Chris Rock reveals a key piece of advice he got from his divorce attorney, who now represents Melinda Gates

Chris Rock opened up about his experience with famed divorce lawyer Robert Stephan Cohen.
Cohen is currently representing Melinda Gates, who could land the largest-ever divorce settlement.
Rock said Cohen once told him the bitterest divorce disputes only amount to a fraction of what's at stake.
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In the worst moments of Chris Rock's famously bitter 2016 divorce, the comedian said there was one piece of wisdom his lawyer shared that helped him get through the two-year legal battle.

That attorney, Robert Stephan Cohen, made headlines in recent weeks after court filings revealed he's representing Melinda Gates in her divorce from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Rock told Insider in an interview that Cohen was a capable, intelligent, and realistic lawyer who helped the comedian see the bigger picture: That most of his divorce had already been resolved, and the most contentious parts composed a tiny fraction of what was at stake.

"Put it this way. People get divorced. People fight. Things take sometimes years. At the end of the day, you're only talking 4%, one way or the other," Rock said. "[Cohen] said that to me. I was like, 'Oh, okay.' And that put it in perspective."

Cohen told Insider his 4% rule holds up in most divorces he handles. He's one of the most prominent divorce lawyers in the country, and has represented a number of other high-profile clients, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the actors Uma Thurman and James Gandolfini, and both of Donald Trump's ex-wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples.

"At the end of the day, the differences are usually a small percentage. Both with respect to money, and with respect to custody issues," he said.

robert stephan cohen — Cohen sat down with Insider for an interview from his midtown Manhattan office on May 25, 2021.
Adam Miller/Insider

Rock's turbulent divorce was highly publicized, and he's since opened up about his flaws as a husband - in particular, his numerous infidelities.

But he said Cohen remained cool-headed throughout the process, particularly when it came to disputes over child custody.

"I had some issues," Rock said. "It's like, when you're a guy, some people don't even think you want to see your kids. [Cohen] was very understanding about all of that."

"He got me through a very tough time in my life," Rock added.

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