Celebs Who Kept Their Ex’s Last Name After A Divorce

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Tina Turner

Tina Turner: Long before she became Tina Turner, she was known as Anna Mae Bullock. Her marriage to Ike Turner lasted from 1962 to 1978, yet she chose to retain his surname even after marrying Erwin Bach in 2013.

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Jack White

Jack White: Born John Anthony Gillis, Jack White took an unconventional path by adopting the last name of his musical partner, Meg White, when they wed. Although they divorced in 2000, the name stayed.

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Bianca and Mick Jagger

Bianca Jagger: Model and human rights advocate Bianca Jagger was Mick Jagger's first wife. Surprisingly, she chose to keep his last name after their divorce in 1979.

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Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers: Originally Suzanne Marie Mahoney, Somers retained the last name of her former spouse, Bruce Somers, even after their divorce in 1968. She was married to Alan Hamel in 1977 until her death in 2023.

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Demi Moore

Demi Moore: Surprisingly, Demi Moore was married to someone else before Bruce Willis. Born Demetria Guynes, she was married to musician Freddy Moore from 1980 to 1985.

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Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon: Although she's widely known as Susan Sarandon, her birth certificate reads Susan Abigail Tomalin. She was married to actor Chris Sarandon from 1967 to 1979, and she retained his last name following their divorce.

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Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne

Cheryl Cole: Before her marriage to English soccer player Ashley Cole, she was known as Cheryl Ann Tweedy. Despite their marriage from 2006 to 2010, she retained her ex-husband's name.

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Melinda Gates and Bill Gates of the Gates Foundation, winners of the Public Service Award, are seen during the The Lasker Awards

Bill and Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates: American philanthropist Melinda Gates was married to Bill Gates from 1994 to 2021, yet she continued to go by her famous surname.

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Kris Jenner

Kris Jenner: Born Kristen Mary Houghton, the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch made the choice to keep the surname from her second marriage to Caitlyn Jenner.

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Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' Governors Awards - Arrivals

Raquel Welch

Raquel Welch (1940 - 2023): The Hollywood legend was originally known as Jo Raquel Tejada. Her marriage to her first husband, James Welch, took place in 1959, and she retained his last name even after their divorce in 1961.

Following a divorce, certain individuals opt to retain their ex's surname, especially when they are celebrities for whom their name is an integral part of their public identity.

Famous People Who Kept Their Ex’s Last Name After Divorce

For several famous actresses, musicians, and public personalities, this choice to keep their former spouse's last name has carried on, even though their divorces took place many years ago.

Some have remarried and undergone subsequent divorces but continue to be recognized by the last names of their previous partners. From Susan Sarandon to Demi Moore and Kris Jenner, these celebrities have made the unique decision to preserve their ex-spouse's last name as an enduring part of their public persona. Dive in to explore their fascinating stories.