Robert De Niro Wife and Family: Why He’s Still Doing the "New Dad" Thing at 82

Honestly, most guys in their eighties are looking for the TV remote or a comfortable chair. Robert De Niro? He’s looking for a diaper bag.

It’s wild to think about. The man who gave us Taxi Driver and The Godfather Part II is currently navigating the "terrible twos" with his youngest daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro. If you've been keeping up with the headlines lately, you know the robert de niro wife and family dynamic is anything but traditional. It’s a sprawling, multi-generational, blended map that spans over fifty years of Hollywood history.

Basically, De Niro’s life is a masterclass in "it’s never too late." He’s got seven kids. The age gap between his oldest and youngest is a staggering 52 years. That isn't just a gap; it’s an entire lifetime.

The Women Who Shaped the De Niro Clan

People often search for "Robert De Niro’s wife," but there isn't just one. He’s been married twice, but his most significant relationships don't always involve a wedding ring.

First, there was Diahnne Abbott. They met on the set of Taxi Driver—pretty iconic, right?—and married in 1976. De Niro didn't just have a son with her, Raphael; he also adopted Diahnne’s daughter, Drena. They were the "it" couple of the gritty 70s New York scene. But, like many Hollywood stories, it ended in 1988.

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Then came the long era of Grace Hightower. This one was a rollercoaster. They married in 1997, split up in 1999, reconciled, renewed their vows in 2004 with a star-studded ceremony, and then finally called it quits for good around 2018. They share two kids, Elliot and Helen Grace. The divorce was messy, involving some very public court battles over money and alimony, which just goes to show that even Oscar winners deal with the same headache-inducing legal drama as everyone else.

In between those two marriages, he had a long-term thing with model Toukie Smith. They never married, but they had twin boys via surrogate in 1995.

Who is the Current "Wife" Figure?

Technically, De Niro isn't married right now. But if you see him on a red carpet in 2026, he’s likely holding hands with Tiffany Chen.

She’s a martial arts powerhouse. We're talking dozens of gold medals and a lineage that goes back to Grandmaster William C.C. Chen. They met back in 2015 on the set of The Intern (she was actually teaching him Tai Chi in a scene), but things didn't get romantic until years later.

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Tiffany is the mother of his seventh child, Gia. After Gia was born in April 2023, Tiffany went through a really scary health scare with Bell’s palsy. She’s been open about how her face basically "melted" a week after giving birth. It’s a reminder that even with all the money in the world, the physical toll of late-in-life parenting is very real.

Breaking Down the Seven Children

It’s kinda hard to keep track of everyone in the robert de niro wife and family tree without a scorecard. Here is how the lineup looks today:

• Drena De Niro (54): The eldest. She’s an actress and filmmaker. You might remember the heartbreaking news from 2023 when her son, Leandro, passed away. It was a rare moment where the world saw the De Niro family's private grief laid bare.
• Raphael De Niro (49): He skipped the acting thing and became a high-end real estate mogul in New York. If you’re a billionaire looking for a penthouse, he’s the guy you call.
• Julian and Aaron De Niro (30): The twins. Julian has dabbled in acting (playing a young Barack Obama!), while Aaron stays almost entirely out of the spotlight.
• Elliot De Niro (27): De Niro famously revealed Elliot has autism years ago to help advocate for the community.
• Helen Grace (14): Born via surrogate during his marriage to Grace Hightower. She’s often seen at events with her dad, looking like the quintessential teenager.
• Gia Virginia (2): The new addition. De Niro recently joked that she’s the only one in the house who doesn't criticize him.

The Reality of Being a Dad at 82

De Niro doesn't pretend he’s doing it all alone. He’s been honest about the fact that Tiffany does the "heavy lifting" and that they have plenty of help. Honestly, at 82, you’d have to.

But he’s surprisingly sentimental about it. In interviews, his eyes actually well up when he talks about Gia. He’s mentioned how he wants her to be bilingual, learning both English and Chinese to honor Tiffany’s heritage. It’s a side of the "tough guy" actor that feels surprisingly tender.

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There’s a lot of debate about "geriatric fathers." Some people think it’s selfish; others think it’s beautiful. De Niro seems to fall into the camp of just enjoying the ride. He knows he won't be around for every milestone, but he’s making the "now" count.

What This Means for You

If you’re looking at the robert de niro wife and family saga and wondering what the takeaway is, it’s basically that "family" is a fluid concept.

1. Blended is the new normal. De Niro’s kids range from toddlers to AARP members. They seem to get along, which is a feat in itself.
2. Privacy is a choice. Despite his fame, De Niro kept the birth of his seventh child a secret for weeks. You don't owe the world your private life.
3. Support systems matter. Whether it's a partner like Tiffany or professional help, nobody raises seven kids in a vacuum.

If you're curious about how he manages the workload, look into his recent interviews on CBS Mornings. He talks a lot about the perspective age gives you—how the little things that bothered him with his first kids just don't matter as much now. He’s more patient. Maybe that’s the secret to being a dad in your eighties. You’ve finally realized that none of the "stuff" is as important as just being there.

Check out the latest footage of him and Tiffany at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival if you want to see how they're handling the spotlight these days. They look happy, tired (as any parents of a toddler are), and remarkably normal for a couple with a 30-plus year age gap and a trophy room full of Oscars.