The 1993 wedding of Nicole Murphy and Eddie Murphy was nothing short of a royal event. People still talk about it. It happened at the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Imagine 500 guests, a $1.5 million price tag (in 90s money!), and a bride walking down the aisle to the "Coming to America" theme. It was the peak of Hollywood glamour. But as we often see with these "fairytale" setups, the reality behind the camera was a lot more complicated than the red carpet photos suggested.
They were together for a long time. They met in 1988 at an NAACP Image Awards show. At the time, Eddie was the biggest star on the planet. Nicole Mitchell was a stunning model working the runways in Europe. They lived together for about two years before finally tying the knot. For over a decade, they were the "it" couple. Then, in 2005, the news broke that Nicole had filed for divorce.
People were shocked. Honestly, they seemed like the one couple that would actually make it. But Nicole cited "irreconcilable differences," and by 2006, the marriage was legally over.
The Massive Divorce Settlement and the Scammer
The divorce wasn't just big news because of the names involved; the money was staggering. Nicole walked away with a one-time payout of $15 million. Most people would be set for life with that kind of cash. But what happened next is a cautionary tale that honestly sounds like a movie script.
A "friend" named Troy Stratos entered the picture. He convinced Nicole to invest a huge chunk of her settlement—about $11 million—into what he claimed were lucrative overseas deals involving Middle Eastern oil. He told her he could even help sell her Granite Bay mansion to royalty.
It was all a lie.
Stratos was a con man. He didn't invest a dime. Instead, he lived in her house rent-free and used her money to fund a jet-setting lifestyle for himself. He even had her lease luxury cars like a Rolls-Royce and a BMW, claiming it would "attract buyers," then just drove them around himself. By 2010, reports surfaced that Nicole was nearly broke and facing millions in debt and tax liens.
Rebuilding a Life After the Fall
Nicole didn't just stay down. That’s the thing about her—she’s a hustler. She launched her own jewelry line, FLP (Friendship, Love, Peace), and eventually started a skincare brand called Y-Foy. She also became a reality TV staple on Hollywood Exes. She wasn't just a cast member; she was an executive producer.
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It took years of legal battles, but Troy Stratos was eventually caught and sentenced to prison. Nicole has been open about how much that betrayal hurt, but she’s since stabilized her finances.
The 10-Child Dynamic
If you want to understand the current bond between Nicole Murphy and Eddie Murphy, you have to look at the kids. They share five: Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola, and Bella.
Eddie actually has ten children in total.
- Bria Murphy: An artist and actress who often displays her work in galleries.
- Myles Mitchell: Lives a quieter life and recently made Eddie a grandfather.
- Shayne Audra, Zola Ivy, and Bella Zahra: All have dabbled in modeling or acting, with Bella even appearing alongside her dad in Coming 2 America.
Eddie has gone on record saying his kids are the "center of everything." And surprisingly, for a guy with five different "baby mamas" (as the tabloids love to say), the group is remarkably cohesive. You'll often see photos of the whole brood together at movie premieres or holiday parties.
Where Do They Stand in 2026?
Today, the drama is ancient history. Eddie married model Paige Butcher in July 2024 after a very long engagement. They had a private ceremony in Anguilla. Nicole, meanwhile, has had high-profile relationships with Michael Strahan (they were engaged for years) and was recently linked to Marcus Jordan.
But between Eddie and Nicole? It’s all love.
"Eddie and I are friends," Nicole has said. They attend their kids' events together. They hang out in the same rooms without it being weird. In a town like Hollywood, where divorces usually end in decades of bitterness, their ability to co-parent and actually like each other is pretty rare.
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Basically, they’ve figured out that being "exes" doesn't have to mean being enemies.
Real Insights for Navigating High-Stakes Transitions
Looking at the timeline of Nicole Murphy and Eddie Murphy, there are a few blunt truths we can take away:
- Trust, but verify: Even "childhood friends" can be predators when millions of dollars are on the line. Always have a third-party fiduciary look at investment deals.
- The "Lump Sum" Trap: Nicole took $15 million at once instead of monthly alimony. While it offers freedom, it also makes you a massive target for scammers.
- Co-parenting is a choice: Their peace wasn't accidental. It required both of them to put their egos aside for the sake of the five children they share.
- Branding is a second act: Nicole used her "Ex" status as a springboard for her own businesses rather than just living off the settlement.
When you look at them now, you don't see a broken family. You see a massive, blended, slightly chaotic, but ultimately functional tribe. It took a $15 million divorce and a $11 million scam to get there, but they seem to have landed on their feet.
To stay updated on their current business ventures, you can follow Nicole’s skincare line Y-Foy or check out Eddie’s latest projects on Netflix, where he continues his career resurgence.