Ryan Seacrest sparked a conversation about the value of engagement rings and made it clear that when the time comes, he’ll spend his money on experiences rather than jewelry.
THE American idol the host, 51, raised the topic during the April 7 episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrestwondering if the traditional engagement ring still has meaning in the modern world.
“A lot of couples wonder, ‘Hey, is the engagement ring really worth it?’ What’s the average cost? $10,000?” he said.
“Average cost of an engagement ring in the United States, $10,000. Think about what you could do with your partner for $10,000.”
Co-host Sisanie Villaclara added some historical context, pointing out that engagement rings were once simple bands rather than the elaborate stones that became the norm.
Seacrest was clearly convinced by the practical argument and applied it directly to his own future projects.
“When I meet my human, and then we will have experiences together,” he said.
“We’re going to focus on building our bonds. Doing things together. We’re going to have adventures together. That’s what we’re going to think about. We’re not thinking about jewelry. We’re thinking about adventures and building something together, and that should be the priority.”
Seacrest split from girlfriend Aubrey Paige in 2024 and previously had relationships with Julianne Hough and Shayna Taylor.
Marriage was always something he wanted but approached with caution.
During a 2017 appearance on Living with Kelly and Ryanhe admitted that he almost proposed once but held back.
“It was the right decision, but I love the idea [of marriage]” he said at the time, adding with characteristic self-awareness: “I have this thing that I don’t want to screw it up, and a lot of times they’re wrong. I think the longer I wait, the older I will be, the closer I will be to death – to be able to go in and not screw it up. “
