If you’ve followed Padma Lakshmi for any length of time, you know her life isn’t exactly a slow cooker recipe. It’s more like a high-heat stir fry—vibrant, a little chaotic, and full of sharp turns. Nowhere is that more evident than in her long, messy, and ultimately redemptive history with Adam Dell.
Most people know Adam as the brother of Michael Dell (yes, that Dell), but in the world of celebrity gossip and New York high society, he’s best known as the man who fought a very public, very ugly battle for the right to be called "Dad."
Today, they seem like the poster children for "conscious co-parenting," but getting there was a nightmare.
The Messy Beginning: A Billionaire, a Venture Capitalist, and a Secret
The story of Padma Lakshmi and Adam Dell didn't start with a white wedding. It started with a transition. Padma had recently divorced novelist Salman Rushdie and was navigating a period of her life she later described as a search for stability.
In 2009, she began dating two men around the same time: Adam Dell and billionaire Teddy Forstmann.
Then came the pregnancy.
Padma has been incredibly open about her struggle with endometriosis—a condition she was told would make conceiving a child nearly impossible. So, when she found out she was pregnant, she called it a miracle. The problem? She wasn't entirely sure who the father was.
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For a long time, the public didn't know either. Padma originally let Forstmann, who was much older and deeply devoted to her, step into the role of the father. But a DNA test eventually confirmed that the biological father was actually Adam Dell.
It wasn’t a clean handoff.
The Battle for Krishna
Things got toxic fast. In 2011, Adam Dell filed a lawsuit for full custody of their daughter, Krishna. He wasn't just looking for weekend visits; he wanted his name on the birth certificate and a complete overhaul of how the child was being raised.
He accused Padma of trying to "minimize" his role and push Forstmann as the "real" father. The tabloids ate it up. It was a classic "he-said, she-said" played out in Manhattan courtrooms.
- Adam’s side: He claimed Padma's career made her too busy to be a primary parent.
- Padma’s side: She wanted to protect her daughter's privacy and felt Adam was being aggressive.
By 2012, they finally settled. Krishna’s last name became Lakshmi-Dell, and Adam got increased visitation. Even then, nobody expected them to ever want to be in the same room again, let alone date.
The Plot Twist: Rekindling the Flame
Life has a funny way of circling back. After Teddy Forstmann passed away, and several years of frostiness between the parents, something shifted.
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By 2017, rumors started swirling that Padma Lakshmi and Adam Dell were more than just co-parents. They were spotted holding hands in New York. Padma was even seen wearing a massive diamond ring, though her team was quick to shut down engagement rumors.
They stayed together for a few years, even surviving the intense "togetherness" of the 2020 lockdowns. Padma famously posted about how peaceful their "cocoon" was during the pandemic. For a minute there, it looked like the ultimate Hollywood ending.
But it didn't last. By 2021, they called it quits for good.
Where They Stand in 2026
So, what’s the deal with them now?
Honestly, it’s refreshing. As of early 2026, Padma and Adam have settled into what appears to be a genuine friendship. They show up for Krishna’s milestones—graduations, birthdays, holiday dinners—without the drama that defined their early years.
Padma is currently on a massive press tour for her newest book, Padma’s All American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond. She’s been vocal about the "dark periods" in the country and her personal life, but she often cites her daughter as the anchor that kept her grounded through it all.
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Adam, meanwhile, continues to crush it in the fintech world as the CEO of Domain Money. He’s moved on from the Goldman Sachs years and is firmly entrenched in the New York tech scene.
What We Can Learn From the Lakshmi-Dell Saga
The relationship between Padma Lakshmi and Adam Dell is a reminder that the "first draft" of a breakup doesn't have to be the final one. They went from a DNA-test-fueled custody war to living under the same roof, and finally, to being healthy exes.
If you're navigating a complex co-parenting situation, their story offers a few "in-the-trenches" takeaways:
- Privacy is a Choice: Padma often regrets how much of their battle became public. Keeping the details between lawyers and therapists instead of Instagram comments is always the better move.
- The "Status Quo" Changes: What worked for a toddler doesn't work for a teenager. They’ve adjusted their custody and time-sharing as Krishna grew up, showing that flexibility is the only way to survive.
- Separate the Partner from the Parent: You can be a "terrible" partner but a "great" father or mother. Learning to see Adam as a dad first and an ex-boyfriend second was the key to their peace.
They aren't perfect. No one is. But in a world where celebrity splits usually end in permanent "ghosting," seeing two people do the hard work for the sake of their kid is actually pretty cool.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to see the "fruit" of their co-parenting labor, check out Padma’s social media where she occasionally shares "Little Hands" (Krishna’s nickname) and her culinary adventures. You can also pick up Padma’s All American to see how her personal history has shaped her view of what "American" food really looks like in 2026.