25 Famous Women Who Married Men Half Their Age

Society often scrutinizes relationships with significant age gaps especially when an older woman marries a younger man. While age is just a number for many happy couples these famous women chose partners who were significantly their juniors. This list explores twenty-five well-known female celebrities who tied the knot with men young enough to be their sons or even grandsons. These relationships challenged societal norms and proved that love often transcends generational divides.

Joan Collins

This legendary actress is well known for her role in ‘Dynasty’ and her glamorous lifestyle. She married her fifth husband Percy Gibson in a ceremony that attracted significant media attention due to their age difference. Percy is thirty-two years her junior which makes him younger than two of her children. They have remained happily married for over two decades and often speak about their strong bond. Collins frequently credits their happiness to his support and their shared interests in theater and film.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

The Hungarian socialite and actress was famous for her nine marriages and her extravagant persona. She married Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt who was approximately twenty-six years younger than her. Their marriage lasted until her death making it her longest union despite the initial public skepticism. The couple often appeared together at high society events and reality television programs. Her husband was famously devoted to her care during her final years of declining health.

Barbara Windsor

The beloved star of the ‘Carry On’ films and ‘EastEnders’ found lasting love later in life. She married Scott Mitchell who was twenty-seven years younger than her in a private ceremony. Their relationship was initially viewed with doubt by the tabloids but they proved to be a devoted couple. Mitchell stood by her side as she battled Alzheimer’s disease and campaigned publicly for dementia awareness. Their partnership became one of the most respected and enduring in British entertainment.

Vivienne Westwood

This iconic fashion designer was a pivotal figure in the punk rock movement and high fashion. She married her former fashion student Andreas Kronthaler who was twenty-five years her junior. They met when she was teaching fashion in Vienna and he eventually became her creative partner and husband. The couple worked side by side for decades co-creating collections for her label. Westwood often praised his talent and stated that their intellectual connection was the foundation of their marriage.

Duchess of Alba

Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart was one of the most titled aristocrats in the world and a prominent figure in Spanish society. In her eighties she married Alfonso Diez Carabantes who was a civil servant twenty-four years younger than her. The marriage faced opposition from her children and the Spanish royal family due to concerns over her fortune. She distributed her inheritance early to quell these fears and proceeded with the wedding. The couple enjoyed travel and cultural events together until her passing.

Brigitte Macron

The First Lady of France met Emmanuel Macron when she was a teacher and he was her student. There is a twenty-four year age gap between them which mirrors the gap between Donald and Melania Trump. They married years later after he established his career in investment banking and politics. Her role in his presidential campaign was significant as she acted as a close advisor and coach. Their relationship has been a subject of immense international interest and discussion regarding double standards in age gaps.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

The acclaimed director of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ married actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson after meeting on a film set. She was forty-two and he was eighteen when they began their relationship which sparked intense tabloid coverage. Despite the twenty-three year age difference the couple married and started a family together. They famously hyphenated their last names to represent their unity and equality. Both consistently defend their relationship in interviews by emphasizing their deep emotional maturity and connection.

Ivana Trump

The businesswoman and former wife of a future president was known for her glamorous lifestyle and high-profile romances. She married Rossano Rubicondi who was an Italian actor and model twenty-three years her junior. Their extravagant wedding took place at the Mar-a-Lago estate and cost millions of dollars. Although their marriage had its ups and downs they maintained an on-and-off relationship for many years. Ivana remained fond of him until his untimely death just before her own passing.

Édith Piaf

France’s national chanteuse had a life filled with tragedy and intense romances. She married Théo Sarapo who was a singer and actor twenty years younger than her. He was her second husband and they performed together professionally during her final years. Sarapo cared for Piaf as her health deteriorated rapidly due to addiction and illness. Their duet ‘À quoi ça sert l’amour’ remains a testament to their bond despite the public criticism they faced at the time.

Elizabeth Taylor

This Hollywood icon was as famous for her eight marriages as she was for her acting in films like ‘Cleopatra’. She met construction worker Larry Fortensky while they were both in a rehabilitation clinic. He was twenty years younger than Taylor and their wedding was a massive media event held at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Although the marriage ended in divorce after five years they remained in contact. Taylor always spoke fondly of his genuine nature away from the Hollywood spotlight.

Britt Ekland

The Swedish actress and Bond girl appeared in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ and had a high-profile dating life. She married drummer Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats who was nineteen years younger than her. At the time of their marriage she was forty-two and he was twenty-three. The couple had a son together and remained married for nearly a decade before parting ways. Ekland later noted that the age gap eventually became a factor in their separation as they were at different life stages.

Kathy Griffin

The fiery comedian and actress known for ‘My Life on the D-List’ married marketing executive Randy Bick. There is a nineteen year age difference between the two which Griffin often jokes about in her stand-up routines. They dated for several years before breaking up and then reuniting to get married on New Year’s Day. Lily Tomlin officiated the ceremony which took place shortly after midnight. Griffin has credited him with being a stabilizing force during her professional controversies and health battles.

