If you were watching TV in the late '90s, you saw them everywhere. Shanna Moakler was the Miss USA winner with the piercing eyes and the "it" girl energy. Oscar De La Hoya was "The Golden Boy," the clean-cut boxing champion who could do no wrong. They were the ultimate power couple.
But then, it all went south. Fast.
The image of the perfect family—the boxer, the beauty queen, and their baby daughter Atiana—crumbled in a way that felt more like a soap opera than real life. People still talk about the breakup, and for good reason. It wasn't just a "parting of ways." It was a public explosion involving a $62.5 million lawsuit and a moment on a red carpet that Shanna never saw coming.
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The Night Everything Changed
Imagine sitting on your couch, watching the Latin Grammy Awards on TV, expecting your fiancé to be working or traveling. Instead, you see him. He’s on the screen. And he’s holding hands with another woman.
That is exactly how Shanna Moakler says she found out her relationship with Oscar De La Hoya was over.
The year was 2000. Oscar was at the awards show with Millie Corretjer, the woman who would eventually become his wife. Shanna was at home. She wasn't just hurt; she was blindsided. Honestly, the details she has shared since then, especially in the 2023 documentary The Golden Boy, make the whole thing sound cold.
She says that when she finally confronted him, he didn't apologize. He basically told her he didn't love her anymore and mentioned he had "more money than God" before getting out of a car. Talk about a brutal exit.
Behind the "Golden Boy" Image
While they were together from 1997 to 2000, the public saw the private jets and the mansions. Shanna has admitted she loved that lifestyle. Who wouldn't? But the reality inside those walls was messy.
- Infidelity: Shanna later found out Oscar had fathered children with other women while they were together.
- Alcohol: She has been vocal about his struggles with drinking, claiming he became a completely different person when he was under the influence.
- The Lawsuit: In December 2000, Shanna filed a massive $62.5 million palimony suit. She claimed Oscar was abusive and used her and Atiana as "props" to maintain a wholesome image for his sponsors.
The case eventually settled out of court in 2001. We don’t know the exact number, but it was enough to end the legal battle. However, the emotional damage took much longer to heal.
The Atiana Factor: A Shared Legacy
The most lasting part of their story is their daughter, Atiana De La Hoya.
For years, Oscar was largely absent from Atiana’s life. After the breakup, Shanna moved on and eventually married Travis Barker. In a twist that most people don't expect from celebrity exes, Travis stepped up. He raised Atiana as his own.
Oscar has been surprisingly humble about this lately. He admits he "ran away" because he didn't feel worthy of being a father at the time. He has publicly thanked Travis Barker for being the dad he couldn't be.
Today, Atiana is an adult and seems to have a functional relationship with her biological father. But she’s still incredibly close to Travis. It’s a complex modern family dynamic that somehow works, despite the rocky start.
Why We Are Still Talking About This in 2026
You’ve probably noticed that Shanna Moakler’s name has been in the headlines a lot recently. Between her comments on the Kardashians and her reflections on her past, she isn't holding back anymore.
Oscar, too, has been on a "truth tour." His documentary was a raw look at his mistakes. Seeing two people who were once the faces of "perfection" admit to so much failure is rare in Hollywood.
It reminds us that the "Golden Boy" era was mostly a PR construct. Behind the belts and the crowns, there was a lot of real-world pain.
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If you're looking to understand the timeline of their relationship or how they stand today, focus on these takeaways:
- Check the sources: Most of what we know comes from Shanna’s recent podcast appearances (like Dumb Blonde) and Oscar’s own HBO doc.
- The "Latina" Angle: Shanna claimed Oscar's team told him she wasn't "Latina enough" for his music career image, which allegedly influenced the split.
- Modern Forgiveness: Despite the $62 million lawsuit and the ghosting, they seem to have reached a point of distant respect for the sake of their daughter.
To keep up with how these dynamics are shifting, you can follow Atiana De La Hoya’s social media, where she occasionally posts glimpses of her life with both sides of her family. Watching the documentary The Golden Boy is also the best way to see Oscar's direct perspective on his regrets during the Shanna years.