25 Famous Women Who Married Men Half Their Age

Relationships with large age differences often draw attention, particularly when an older woman marries a younger man. While many couples find happiness regardless of age, some famous women have chosen partners much younger than themselves. This list highlights twenty-five well-known actresses and public figures who married men who could be their sons or even grandsons. These relationships went against traditional expectations and showed that love can overcome differences in age.

Joan Collins

The iconic actress is famous for her part in ‘Dynasty’ and her luxurious life. Her marriage to Percy Gibson, her fifth husband, received a lot of press because of their age gap – he’s thirty-two years younger than her, even younger than some of her children. Despite the difference, they’ve been happily married for more than twenty years and often talk about how close they are. Collins often says their happiness is thanks to Percy’s support and their mutual love of theater and film.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Zsa Zsa Gabor, a Hungarian actress and socialite, was well-known for being married nine times and for her lavish lifestyle. She found lasting love with Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, who was twenty-six years her junior. Despite initial doubts from the public, they remained married until her death, making it her longest marriage. The couple was frequently seen at glamorous events and on reality TV. Her husband was especially dedicated to caring for her as her health declined.

Barbara Windsor

Barbara Windsor, famous for her roles in ‘Carry On’ films and ‘EastEnders’, found love again later in life with Scott Mitchell, who was 27 years her junior. Despite initial skepticism from the press, they built a strong and loving relationship. Scott Mitchell remained devoted to Barbara as she bravely fought Alzheimer’s disease and became a passionate advocate for dementia awareness. Their relationship was admired and became one of the most enduring in British entertainment.

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood was a hugely influential fashion designer known for her impact on both punk rock and high fashion. She married Andreas Kronthaler, one of her former students, who was twenty-five years younger. They met while she was teaching in Vienna, and he later became her husband and creative collaborator. For decades, they worked together, designing collections for her fashion house. Westwood often credited Kronthaler’s talent and emphasized that their strong intellectual connection was key to their relationship.

Duchess of Alba

I was always fascinated by Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, a truly remarkable woman and one of the most titled people in the world. It was such a bold move when, late in life, she married Alfonso Diez Carabantes, a man much younger than herself. There was quite a stir, actually, with her family and even the royal family worried about her wealth. She cleverly addressed those concerns by distributing her inheritance beforehand, and then she and Alfonso enjoyed a wonderful life together, traveling and soaking up culture, right up until she passed away. It was a beautiful, unconventional love story, and I always admired her spirit.

Brigitte Macron

France’s First Lady met Emmanuel Macron while working as his teacher. There’s a 24-year age difference between them, similar to that of Donald and Melania Trump. They married after Macron built a career in finance and entered politics. She played a key role in his presidential campaign, serving as a trusted advisor and mentor. Their relationship has attracted a lot of international attention, sparking debate about differing expectations for age gaps in relationships.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

The director of the film ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson fell in love on a movie set and later married. Their relationship began when she was forty-two and he was eighteen, which drew a lot of attention from the tabloids. Despite the significant age gap of twenty-three years, they got married and had children. They even combined their last names to symbolize their equal partnership. Both have repeatedly spoken about their strong emotional connection and maturity as the foundation of their relationship.

Ivana Trump

Ivana Trump, a businesswoman and ex-wife of a future president, was famous for her luxurious lifestyle and well-publicized relationships. She married Italian actor and model Rossano Rubicondi, who was 23 years younger than her. Their lavish wedding was held at Mar-a-Lago and reportedly cost millions. Despite some difficulties, they continued a relationship on and off for many years, and she remained close to him until both of their deaths.

Édith Piaf

France’s most famous singer experienced a life marked by both heartbreak and passionate love affairs. She married Théo Sarapo, a singer and actor much younger than herself. He became her second husband and they often performed together as her health declined. Sarapo lovingly cared for her as she battled addiction and illness. Their song ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ beautifully reflects their connection, even though their relationship faced public scrutiny.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor, the famous actress known for films like ‘Cleopatra’, was also well-known for her eight marriages. She met Larry Fortensky, who was twenty years her junior, while both were receiving treatment at a rehabilitation clinic. Their wedding was a huge spectacle covered by the media, and took place at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Though they divorced after five years, they stayed friendly, and Taylor often praised Fortensky for being down-to-earth and genuine outside of Hollywood.

Britt Ekland

Britt Ekland, the Swedish actress known for her role in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun,’ was also known for her romantic life. She married drummer Slim Jim Phantom, of the band Stray Cats, despite a nineteen-year age difference – she was forty-two, and he was twenty-three. They had a son and were married for almost ten years before divorcing. Ekland later said the age gap contributed to their split, as they had grown apart due to being at different points in their lives.

Kathy Griffin

Comedian and actress Kathy Griffin, famous for her reality show ‘My Life on the D-List,’ married Randy Bick, a marketing executive. They have a nineteen-year age gap, which Griffin often playfully references in her comedy. After dating for several years, breaking up, and then getting back together, they married on New Year’s Day. The ceremony, officiated by Lily Tomlin, took place just after midnight. Griffin has said that Bick has been a source of support through difficult times in her career and with her health.

Robin Wright

Actress Robin Wright, known for her roles in ‘House of Cards’ and ‘The Princess Bride,’ married Clement Giraudet, an executive at Saint Laurent. Giraudet is about eighteen years her junior. The couple generally kept their relationship private and had a small wedding in France. For four years, they were often seen together at fashion shows and sporting events, before Wright filed for divorce, stating they had irreconcilable differences.

