Denise Richards Swears off Marriage After Splits: ‘0 for 2’
Denise Richards didn’t give up on love after her first divorce, but her second walk into divorce court has certainly soured her on the idea of marriage ever again. Richards opened up about her future plans during a recent podcast interview, and they do not include wedding bells. Here’s what she said.
Denise Richards isn’t interested in a third marriage
At 55, Denise Richards has seemingly lived more than one life. She’s been married twice, at the very least. While opening up about her love life on The Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg Show, Richards revealed that she absolutely will not be getting married again. After McCarthy quizzed her on whether she was open to the idea, she didn’t hesitate, insisting she wants nothing to do with a legally binding relationship again, noting that she’s “0 for 2” when it comes to marriage.
Much of her reasoning comes from what she says she has learned during her split from Phypers. She explained that she is now realizing that, to him, she was a product and their relationship was a business arrangement rather than a real marriage. That, she said, is something she can’t go through again.
While her marriage to Charlie Sheen was chaotic, her split from Phypers is what really soured her on being someone’s wife again. She said she struggles to even look at photos from their years together because of the regret and betrayal she feels, noting that she’s sorry she ever met him.
Still, Richards isn’t giving up on romance. She told McCarthy she would still like to have a partner and wants to fall in love again. She just won’t be doing it with anyone who feels compelled to make it legal.
A history of complicated divorces
Richards’ feelings on marriage actually make a lot of sense when you look at her track record. Her “0 for 2” record includes two very public breakups after prolonged periods of chaos.
Her first marriage was to Sheen. The two met while filming the independent movie Good Advice in 2000 and began dating after she guest-starred on his sitcom Spin City. They married in June 2002. The relationship fell apart amid Sheen’s very public struggles with substance abuse and increasingly erratic behavior. Richards filed for divorce in 2005, while six months pregnant with their second child. The divorce was finalized in 2006.
More than a decade later, Richards tried again with Phypers, a former wellness center owner. The couple married in September 2018, and Richards’ fans watched parts of their life together on reality TV. Nearly seven years later, Phypers filed for divorce in July 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. Her second split has been far uglier than her first. Richards accused Phypers of abuse during their marriage, saying she suffered at least three concussions, and she was granted a permanent restraining order in November. Phypers has denied all of her allegations; he alleges she carried on an affair during their marriage. The divorce has also included financial battles. In September, a court ordered Phypers to pay Richards more than $25,000 in sanctions.
That divorce remains unresolved. While Richards seems adamant that she’s against marriage, her feelings could always change when her split from Phypers is finalized.
