Ellen Barkin and Ex, Revlon's Billionaire Ron Perelman

Ellen married Ron in 2000, putting her film career on hold. But in 2005, Ellen desired to go back into the movie biz. So Ellen did what several other actresses have attempted: Ellen started her own independent film production company, calling it Applehead Pictures.

Ellen and her brother George went in as partners instead of Ellen's husband Ron, who is Revlon's chairman.
Ellen's brother George had worked in the entertainment industry himself, previously serving as editor-in-chief of National Lampoon and High Times as well as working as a script writer.

That's why Ellen's brother George was the natural choice for Ellen as a business partner instead of her husband Ron. But Ron agreed to invest in the company, even though he wouldn't be creatively involved. They signed a contract to that effect and Ron was due to cough up money for that in 2006 and 2007.

Revlon Ron Wouldn't Makeup

But in January of 2006, after presenting Ellen with a 1.5 million dollar ring at the beginning of the year, Ron Perelman asked his Hollywood wife of five years for a divorce. Rumor had it Ron was trying to avoid the prenup agreement that would net Ellen a higher return if they divorced after 2006.

Ron and Ellen had a prenup that guaranteed her between $2 and $3 million per year in alimony if they were married up til 2006, but it would pay out more if they divorced after 2006. So Ron Perelman, who already had a sleigh full of ex wives before he married Ellen, was trying to cut his losses even more.