{"id":598960,"date":"2026-08-20T08:08:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T08:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/598960\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T08:08:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T08:08:09","slug":"ricky-gervais-reveals-huge-move-to-protect-property-fortune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/598960\/","title":{"rendered":"Ricky Gervais reveals huge move to protect property fortune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ricky Gervais is planning to marry his partner of 44 years to protect his property portfolio from a hefty tax bill. <\/p>\n

The 65-year-old star admitted financial reality had forced him to tie the knot with best-selling novelist Jane Fallon to avoid a 40 per cent inheritance tax hit when one of them dies. <\/p>\n

Unmarried couples in the UK do not benefit from partner tax exemptions, leaving the comedian\u2019s real estate collection exposed. <\/p>\n

The funnyman, who is worth an estimated $275m (\u00a3141m), owns a $28.8m (\u00a314.75m) nine-bedroom mansion in Hampstead, two New York flats, and a riverside estate in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where he recently won approval to build a $9.75m (\u00a35m) mansion.<\/p>\n

The proposed new residence will feature a grand entrance hall, home gym, drawing room, reading area, lift and master bedroom with a terrace overlooking a tennis court and pond.<\/p>\n

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\"77th<\/p>\n

Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon pictured in 2020. Picture: Jon Kopaloff\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Ricky Gervais\u2019 current Marlow House. Picture: RBWM Council<\/p>\n

The Office star revealed in Saga Magazine that the taxman is the only reason he is abandoning his decades-long stance that marriage is pointless.<\/p>\n

The entertainer previously declared there was no reason to wed \u201cbefore the eyes of God as there is no God\u201d.<\/p>\n

Asked directly if tax was the sole driver behind tying the knot with best-selling novelist Jane Fallon, also 65, Gervais agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is [the reason]. And that will be the reason I marry. We haven\u2019t done it yet. But if it wasn\u2019t for [tax] \u2026 why?\u201d Gervais said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s mad. How more married can you be? We share all our money, we\u2019ve been living together for 40 years. Some marriages don\u2019t last a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conceding that time was no longer on their side, Gervais admitted the situation was grimly pragmatic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s horrible isn\u2019t it? \u2018I\u2019ve got to get around to marrying, before I die\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

The Office star revealed that the taxman is the only reason he is abandoning his decades-long stance that marriage is pointless. Picture: Tristan Fewings\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

The couple met while studying at University College London in 1982 and moved into a flat above a King\u2019s Cross sauna two years later. <\/p>\n

They previously decided against both marriage and children, with Ms Fallon noting on the Second Act podcast earlier this year that she had \u201cnever fantasised about weddings or motherhood\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was little, you know the cliche of a little girl is they imagine their wedding day and their wedding dress \u2026 it was none of that, ever,\u201d Ms Fallon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would think about getting a dog or something. It was always about work and my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gervais previously maintained that their \u201cfake marriage has lasted longer than a real one\u201d, but conceded financial reality had finally caught up with his principles.<\/p>\n

The decision comes amidst a challenging year for the couple following Ms Fallon\u2019s breast cancer diagnosis in March. <\/p>\n

Speaking in April after two surgeries, Ms Fallon confirmed doctors had caught the early-stage tumour during a routine mammogram and \u201cbasically got it all\u201d.<\/p>\n

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