Many people attribute money and assets as a major contributing factor in the decision for couples to divorce. Many also believe that assets are a driving force behind many of the worst arguments during divorce.
But how true is this? Do people really fight more when they have more assets to lose? The answer is: yes and no.
Higher wealth and more amiable divorces
Business Insider states that rich couples may actually fight less than other wealth brackets. However, this is only after they hit a certain level of wealth. Couples with a net worth of over $5 million have more amiable divorces than virtually every other wealth bracket.
Speculation attributes this to the fact that couples no longer feel financial insecurity when they reach this level of wealth. No matter how a divorce goes, they will likely not lose everything to their ex-spouse. When couples of this wealth bracket do fight, it tends to be over immaterial matters like status or social standing.
Moderate to low wealth and financial insecurity
However, couples who have a net worth of $1 to $5 million do tend to fight over their assets, and fight quite violently at that. In fact, it has garnered them the nickname “the fighting class” simply because they get into such catastrophic spats over their assets.
Speculation says this happens because couples at this wealth bracket still have financial insecurity. They have experienced an elevated style of living and they fear losing their ability to continue living in such a way if the divorce goes poorly. Thus, they lash out during the divorce.
In that way, assets do have an impact on the vitriol behind divorce arguments.