Another one of Hollywood’s most beloved marriages is coming to an end.

Just last week, Ellen DeGeneres was spotted without her wedding ring — signaling to her fans that her marriage to Portia de Rossi is over once and for all. For those close to the pair, who have been married for nine years, the split didn’t exactly come as a surprise.

MUST SEE: Check out Portia and Ellen’s Relationship Timeline!

“It’s happening. She and Portia are breaking up,” an insider tells In Touch, exclusively. “Portia’s ring has been off for a while now, and though she would occasionally slip it on to show Ellen she was trying, that’s over now… There’s no turning back. It’s just a matter of time before the whole world knows.”

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According to the insider, the talk show host, 59, didn’t want this — but it reached the point where her wife, 44, was tired of living in Ellen’s shadow, and their relationship could no longer take the pressure it’s been under in recent years.

MORE: Oh No! Find out Why Ellen DeGeneres Was Recently Hospitalized!

Ultimately, Portia grew tired of her wife’s “controlling behavior.”

“Bottom line, Portia feels Ellen didn’t let her be herself or develop her acting career more,” says the insider. “She said she needs to break free or she’s going to snap.”

Now that their marriage is over, Ellen has to figure out how move forward to protect not only her hefty estate — between her talk show, production company, and roles in movies like Finding Dory, her net worth is believed to be around $360 million, with an annual salary of $75 million — but also her reputation.

“Ellen will pay to guarantee that Portia won’t go public with their relationship and marriage in a future tell-all book,” the insider says. “Ellen wants to protect her reputation and her brand. If Portia plays her cards right, Ellen will give her whatever she wants.”

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