Sandra Bullock and Jesse James divorced after 4 years, 11 months of marriage. The settlement was reportedly about $5M. See the full timeline.
Figures are reported estimates. Last updated Oct 2026.
Bullock filed days after winning the Oscar for The Blind Side.
Sandra Bullock, the Oscar-winning actress who starred in Speed and The Blind Side, and Jesse James, the founder of West Coast Choppers and star of the television series Monster Garage, met in 2003 and married on 16 July 2005 in a ceremony in California. James was a motorcycle customiser with a rough image, while Bullock was one of the best-known actresses in America. The pair had no children together, though James had children from earlier relationships.
Bullock's wealth came from her film career, with fees of more than $10 million per film for hits such as Miss Congeniality, Two Weeks Notice and The Proposal. She was among the highest-paid actresses in the world. James earned money from West Coast Choppers, his television work and licensing, though his wealth was much smaller. Most of the couple's assets were due to Bullock's work.
The couple married in 2005, and in March 2010 Bullock won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Blind Side. Soon afterwards, reports emerged that James had had affairs, and Bullock postponed an announcement until after the awards. She filed for divorce in April 2010, and the divorce was finalized in June 2010, after about five years. Bullock adopted a son, Louis, and later a daughter, Laila.
The settlement was kept private, and a figure of about $5 million has been reported in the press. The couple had a prenuptial agreement, and James was reported to have received a limited sum. Bullock sought to keep the matter out of the public eye, and the proceedings were short. The reported figure is an estimate based on press accounts.
The amount quoted is small compared with Bullock's wealth, reflecting the prenuptial agreement and the short length of the marriage. The reported figure is not large but is higher than might have been expected given the circumstances. California law allows a prenuptial agreement to limit property claims, and in this case it appears to have been decisive.
Bullock's career flourished, and she starred in Gravity, which was a major hit in 2013, and in Ocean's 8. She also produced films through her company Fortis Films. James's business was affected by the scandal, and he later started a new venture. The divorce did not affect Bullock's earnings.
The Bullock and James divorce is notable for the contrast between the star's career highs and the personal turmoil that followed. It is a small case on the list in terms of money but a large one in terms of media coverage. It resembles the Affleck and Garner case in that infidelity was widely reported but the settlement was handled quietly.
Bullock won the Academy Award on 7 March 2010 and then filed for divorce a few weeks later. Her adopted son Louis was born in 2010. She won the Golden Raspberry for worst actress for All About Steve the day before the Oscars, and accepted it in person. The $5 million figure is a reported estimate.
Jesse James's reported settlement was about $5 million.
They married in 2005 and divorced in 2010, a marriage of roughly 5 years.
No prenuptial agreement was reported.
Reported assets include: Austin home, cash, film royalties.
The amount quoted is small compared with Bullock's wealth, reflecting the prenuptial agreement and the short length of the marriage. The reported figure is not large but is higher than might have been expected given the circumstances.