6 Financial Moves Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce—and Every Couple—Should Make Before Tying the Knot

The love story of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce continues with their recently announced engagement. But while the public interest and love vibes are swirling, so are the financial questions. 

Sure, as rich celebrities Swift and Kelce have the luxury of avoiding arguments over the cost of who’s paying for takeout tonight, but, just like the rest of us, they’ll face challenges establishing a new life with two different financial pictures. Before walking down the aisle, any couple—celebrity or not—should tackle their essential financial issues.

Talk About Money Early

We all have unique financial situations, and Swift and Kelce are no exception. Like with many couples, they have significant wealth disparities. 

Swift’s estimated net worth is about $1.6 billion in 2025, which includes about $800 million accrued from royalties, a roughly $600 million music catalog, and about $110 million worth of real estate, according to Forbes. And she’ll likely continue earning millions more per year indefinitely, with royalties giving her a strong passive income stream.

Kelce is also rich from playing as a tight end in the NFL, including with his recent two-year $34.2 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. His earnings outside football are also substantial, with sources including his “New Heights” podcast and ad deals with large corporations like Pepsi, General Mills, and State Farm. But his net worth of about $90 million is still a fraction of Swift’s.

For couples with financial differences, talking about money early can help them avoid misunderstandings and clarify expectations. For example, Kelce and Swift could discuss whether they should keep their assets separate or merge them, or they could talk about how they will make spending decisions.

You can’t get ahead of every financial issue, but opening up your playbook to your partner on topics like income, debt, credit scores, and overall money philosophy can help you prevent surprises and financial fights.

Consider a Prenuptial Agreement 

A prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is a legal contract that addresses how financial assets would be split if the couple got a divorce or if one spouse died. For celebrities with a lot of wealth at stake—including in complex areas like intellectual property rights—prenups provide important financial protection. But they can benefit any couple.

Famous couples like Beyoncé & Jay-Z have prenups that consider factors like children and years of marriage in determining spousal support from the wealthier partner in the event of divorce. Tom Brady and his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen reportedly had a prenup that allowed them to easily divide assets.

But being rich isn’t a prerequisite for a prenup. Roughly 15% of couples have prenups, according to a survey by The Harris Poll, and this is a growing trend.

Even for couples who would never dream they would get divorced, a prenup can still be prudent in case things change. You never know how events like a lottery win or inheritance will change a marriage.

Protect Assets Through Trusts and Estate Planning

With a wedding on the horizon, Swift and Kelce could potentially grow their family to include kids. That means they’ll likely want to discuss how to pass on their assets, whether to any children, other family members, or charities. And in the meantime, they can take steps to protect those assets.

Even if you don’t have Swift’s and Kelce’s fortunes, setting up trusts and engaging in other estate planning can prevent complications and costly disagreements in the future. For example, if you want to help your children avoid fighting over proceeds from your house, a will can help speed up the probate court process, or a trust could avoid probate entirely. Or, you might want to consider how to leverage power of attorney documents to, say, give your spouse the ability to make your financial and health decisions if you become incapacitated.

Manage Debt and Spending Expectations 

Even wealthy celebrities can have debt, like mortgages for their mansions. That often makes financial sense, because the mortgage interest they pay is usually lower than the average stock returns they can earn, so they may want to put their cash toward other assets besides real estate.

Still, couples might disagree on how to manage their debt, regardless of wealth. Some people are debt-averse and want to pay off debt quickly, while others want to optimize every dollar even if that means paying down debt slowly. Again, discussing money views early can help minimize conflicts over how to tackle debt.

Couples should try to get aligned on spending expectations. For example, Rhode Island’s new “Taylor Swift Tax” could cost her tens of thousands of dollars per year for her home there, valued at over $27 million. So Swift and Kelce may discuss whether they want to keep that property or not. 

Discuss Insurance and Risk Management 

Celebrities often have more complex insurance policies, like plans that protect them against financial fallout from damage to their voices or bodies. But even if you’re not famous, it’s important to discuss insurance and your overall risk management approach.

Engaged couples can review each other’s health insurance policies to see if it makes more sense to get on a family plan once they’re married. They will likely face changing life insurance needs as well. For example, a life policy could ensure your partner will be able to pay for your mortgage if you pass away. If you have existing insurance policies, review your beneficiaries and consider what changes you want to make, such as including your spouse. 

Talk about areas like investment risk as well. Make sure you and your partner understand each other’s risk tolerance and investing goals, and try to establish a unified vision for your investment. 

Plan for Future Earnings and Family

Celebrity finances, including in retirement, often include unique sources of income like potentially Swift’s royalties or Kelce’s NFL pension. 

But even ordinary financial planning for couples should cover issues like future earnings. For example, if you have very little retirement savings while your spouse has a substantial 401(k) plan, discuss how you may share these assets in retirement.

An engagement is also a good time to discuss your vision for your future family. Talk about if/how many kids you want, and consider factors like whether you want to move. Maybe your future spouse has a job that could require frequent moves or travel. If that won’t work for your family goals, considering a new line of work can help get your marriage off to a good start.

The Bottom Line

When celebrities like Swift and Kelce tie the knot, the financial stakes are much higher than they are for the average couple, but all new couples should approach their financial strategies as a team.

Talking openly about these personal topics can help you get clarity and avoid conflict as you make plans. Consider consulting a financial advisor to help guide you on the right path toward managing your money as a married couple.