Chris Rock’s Divorce Joke at the WSJ Awards – “I Lost So Much Money”
Chris Rock, the seasoned stand‑up legend with a razor‑sharp wit, had the crowd – and a handful of CEOs – in stitches at the 2025 Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards. While the night celebrated the likes of Billie Eilish, George Lucas and financier Mellody Hobson, the 60‑year‑old comic stole the show with a gut‑wrenching one‑liner about the cost of divorce.
“I lost so much money in my divorce,” Rock blurted, eyes glinting. “When my friends are getting divorced, I recommend my ex‑wife’s attorney.” He followed that with a snide jab that a slice of his touring profits would inevitably “go to my ex‑wife, of course.” The onstage audience erupted, and no one – even those who’d be the lucky recipients – could have helped but laugh.
It isn’t the first time the comedian’s humour has leaned into his own split‑up. Back in 2021 on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Rock revealed that the same advice had gone to writer‑comedian John Mulaney. “I was like, ‘You should get this guy, he’ll get you your money,’” Rock remembered, adding that the lawyer “walked out with nothing.”
The joke was all in good fun. Rock entered a night that spotlighted entrepreneurs, animators and artists – notably the husband‑and‑wife duo George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, winners in the design class for their forthcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. After the joke, Rock took a breath, then praised Lucas as “the man who turns imagination into reality” and Hobson as a “brilliant money manager.” He wrapped up by declaring the pair’s museum a “love letter to imagination.”
The crowd, made up of industry titans and media personalities, appreciated the comedian’s self‑deprecation. The Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, held at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, drew a mix of high‑profile recipients and surprise guests, and Rock’s timing was impeccable. The wall‑flower of the night, Billie Eilish, was praised for her philanthropic effort of giving a percentage of her tour proceeds to fund food equity and climate groups – a move that earned Rock a playful nod.
Whether you’re watching from home or hearing it live, Rock’s quip is a reminder of how comedy can turn even the most painful experiences into relatable banter. His razor‑sharp timing and willingness to poke fun at himself made the night all the more memorable.
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Chris Rock | Malaak Compton‑Rock | Divorce jokes | Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards | Celebrity humor | Bill Eilish | George Lucas | Mellody Hobson
