Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are one of Hollywood's most adored couples. Their decades long marriage and movie and TV success is a testament to their enduring love story but that's not to say they haven't faced hardship.
The couple — who are worth an estimated $100 million — previously faced a financial scandal that turned their lives upside dow.
It led to a huge lifestyle change and impacted their future in a way they never expected. Here's what happened.
© AFP via Getty ImagesIn the early 2000s, Kevin and Kyra Sedgwick, like many wealthy individuals, looked for opportunities to grow their bank balance through investments. They were introduced to a high-return investment opportunity that seemed too good to pass up... only it turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.
They were told that their money would be placed in a variety of business ventures, including real estate, hedge funds, and other investment products.
Kevin and Kyra were scammed
© WireImageAt first glance, the deal seemed to offer an irresistible opportunity, however, they soon learned they and many others had been scammed by businessman Bernie Madoff.
Kevin and Kyra weren't alone in their misfortune and despite a legal battle, they were returned only a fraction of their funds.
Multi-million dollar loss
They've never publicly revealed how much they lost, but it was reported to be a staggering $30 million.
"We had most of our money in Madoff," Kevin later told Smartness podcast hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. "There’s obvious life lessons there – if something is too good to be true, it's too good to be true."
They were forced to rebuild their lives
© Getty ImagesWhile many couples might fall to pieces over such a challenging situation, Kevin and Kyra remained focused on their family — they shared children Sosie and Travis — and how they could rebuild their life.
"We’ve made it this far, our kids are healthy, we’re healthy, you know? Let’s look at what we have that’s good," he said of their attitude. "When something like that happens, you look at each other and you go, 'Well, that sucks and let's roll up our sleeves and get to work.'"
Not that the loss didn't have a huge impact on them. "Certainly, you get angry and stuff, but I have to say, there were a lot of people who were much worse off than we were," he said. "Old people, people whose retirement funds were completely decimated. So, there’s always going to be somebody that's going to have it a lot worse than you."
Where did they go after they left LA?
© InstagramKevin and Kyra redesigned and reevaluated their lives. They eventually decided to move away from Hollywood and settled on a cozy farm in Connecticut which is worlds away from the spotlight of Tinseltown.
They now regularly showcase their idyllic surroundings where they care for their livestock and soak up everything nature has to offer.
They own a 40-acre farm in Sharon which is a tiny town with a population of less than 3,000 people. Kevin and Kyra are the proud owners of goats, alpacas, pigs and mini horses.
© Instagram"I love animals, they are a joy to be around, and they're very, very calming for me," he's said. "But we also really love to go into the garden and get fresh herbs or tomatoes or basil or peppers or zucchini."
They've been married since 1988 and when asked if they get fed up with people asking them the secret of a successful marriage, he told People: "We do. I joke that the secret to a successful marriage is to not take marriage advice from celebrities. I guess if I had to think too much about [our marriage], that would probably not be a good thing. We just got lucky. I honestly believe that's truth."
See photos of Kevin and Kyra through the years.
© InstagramRural life suits them
MOVED TO THE COUNTRY
© InstagramTheir family is everything
THEY HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE TIME
© InstagramThey've been married since 1988
LOVE BIRDS
© InstagramThey have one of the longest lasting love stories in Hollywood
TEST OF TIME
© Photo: InstagramSurrounded by nature
