Chris Rock jokes about ‘losing so much money’ in his divorce, then shares the advice he gave John Mulaney

Chris Rock poked fun at his expensive divorce while speaking at the 2025 Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards in New York City. The comedian was at the Museum of Modern Art to present awards to people making big changes in different areas, including singer Billie Eilish.

According to People, Rock talked about how Eilish was giving away money from her recent Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour to help people. The 23-year-old plans to donate some of her tour earnings to groups working on food problems and climate issues. Rock, who is 60, said nice things about her choice but quickly turned it into a joke about himself.

“That’s beautiful,” Rock said when talking about what Eilish was doing. “The percentage of my tour is gonna go to my ex-wife, of course.” He kept going with more jokes about how his divorce cost him a lot of money. He told the crowd, “It’s like I always say, I lost so much money in my divorce, when my friends are getting divorced, I recommend my ex-wife’s attorney.”

He keeps telling this same story

Rock was married to Malaak Compton-Rock, who is 56, back in 1996. They have two daughters named Lola and Zahra. The two split up in 2014 and their divorce became final in 2016. Ever since then, Rock has been using what happened in his marriage as jokes when he performs or talks in public.

This is not the only time Rock has told people about giving this lawyer advice to friends. Back in 2021 when he was on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, he said he told comedian John Mulaney the same thing. Rock remembered saying to Mulaney, “You should get this guy, he’ll get you your money. This guy is good, ’cause I walked out with nothing.”

After making these jokes, Rock moved on to introduce George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson at the awards show. The two were getting an award for their work on a new museum in Los Angeles called the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

Rock had good things to say about both of them when he brought them up. He talked about how Lucas spent his whole life making his ideas real, and called Hobson really smart with money. He said their museum showed what happens when two people work together on something big.

The Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards gives recognition to people doing new and important things. Other famous people at the event were Padma Lakshmi, Jolie Hunt, and Karen Elson. Even though Rock was joking about losing money in his divorce, he seemed happy and relaxed all night while doing his job as a presenter.