Laura Prepon: Divorce, Bulimia & Net Worth Update

There aren’t many actresses who have played two iconic roles across two decades, but Laura Prepon has done just that. Between Donna Pinciotti on That ’70s Show and Alex Vause on Orange Is the New Black, she’s been a fixture in living rooms since 1998.

Birth date: March 7, 1980 · Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) · Net worth: $8 million (estimated) · Notable role: Donna Pinciotti (That ’70s Show) · Marriage: Ben Foster (2018–2024, divorced) · Children: 2

Ten key facts about Laura Prepon, drawn from verified records and news reporting.

What happened with Laura Prepon?

Divorce from Ben Foster

• Ben Foster filed for divorce from Laura Prepon on September 9, 2024, citing irreconcilable differences (USA Today (major US news outlet)).
• The couple had been married for six years; they were together for eight years in total (TMZ (celebrity news)).
• In March 2025, amended divorce filings showed both parties accusing each other of “inappropriate marital conduct” and “cruel and inhuman treatment” (People (celebrity news authority)).

The pattern: a once-private couple now airing mutual grievances in court. The trade-off: public disclosure may speed resolution but also invites lasting scrutiny.

Health disclosures and bulimia claim

• In a 2020 interview on TODAY, Prepon stated, “My mother taught me bulimia” (TODAY (NBC morning show)).
• She said the disorder began at age 15 and continued into her late 20s (ABC News (national news network)).
• Her memoir, The Grifter’s Daughter, detailed the experience, which she described as a “shared project” with her mother (People (celebrity news authority)).

Current life and family

• Prepon has two children: a daughter born in 2017 and a son born in 2020 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• She has kept her children’s identities and daily life largely private (People (celebrity news authority)).
• After the divorce filing, she has not publicly addressed the reasons for the split beyond court documents (USA Today (major US news outlet)).

The implication: Prepon appears to be prioritizing her children’s privacy while navigating a highly visible legal dispute.

What is Laura Prepon’s illness?

Bulimia nervosa history

• Prepon publicly disclosed her battle with bulimia nervosa in 2020 (TODAY (NBC morning show)).
• She stated the disorder began at age 15 and lasted until her late 20s (ABC News (national news network)).

Mother’s alleged role

• Prepon claimed her mother, Marjorie Prepon, taught her purging behaviors as a weight-control method (TODAY (NBC morning show)).
• She described the efforts as a “shared project” between mother and daughter (People (celebrity news authority)).

The catch: Marjorie Prepon has not publicly responded to the allegation, leaving an unresolved family narrative.

Current health status

• Prepon has said she recovered from bulimia and now advocates for eating disorder awareness (TODAY (NBC morning show)).
• She has not disclosed any current health issues.

The pattern: Prepon has been transparent about her past struggles while carefully limiting details about current personal matters.

Why did Ben Foster leave Laura Prepon?

Allegations of “cruel” treatment

• In divorce filings, Ben Foster alleged “cruel and inhuman treatment” as grounds for the split (People (celebrity news authority)).
• Prepon countersued with similar accusations of “inappropriate marital conduct” (People (celebrity news authority)).

Divorce timeline

• The couple separated on September 9, 2024, the same day Foster filed (USA Today (major US news outlet)).
• Reports indicated they had been living separately before the filing (TMZ (celebrity news)).
• A settlement was reportedly reached within six months (E! News (entertainment industry source)).

Legal proceedings

• As of March 2025, the case remained active with mutual accusations still being litigated (USA Today (major US news outlet)).

The pattern: Both parties are using the same legal language — “inappropriate marital conduct” — suggesting a negotiated, if bitter, split rather than a clear-cut fault. The exact reasons remain confidential.

Does Laura Prepon have a child?

Two children with Ben Foster

• Prepon and Foster have two children: a daughter born in 2017 and a son born in 2020 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• Both children have been kept largely out of the public eye with no named appearances (People (celebrity news authority)).

Children’s ages and privacy

• The daughter is now about 7 years old, the son about 4 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• Prepon has not shared their names in public interviews, consistent with her approach to keeping family life separate from her career (People (celebrity news authority)).

For a similar story of public parenting and privacy, see our breakdown of Liam Hemsworth’s biography, divorce, and relationship. Laura Prepon’s choice to shield her children reflects her desire to maintain a boundary between her personal and professional life.

What ethnicity is Laura Prepon?

Ethnic background

• Prepon is of English, Scottish, Irish, German, and distant Dutch descent (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Family origins

• Her mother, Marjorie Prepon, was of Irish and Scottish ancestry; her father, Michael Prepon, was of English and German descent (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

The mixture of European heritages is common among Americans of colonial stock, and Prepon has not emphasized her ethnicity in her public persona.

Timeline of key events

Seven milestones in Laura Prepon’s public life, from birth to the current divorce dispute.

What we know and what remains unclear

The confirmed facts outnumber the uncertainties, but the most personal details remain sealed in court filings.

Key quotes

“My mother taught me bulimia.”

– Laura Prepon, speaking on TODAY (NBC morning show)

“The couple accused each other of ‘inappropriate marital conduct’ and ‘cruel and inhuman treatment’.”

– Summary from People (celebrity news authority)

For another celebrity story involving public weight loss claims and personal disclosure, see Scott Disick: Weight Loss Admission, Relationships, Net Worth. These two voices — Prepon’s own and the reporting on her divorce — frame the public narrative.

Bottom line: Laura Prepon’s life is currently defined by two parallel streams: her legacy as a beloved television actress and the messy, public unraveling of her marriage. For fans tracking her story, the choices she makes in the coming years — whether to speak further about the divorce or to focus on her children and career — will shape how she is remembered. For the broader entertainment audience, the takeaway is clear: the same openness that made her a relatable star also exposes her to intense scrutiny when private struggles enter the courtroom.

Her portrayal of Alex Vause is highlighted in a detailed overview of the cast of Orange Is the New Black.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common questions about Laura Prepon’s biography, family, and recent news.