Marriage Super Novas
While on vacation recently, I had a conversation with a fellow resort holidayer. As so often happens, the topic of what one does for a living comes up. When I said that I work as a Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist, our discussion turned to stories about themselves or people they know whose marriages collapsed, not only once, but sometimes more than twice.
Because of this visit with my new friend, I decided to investigate different famous people’s marriage flameouts. I have gleaned my information from the world’s favorite encyclopedia, Google. The information may be accurate, or it may not be. Regardless, I hope that you will be inspired not to emulate these people as role models for excellent family life!
Story # 1 “My papa was a rolling stone”
Glynn “Scotty” Wolfe – As written in the Los Angeles Times, June 20, 1997
Glynn “Scotty” Wolfe, 88, the world’s most often-married man. Wolfe, a flamboyant, Bible-thumping minister, held the Guinness Book of World Records title on frequent matrimony. He was married 29 times. His widow, Linda Essex-Wolfe, has held the record as world’s most often married woman with 23 husbands. Although he lived in California and she lived in Indiana and they spent only a week together, they had planned to renew their vows today, which would have been their first wedding anniversary. Wolfe’s shortest marriage was 19 days and his longest seven years. Proud of his ever-growing record, Wolfe frequently appeared on television talk shows, including “Donahue.” Although he had 29 wives, 19 children, 40 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, nobody stepped forward to claim Wolfe’s body after he died on June 10, 1997, of heart disease. His ashes were placed in a collective grave in Redlands, California.
So, you want your boy to be a professional athlete?
According to the American law firm of Gladstone and Weisman, P.A., (August 2020) professional athletes in the NHL, NBA, and NFL have divorce rates between 60% and 80%. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, 60% to 80% of all professional athletes are in financial distress within a few years of their careers ending. Most NHL careers are over within 5 years of a young man signing his first professional contract and almost all of them did not create a “contingency career”.
If marriage matters to you, which careers have the lowest divorce rates?
According to the Australian Family Lawyers group, Actuaries consistently show the lowest divorce rates, often cited around 17% in studies. Due to their work in risk assessment, these professionals likely apply similar logic to their marriages. Other professions with low divorce rates include engineers, scientists (physical, life), and clergy, often characterized by higher salaries and education levels.
Top Careers with Lowest Divorce Rates:
Actuaries: 17% (lowest)
Petroleum, Mining, and Geological Engineers: 23.2%
Clergy: 6.0%–19.8%
Scientists (Physical/Life): 18.9%–19.6%
Software Developers: 20.3%
Optometrists & Healthcare Professionals: 20.8%–21.8%
Key Factors Influencing Low Divorce Rates:
Income Stability: Higher-salary professions, such as surgeons and scientists, often report lower divorce rates.
Risk Management: Professions that require managing risk, such as actuary roles, may carry over to more cautious, stable personal lives.
Education Level: Individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher are less likely to divorce compared to those with less education.
What group has consistently the lowest divorce rates?
According to research by Bradford Wilcox, a sociologist at the University of Virginia and director of the National Marriage Project, he states that ‘Couples who regularly practise any combination of serious religious behaviors and attitudes – attend church nearly every week, read their Bibles and spiritual materials regularly; pray privately and together; generally take their faith seriously, living not as perfect disciples, but serious disciples – enjoy significantly lower divorce rates, approximately 35% better, than mere church members, the general public, and unbelievers.’
I hope that you found this blog interesting, useful and helpful!
