Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding has ignited debate over money, power and what happens when one partner’s fortune towers over the other’s.
The Rare Beauty founder’s empire is estimated at $1.3 billion, while her husband’s sits at around $50 million.
And though both figures are staggering by ordinary standards, experts say a wealth gap this wide can carry unique risks.
Financial adviser Bobbi Rebell says that while both stars are financially independent adults, marriage inevitably ties their decisions together.
She warns that even billionaires can face trouble if one partner makes a major financial move without the other’s consent, because ‘higher net worth can also mean higher stakes if questionable choices are made.’
Prenuptial agreements and financial planning become even more critical when fortunes are so lopsided, Rebell adds.
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding has ignited debate over money, power and what happens when one partner’s fortune towers over the other’s
But she cautions against assuming Gomez will control every decision just because she’s wealthier as Blanco, 37, has built his own multimillion-dollar career, producing chart-toppers for Rihanna, Katy Perry and Britney Spears.
Additionally, he’s founded two record labels and built an impressive real estate portfolio.
Matchmaker Sandra Myers says extreme wealth differences don’t have to undermine a relationship — but only if respect and communication are firmly in place from the outset.
She points to her own billionaire-to-millionaire clients who’ve made marriages work by keeping finances in separate lanes and focusing on trust.
Without that, Myers warns, money can quickly become a weapon in a relationship, fostering resentment if one partner uses their wealth to dominate.
‘Money can be both a blessing and a curse,’ she stressed, before pointing out that the disparity in Gomez and Blanco’s bank accounts plays little to no role in their daily lives.
Relationship expert Dr. Wendy Walsh views Gomez and Blanco as part of a cultural shift.
She says men like Blanco, and Travis Kelce, whose fortune is dwarfed by Taylor Swift’s estimated $1.6 billion, are proof that successful men no longer define themselves by out-earning their partners.
Instead, their value lies in being supportive and protective, not providers.
The Rare Beauty founder’s empire is estimated at $1.3 billion, while her husband’s sits at around $50 million; seen last year
Financial adviser Bobbi Rebell says that while both stars are financially independent adults, marriage inevitably ties their decisions together; seen earlier this month
‘Both guys are publicly adoring of their wives and their biggest cheerleaders. These guys are great role models for the changes in men that are becoming more common,’ she said.
Thomas Westenholz, an emotionally focused couple therapist, stressed that ‘imbalance can quietly breed resentment’ for partners that ‘don’t talk openly’ about money and intimacy.
‘Benny’s career and investments mean he’s not financially dependent on Selena. That independence helps offset potential power imbalances, because self-worth isn’t tied to a partner’s fortune,’ he explained.
Walsh also agreed that Blanco’s success in his own right helps balance the dynamic.
Celebrity status, creative control, and influence can offset any unease about earning less, because identity and self-worth aren’t always measured in dollars.
Relationship expert Dr. Wendy Walsh says men like Benny Blanco are proof that successful men no longer define themselves by out-earning their partners
Even ultra-rich couples can clash over values, whether one sees a $250,000 car as frivolous while the other sees it as a symbol of success, or whether money should go toward investments, philanthropy or luxury
And while outsiders may think wealth eliminates money fights, experts stress that’s not always the case.
Even ultra-rich couples can clash over values, whether one sees a $250,000 car as frivolous while the other sees it as a symbol of success, or whether money should go toward investments, philanthropy or luxury.
The lesson for ordinary couples, experts agree, is not that money disparities are insurmountable, but that communication and mutual respect matter more than the numbers.
As Myers puts it, when trust is the foundation, ‘both parties will feel respected and heard — regardless of whether there is a prenup or not.’
