Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s, Tori Spelling was the girl who had it all. The zip code, the mansion, the billionaire dad. But for the last two decades, the headlines haven't been about Donna Martin; they’ve been about a marriage that felt like a permanent rollercoaster.
We’re talking about Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott. Or, well, ex-husband now.
After 18 years of marriage and 20 years total together, the pair finally made it official. They settled their divorce in late 2025. It’s the end of an era that was defined by reality TV cameras, five kids, and enough financial drama to make a CPA faint.
The Breaking Point: What Actually Happened?
People love to speculate. Was it the money? The cheating scandals from years ago? The truth is usually more boring and more heartbreaking at the same time. On her misSPELLING podcast, Tori got incredibly raw about how things shifted.
She admitted that she basically "left" Dean emotionally once the kids arrived. Not on purpose, of course. But when you have five humans—Liam, Stella, Hattie, Finn, and Beau—all needing you at once, the husband often gets moved to the back burner.
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Dean has been vocal too. He took a lot of the blame, citing his struggles with sobriety and "inflicting a lot of damage" over the years. By the time June 2023 rolled around, he posted a separation announcement on Instagram, deleted it, and the world realized the house of cards was finally falling.
A "Drama-Free" Divorce? (Yes, Really)
You’d expect a Hollywood split involving five kids and nearly two decades of baggage to be a total bloodbath. Surprisingly, it wasn't. By November 2025, the divorce was finalized, and Tori actually called it "one of the easiest divorces in Hollywood."
Here is the breakdown of the 2026 reality:
- Custody: They share joint legal custody of the four minor kids. Liam is 18 now, so he’s technically out of the legal loop.
- Living Situation: The kids live primarily with Tori, but Dean has "reasonable custodial timeshare."
- Child Support: In a move that shocked many, they agreed to $0 in monthly child support. Instead, they just split the kids' expenses—healthcare and soccer practice—50/50.
- The Debt: They both walked away with their own mess. We're talking nearly $1 million each in various debts and taxes.
It’s a "clean slate" approach. Neither asked for spousal support. They just wanted out.
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Life After Dean: The New Dynamics
Tori isn't exactly sitting around waiting for the phone to ring. She’s been linked to Ryan Cramer, the CEO of an ad agency, and she’s even joked about wanting a "monogamous situationship." Basically, she wants the companionship without the 18-year weight of a traditional marriage right now.
And Dean? He’s been fairly public with his girlfriend, Lily Calo.
The most impressive part of this whole saga is the co-parenting. In early 2026, they are still doing family dinners. They show up to events together. Tori has gone on record saying they get along better now as friends than they ever did as a married couple.
Moving Forward with the Spelling Legacy
The financial "limitations" of Tori's life have been a punchline for years, but she seems to be leaning into it. Between her podcast and various TV projects, she’s clawing back her independence. She recently admitted she didn't cook for two years after the split because it was "triggering"—their final fight happened in the kitchen—but she’s finally getting back to it.
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If you’re looking to apply some of this to your own life (hopefully without the $1 million debt), here are the actionable takeaways from the Spelling-McDermott fallout:
- Prioritize the "Uncoupling": Even if the marriage fails, the "business" of the family can succeed. Their decision to skip the court battles and use mediation saved them years of stress.
- Sobriety is a Factor: Dean’s transparency about his recovery shows that personal healing is often the first step toward a functional post-divorce relationship.
- Redefine "Family": A family dinner doesn't require a marriage license. If the kids see peace, the structure of the house matters a lot less.
Tori and Dean spent 18 years trying to force a "happily ever after" for the cameras. It turns out, their version of a happy ending just required a different set of paperwork.
Next Steps for Staying Updated:
To keep a pulse on this evolving story, you should monitor official court filings in Los Angeles County for any modifications to the 2025 settlement. Additionally, following the misSPELLING podcast is currently the most direct way to get Tori's unfiltered perspective on her new "situationship" era and her ongoing co-parenting journey with Dean.