Robin Wright

The star of ‘House of Cards’ and ‘The Princess Bride’ married Clement Giraudet who was an executive at Saint Laurent. Giraudet is roughly eighteen years younger than the actress. They kept their relationship relatively private and held a low-key wedding ceremony in France. The couple was frequently photographed attending fashion shows and sporting events together. They were married for four years before Wright filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.

Tina Turner

The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll found happiness with German music executive Erwin Bach after escaping an abusive first marriage. Bach is sixteen years younger than Turner and they were partners for twenty-seven years before finally marrying. They lived a quiet life in Switzerland where Turner eventually relinquished her American citizenship. He famously donated one of his kidneys to her when she suffered organ failure. Turner described their relationship as a true love story devoid of the turmoil she experienced in her youth.

Heidi Klum

The supermodel and host of ‘Project Runway’ married musician Tom Kaulitz from the band Tokio Hotel. Kaulitz is sixteen years younger than Klum and they met while she was hosting ‘Germany’s Next Top Model’. They married secretly and later held a second lavish ceremony on a yacht in Italy. Klum frequently posts about their life together on social media and dismisses critics of their age gap. She emphasizes that she lives in the moment and does not worry about what others think about her husband’s age.

Demi Moore

The actress known for ‘Ghost’ and ‘G.I. Jane’ sparked a global conversation about age gaps when she started dating Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher was fifteen years younger than Moore and became a stepfather to her three daughters. They married and became one of Hollywood’s most photographed power couples for several years. They utilized social media to share their personal lives which was a novel concept at the time. Although they eventually divorced Moore wrote about the relationship extensively in her memoir.

Mary Tyler Moore

The television legend known for ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ married Dr. Robert Levine. He was a cardiologist who was fifteen years her junior. They met when he treated her mother and they struck up a conversation about emergency medicine. The couple remained married for over thirty years until her death. Levine was a constant source of support as she battled diabetes and other health issues throughout her later life.

Geena Davis

The star of ‘Thelma & Louise’ married neurosurgeon Reza Jarrahy who is fifteen years younger than her. This was her fourth marriage and it lasted for roughly sixteen years. They have three children together including a set of twins. Davis is a member of Mensa and advocated for gender equality in media while balancing her family life. The couple eventually went through a complex divorce proceeding that involved disputes over the validity of their marriage license.

Agatha Christie

The world’s best-selling novelist married archaeologist Max Mallowan who was fourteen years her junior. They met at an archaeological site in Iraq and bonded over their shared sense of adventure. Christie often accompanied him on his excavations and used these locations as settings for her mystery novels. She famously joked that an archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have because the older she gets the more interested he becomes. Their marriage lasted forty-six years until her death.

Deborra-Lee Furness

The Australian actress and producer married Hugh Jackman long before he became a global superstar as Wolverine. She is thirteen years older than Jackman and they met on the set of the Australian television show ‘Correlli’. Their marriage has been widely cited as one of the most stable and supportive in Hollywood. Jackman frequently praises her in acceptance speeches and interviews for believing in him when he was unknown. They have adopted two children together and advocate for adoption awareness globally.

Megan Mullally

Best known for her role as Karen Walker on ‘Will & Grace’ she married actor Nick Offerman. Offerman is known for playing Ron Swanson on ‘Parks and Recreation’ and is twelve years younger than Mullally. They met while performing in a play together in Los Angeles and felt an immediate chemistry. The couple often works together on screen and tours with a joint comedy show. Their relationship is celebrated by fans for their shared quirky humor and genuine affection.

Lisa Bonet

The actress famous for ‘The Cosby Show’ married actor Jason Momoa who is twelve years her junior. Momoa reportedly had a crush on her since seeing her on television when he was a child. They were together for many years and had two children before officially marrying. Their bohemian lifestyle and blended family with her ex-husband Lenny Kravitz were often praised. The couple announced their separation recently but they remain dedicated co-parents to their children.

Mariah Carey

The pop superstar with the five-octave vocal range married actor and comedian Nick Cannon. Cannon is ten years younger than Carey and they married in the Bahamas after a whirlwind courtship. They had twins named Moroccan and Monroe and renewed their vows multiple times in extravagant ceremonies. Although they divorced they maintain a very friendly relationship for the sake of their children. Carey has stated that their time together was filled with fun and mutual understanding of the industry.

Madonna

The Queen of Pop has had several high-profile relationships with younger men throughout her career. She married British director Guy Ritchie who is ten years her junior. They lived in the United Kingdom and had a son together during their eight-year marriage. Madonna also adopted a child from Malawi during their union which brought global attention to international adoption. While she has dated men with much larger age gaps since then her marriage to Ritchie remains her most significant union with a younger man.

Gina Lollobrigida

The Italian film legend and photojournalist planned to marry Javier Rigau y Rafols who was thirty-four years her junior. The relationship was surrounded by immense controversy and legal battles regarding a proxy marriage ceremony. Lollobrigida claimed he married her without her full knowledge to gain access to her estate while he maintained it was consensual. The age gap and the bizarre nature of the legal proceedings made international headlines. This saga dominated the final years of her public life and highlighted the complexities of wealth and age in celebrity relationships.

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