This is how much Astronomer's ex-CEO will pay his wife after Coldplay kiss-cam outs him
The viral betrayal from Coldplay’s concert could turn into a financial nightmare: Andy Byron, the former CEO of Astronomer who resigned after being caught in an intimate moment with the HR VP, is expected to pay tens of millions of dollars to his wife due to Massachusetts’ strict property division laws.
Oh, how the mighty fall when the “kiss cam” calls. Andy Byron, the now-disgraced former CEO of Astronomer, a Cincinnati-based data analytics darling valued at over $1.3 billion, has gone from boardroom boss to viral buffoon after getting caught in a cozy embrace with Kristin Cabot, his Chief People Officer, at a Coldplay concert on July 16 at Gillette Stadium. The jumbotron moment, broadcast to 50,000 fans and later to hundreds of millions online, sparked a scandal hotter than a Coldplay setlist. Chris Martin’s cheeky jab, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just *really* shy”, didn’t help. Spoiler alert: both are married. To other people.
Astronomer, clearly not vibing with their CEO’s newfound TikTok infamy, slapped Byron and Cabot with a leave of absence faster than you can say “Fix You.” By Saturday, Byron was out, resigning with co-founder Pete DeJoy stepping in as interim CEO. The company’s statement was practically a mic drop: “Our leaders are expected to set standards, not star in cringe-worthy rom-coms.” Cabot’s fate remains TBD, but the tea is scalding.
The real winner here? Megan Carrigan Byron, Andy’s wife of over seven years, who’s poised to cash in big time. Living in Massachusetts, where divorce laws mandate a 50/50 split of marital assets, Megan could claim half of Byron’s estimated $20 to $70 million fortune, chaotic for him, iconic for her. “This is a long-term marriage,” attorney Nancy Chemtob told the New York Post. “Everything they’ve built together splits down the middle.” And if that’s not enough, some Massachusetts prenups include infidelity clauses that could pad Megan’s payout even more, especially if it’s proven Byron used family funds for concert tickets, flights, or hotel trysts. The couple’s wealth likely includes juicy Astronomer shares, backed by heavyweights like Salesforce Ventures, Insight Partners, and Bain Capital, where Byron was a key player since 2023.
Meanwhile, Cabot, married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum, might dodge a financial bullet. Their shorter marriage means less entanglement, and without a prenup, her divorce fallout could be minimal. But don’t bet on it yet, attorney Jackie Combs warns that “kiss cam” footage, while juicy, isn’t always court gold. “Courts don’t rush to enforce infidelity clauses,” she said, though any proof of misused family funds could tip the scales.
The internet’s having a field day, with X posts turning the clip into meme fodder, from “Coldplay Cheaters” to sympathy for Megan, who promptly dropped Byron’s name from her social media. Oof. Some ex-employees are piling on, calling Byron’s leadership “toxic” and hinting the kiss wasn’t Astronomer’s only drama. Byron, a veteran of Lacework and Cybereason, and Cabot, hired in 2024 for her HR wizardry, have stayed silent. No apology, no comment, just a fake statement debunked by Astronomer.
This is corporate soap opera with a side of divorce court dread. Byron’s out, Megan’s eyeing millions, and the internet’s cackling. Lesson learned: keep your hugs off the big screen.