Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis: Why This Hollywood Marriage Still Works (and Why It Almost Didn't)

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis: Why This Hollywood Marriage Still Works (and Why It Almost Didn't)

It is genuinely wild to think that in 1998, a 14-year-old Mila Kunis had her first real-world kiss with a 20-year-old Ashton Kutcher on the set of That '70s Show. At the time, she was terrified. He was just the "Calvin Klein model" guy who happened to be her co-star. Fast forward to 2026, and Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis aren't just a nostalgic callback to the early 2000s; they are one of the few Hollywood couples that actually seems to like each other.

They recently showed up at the 2026 Golden Globes looking remarkably normal for people who have been in the spotlight for three decades. Mila wore this structured black-and-white Carolina Herrera dress that felt very "vintage Hollywood," while Ashton went full monochrome in a black tuxedo. It was their first major red carpet in years. Honestly, the way they were giggling and whispering to each other in front of the flashes made it clear: they aren't just "PR happy." They’re actually happy.

But it hasn't been all sunshine and farmhouse living lately. The last couple of years have been... heavy. Between the backlash over support letters for a former co-star and the relentless scrutiny of their private life, the couple has had to navigate some serious turbulence.

The Reality of the Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Relationship

Most people think they just walked off the set of Point Place and into a marriage. That is totally wrong. After the show ended, they went their completely separate ways. Ashton married Demi Moore. Mila was in a long-term, eight-year relationship with Macaulay Culkin.

They didn’t even reconnect romantically until 2012. It happened at—ironically—the Golden Globes. Ashton invited her to a housewarming party, and get this: he actually tried to set her up with one of his friends.

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It failed. Spectacularly.

Instead of meeting the "mystery friend," Mila and Ashton ended up talking all night. They started as a "no strings attached" hookup, which is hilarious because they both had literally just starred in movies about that exact topic (Friends with Benefits for her, No Strings Attached for him). Life imitates art, I guess.

They finally tied the knot in July 2015 at a place called the Secret Garden at Parrish Ranch. It was private. No cameras. No selling the photos to tabloids. That set the tone for how they’ve handled the last decade.

You can't talk about them right now without mentioning the elephant in the room. In late 2023, the couple faced massive public blowback for writing character reference letters for Danny Masterson. It was a mess. Ashton ended up resigning from the board of Thorn, the anti-trafficking organization he co-founded.

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By 2025, things had quieted down, but they’ve been in a "rebuilding" phase ever since. Industry insiders say Ashton’s return to acting in the new FX series The Beauty (premiering January 2026) is basically his "redemption arc." He plays a tech billionaire named Byron Forst—a cold, calculating character that is a huge departure from the goofy Kelso vibes we’re used to.

Mila has been his biggest defender throughout this. While she usually stays quiet, she’s been spotted by his side at every turn, including their recent 10th-anniversary trip to Venice. They seem to have a "us against the world" mentality that either breaks a marriage or makes it bulletproof.

Why Their Parenting Style Annoys Everyone (and Works for Them)

If you’ve spent any time on the internet, you know these two have some "unique" takes on raising kids. Wyatt, who is now 11, and Dimitri, 9, are being raised in a way that’s intentionally un-Hollywood.

  • The Trust Fund Situation: Ashton has been very vocal about the fact that he isn't setting up massive trust funds for the kids. He wants them to be resourceful. If they want to start a business, he’ll invest, but they aren't getting a free ride.
  • The Bathing Debate: Remember when they broke the internet by saying they only wash the kids when they see actual dirt? Yeah, that’s still a thing people bring up. They value "resilience" (and maybe a bit of grime) over perfection.
  • The Privacy Wall: You will almost never see their kids' faces on social media. They use a private social network to share photos with the grandparents. Ashton is adamant that his kids didn't choose to be public figures, so he’s not going to force it on them.

Mila recently shared that Ashton has started teaching Wyatt and her friends jiu-jitsu in their backyard for self-defense. It's that "Iowa dad" energy that seems to keep them grounded. They live on "KuKu Farms," a sustainable farmhouse in L.A. where they actually grow their own corn. It sounds like a bit much, but hey, it’s better than the typical Beverly Hills excess.

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How to Apply the Kutcher-Kunis Logic to Your Own Life

Look, we aren't all A-list celebrities with a $275 million combined net worth, but there’s actually some decent life advice buried in their weirdly successful marriage.

1. The "Friends First" Foundation

They didn't rush into a "soulmate" narrative. They knew each other’s worst habits for 14 years before they ever went on a date. If you’re looking for a long-term partner, someone who has seen you at your messiest (like, "1990s bowl cut" messy) is usually a safe bet.

2. Radical Privacy

In an era where everyone overshares, they’ve doubled down on the opposite. They don't post their fights. They don't post their kids. By keeping the "sacred" stuff off Instagram, they’ve managed to maintain a sense of normalcy that most famous people lose within six months.

3. Owning the Mistakes

Whether it’s the Masterson letters or a "parenting fail" (Mila once told a story about telling her daughter to push a bully back), they tend to own it eventually. They don't always get it right—honestly, they get it wrong a lot—but they stay a united front. That "united front" thing is the secret sauce.

As we move through 2026, it’ll be interesting to see if Ashton’s new "villain era" on screen helps the public move past the scandals of the previous years. Regardless of what the critics say, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis seem perfectly content in their own little bubble at KuKu Farms, teaching jiu-jitsu and growing corn.

Actionable Insights for Following the Couple in 2026:

  • Watch the Premiere: Catch Ashton in The Beauty on FX/Hulu starting January 21, 2026, to see his career shift.
  • Check the Philanthropy: Follow the official Thorn updates for their latest tech-driven efforts against exploitation, even as Ashton takes a back-seat role.
  • Support Ukrainian Relief: Mila continues to be a major voice for Ukrainian humanitarian aid; check vetted organizations like Flexport.org which they have supported in the past.