I've known guys with "trophy" wives, and they usually don't last, (there are exceptions, but then are they really a trophy, or are they the love?). The relationship is usually based on one thing, and that's never enough for a lasting relationship.

I've known people who have open marriages as well. They marry the one they "love" and have the affair with the "trophy".

A "trophy" wife is usually associated with the wealthy. In the cases I'm familiar with, often times there is too much money and other assets to end the marriage. Plus, they don't want the public humiliation of a divorce due to infidelity, (ego's too big in both people?).

my oldest cousin is a tall, extremely good looking guy. he married one of the most beautiful women i've ever seen. in the family we always joked that we couldn't figure out which one was the trophy. they had three daughters, each better looking than the last.

he aged better than she did. in his mid-forties he was in great shape, and a little gray at the temples was his only concession. she, however, just seemed to age twice as fast, put on some weight, and just did not look good anymore.

they divorced before he was 50. he remarried. although his 2nd wife is 10 years younger than him, the punchline is that she looks like jane hathaway of the beverly hillbillies.

i can't figure it out

Remember Bo Derek, married to John Derek, who first was with ________ (I'm terrible with names) beautiful blonde, tan; then went to Linda Evans (beautiful blonde, tan), and then Bo Derek, beautiful blonde, tan - just younger and younger versions of the same thing.

My eyes and tastes are aging!

...when I was 17, I could not imagine how anyone could be physically atracted to a woman older than about 25 (except for maybe Sphia Loren).  When I was 30, I still thought 17 year olds were pretty but probably uninteresting and a bit too young for me.  At 44, well, older women seem more attractive to me.  Alas, where are the older more mature providers for men like myself with 'old eyes'.  Old, mature...let's actually say more 'refined' like fine wines.  Trophy wives are for men who simply cannot see beyond the surface---it must get tiring after awhile.

My husband was 16 years older than me.

He would always talk to our friends and tell them stories of us. (ie, My wife hired an escort with me, (in which I did) but we f**k all the time, she is so wild...etc...that kind of stuff.

Yes, I was wild, but most of the time it was with my vibrator!

The funny thing is we rarely had sex (i think like 1 or 2 times a month.)

I hated this and then well, I found someone else and left.

Shaye

This isn't really in response to your question, as I haven't known anyone who had a "trophy wife"...just my two cents.

Judging by the divorce rate in this country, one
would think it is hard enough to make a marraige last without marrying for reasons other than "love".  

However, it takes all types, and there are probably some people who have a limited enough expectation of marraige that the trophy concept is conceivable for. As someone already suggested, this scenario usually applies to those able to afford a trophy, so the usual arrangement is wealthy middle aged to older man with physically beautiful younger woman.

By the time the woman has matured, she may still be beautiful in comparison to women her age, and at this point, the man either has either matured himself and bonded with his wife, is too old to take on a "youngster" any more, or is still defined by surfaces and the need to impress others, and will trade in the "old model".

I am with you in that I can't imagine a marraige of unlike minds lasting, but different people have different needs.  I am sure that this man is meeting the needs of this woman in some way, or she wouldn't be there.  And, if she is smart, she is investing, for when he may not be there.

That's my two cents.

Oh...and please stop shopping at Wal-Mart. :P

When my cousin was 21 (drop dead gorgeous, auburn hair down below the waist, ice-blue eyes)), she got a job as a model and spokeswoman for Chevrolet. She did a few Corvette commercial shoots, the autoshow convention circuit, and at 23 married a 50-something exec at General Motors, becoming the step-mother of 2 30-ish married sons, and a daughter older than her. At the age of 28, they were divorced after he took up with the new spokesmodel for Pontiac. It was all very amicable and yes --- all very business-like. With the comfortable settlement he gave her, she moved to Arizona, did well in Real Estate, and came back to California at the age of 42 with her brand new 24 year old husband, a Brad Pitt look-alike with rippling abs and the IQ of toast.
Last time I saw her was at a formal family function (wedding) in 2002. She had recently been divorced for the fourth time, but at age 54, she looked 10 years younger (spas, plastic surgery & liposuction assisted, to be sure) and had a kid on her arm who looked like one of those emaciated teenagers in a Calvin Klein commercial. But he had a very handsome face, the IQ of a radish, and truth be told, had ALL the girls (and a few of the boys) gazing at him. Meanwhile, cousin Alice looked like the cat that ate the canary. Alice always WAS my favorite cousin

There's your answer to the aging trophy.  This one was particularly lame.  She works her ass off putting him through law school.  He's a successful lawyer, so he gets rich and takes up with his bimbo secretary.  He's a sharp lawyer, so she's left with nothing from the divorce.

If I'd been on that jury I'd have held out for aquittal.  Not on the evidence, but because I think it was justifiable homicide.  I think the lawyers call this "jury nullification".

Actually, I suspect many trophys are gold diggers.  She figures (at 23) that by the time she's 45 (his age now) she'll either be a widow or have a terrific divorce settlement.  Either way she'll be set for life.  I find what the ladies do here to be more socially useful and FAR more honest.