Ricky Gervais, 65, has announced his intention to marry his partner of 44 years, Jane Fallon, 65, stating that the decision is solely motivated by the desire to avoid inheritance tax.
Gervais, estimated to be worth £141 million, shared his plans in an interview with Saga Magazine. He indicated that if not for tax considerations, he would not have pursued marriage, questioning its necessity given their long-term cohabitation and shared finances. "It's mad. How more married can you be? We share all our money, we've been living together for 40 years. Some marriages don't last a year," Gervais remarked.
He acknowledged the practical need to formalize their union, adding, "It's horrible isn't it? 'I've got to get around to marrying, before I die.'"
Unmarried couples in the UK do not automatically benefit from the spouse exemption, which allows for the tax-free transfer of an estate to a surviving spouse or civil partner. Without this exemption, estates can face a 40% inheritance tax on portions exceeding the tax-free threshold. This distinction is significant for Gervais, whose property portfolio includes a £14.75 million mansion in Hampstead, two New York flats, and a riverside home in Buckinghamshire, where he is developing a new mansion.
This announcement comes as Fallon is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, diagnosed in March. In April, she provided an optimistic update, stating that following surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue, surgeons had "basically got it all," with a subsequent operation also proving successful.
Gervais and Fallon met at University College London in 1982 and have been together for over four decades, deciding early in their relationship not to marry or have children. Fallon has previously stated that she never fantasized about weddings or motherhood, preferring to focus on her career and life.
Gervais has historically maintained that their long-term commitment made them "married for all intents and purposes," humorously referring to their relationship as a "fake marriage" that had outlasted many real ones.