It’s a classic trap,” says relationship therapist Dr. Elena Ramirez (not directly involved, but commenting on similar cases). “You invest everything in ‘saving’ them, only to question if it saved you.” Kidman’s circle fears the split has left Urban “publicly embarrassed,” but for her, it’s a reckoning—pouring millions into sobriety that couldn’t mend irreconcilable rifts.
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Legacy of a Love That Endured - Until It Didn’t
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s union produced not just music and movies, but a testament to resilience. They weathered rehab stints, global tours, and red-carpet scrutiny, raising two daughters who now navigate their parents’ amicable split.
Yet, as the “cocaine clause” payout looms, it serves as a poignant reminder: Even in Tinseltown, where love stories are scripted, the plot twists can cost a fortune.
As Urban croons in his hits about second chances, Kidman eyes her next act - perhaps Babygirl sequels or a return to Aussie shores. One thing’s clear: After nearly 20 years and $11 million in sobriety stakes, this power couple’s encore won’t come cheap.
Whether it’s betrayal or business, their story underscores a universal truth: Fixing a broken heart (or habit) demands more than good intentions - it requires a contract, a clause, and sometimes, a clean break.