Tina Turner

Tina Turner, the iconic Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, found lasting happiness with German music executive Erwin Bach after leaving a difficult and abusive first marriage. Though sixteen years her junior, Bach was her partner for twenty-seven years before they married. They enjoyed a peaceful life together in Switzerland, where Turner eventually gave up her American citizenship. In a remarkable act of love and support, Bach donated a kidney to her when she experienced organ failure. Turner often described their relationship as a genuine love story, a stark contrast to the troubled relationships of her younger years.

Heidi Klum

Supermodel and TV host Heidi Klum married musician Tom Kaulitz, who is sixteen years her junior. They first met when Klum was working on ‘Germany’s Next Top Model’. The couple had a secret wedding, followed by a more elaborate celebration on a yacht in Italy. Klum often shares glimpses of their life together online and doesn’t pay attention to those who comment on their age difference. She focuses on enjoying the present and isn’t concerned with what others think of Kaulitz’s age.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore, famous for her roles in ‘Ghost’ and ‘G.I. Jane,’ caused a worldwide discussion about age differences when she began dating Ashton Kutcher, who was fifteen years her junior. He also became a stepfather to her three daughters. The couple married and were one of Hollywood’s most visible and photographed pairs for several years, famously sharing details of their lives on social media – something that wasn’t common at the time. Despite their eventual divorce, Moore wrote about their relationship in detail in her memoir.

Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore, the beloved star of ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ married Dr. Robert Levine, a cardiologist fifteen years younger than her. They first connected when he treated her mother, and a conversation about emergency medicine sparked their relationship. They enjoyed a thirty-year marriage until Mary’s passing, with Dr. Levine providing unwavering support as she faced health challenges, including diabetes, in her later years.

Geena Davis

Susan Sarandon, known for her role in ‘Thelma & Louise’, married neurosurgeon Reza Jarrahy, who is fifteen years her junior. It was her fourth marriage and lasted about sixteen years, during which they had three children, including twins. Sarandon, a member of Mensa, championed gender equality in the media alongside her family responsibilities. The couple’s eventual divorce was complicated by disagreements over whether their marriage license was legally sound.

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, the world’s most popular novelist, married archaeologist Max Mallowan, who was fourteen years younger than her. They first connected while working at an archaeological dig in Iraq, where they discovered a mutual love for adventure. Christie frequently joined Mallowan on his excavations, and these fascinating places often inspired the settings for her mystery stories. She playfully remarked that an archaeologist makes the perfect husband because his interest in a woman grows as she ages. Their happy marriage lasted for forty-six years, until her passing.

Deborra-Lee Furness

Deborra-Lee Furness, an Australian actress and producer, married Hugh Jackman before he became famous for his role as Wolverine. Thirteen years his senior, she met Jackman while working on the Australian TV series ‘Correlli’. Their marriage is well-known in Hollywood for being strong and supportive. Jackman often publicly thanks her for believing in him early in his career. Together, they’ve adopted two children and are passionate advocates for adoption awareness worldwide.

Megan Mullally

Megan Mullally, famous for playing Karen Walker on ‘Will & Grace,’ is married to Nick Offerman, who is best known as Ron Swanson from ‘Parks and Recreation.’ Despite a twelve-year age difference, they connected instantly while acting together in a Los Angeles play. The couple frequently collaborate professionally, both on screen and with a popular comedy tour. Fans love their relationship because of their similar, playful senses of humor and the obvious love they share.

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet, known for her role on ‘The Cosby Show,’ married actor Jason Momoa, who is twelve years younger than her. Momoa apparently had a childhood crush on her after watching her on TV. They dated for several years and had two children together before getting married. The couple was admired for their free-spirited lifestyle and their successful blended family, which included Bonet’s ex-husband, Lenny Kravitz. They recently announced they are separating, but are committed to co-parenting their children.

Mariah Carey

I’ve always been fascinated by Mariah Carey, and I was so excited when she married Nick Cannon! He’s a really funny guy, though a decade younger than her. It felt like a fairytale when they got married in the Bahamas after falling for each other so quickly. Then came the adorable twins, Moroccan and Monroe! They celebrated their love with several over-the-top vow renewals, which were amazing to see. Even though they eventually divorced, it’s wonderful that they’ve stayed friendly, especially for the kids. Mariah has said they had a lot of fun together and really understood each other’s worlds, and I can definitely see that!

Madonna

As a longtime fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Madonna’s personal life. Throughout her career, she’s often been linked to men younger than herself, and her marriage to Guy Ritchie was a big part of that. He was ten years younger, and they built a life together in the UK, having a son and even adopting a child from Malawi – which really shone a light on international adoption at the time. While she’s dated younger men since, I think her relationship with Guy Ritchie was her most talked-about and impactful one.

Gina Lollobrigida

I was shocked to learn about Gina Lollobrigida’s planned marriage to Javier Rigau y Rafols, who was so much younger than her. Their relationship became a huge scandal, especially because of questions surrounding how they actually got married – it involved a proxy ceremony and a lot of legal fighting. She believed he was trying to take advantage of her wealth and married her without her fully understanding what was happening, but he insisted it was all agreed upon. The massive age difference and the strange legal issues made headlines all over the world. It was a really sad situation that unfortunately defined the last part of her life, and it just showed how complicated things can get with money and age when celebrities are involved.

Tell us which of these couples surprised you the most in the comments section below!

2025-11-20 02:20