Honestly, if you're looking for a wedding ring on Robert De Niro’s finger right now, you won’t find one. As of early 2026, the legendary actor isn't actually married. He’s in a serious, long-term relationship with Tiffany Chen, but they haven't walked down the aisle.
People get this mixed up all the time because they see them together at every major event, from the Cannes Film Festival to the White House. They look like a married couple. They act like a married couple. They even have a toddler together. But strictly speaking? No "I dos" have happened lately.
The Woman by His Side: Who is Tiffany Chen?
Tiffany Chen isn't just "the girlfriend." She’s a powerhouse in her own right. She’s a world-class martial arts instructor with dozens of gold medals to her name. We’re talking 43 gold medals, to be exact. Basically, she could probably take down most of the tough guys De Niro has played on screen.
They actually met back in 2015 on the set of The Intern. Remember that scene where De Niro’s character is doing Tai Chi in the park? Tiffany was the one teaching him. It wasn't an instant Hollywood romance, though. They didn't start dating until around 2021, years after he split from his second wife, Grace Hightower.
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Why everyone is talking about them
In April 2023, things got real. De Niro, at age 79, revealed he had become a father for the seventh time. The world's collective jaw dropped. He later introduced their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, on CBS Mornings.
Tiffany has been incredibly open about the struggles she faced after the birth. She dealt with Bell’s palsy, a scary condition that caused her face to droop. She described it as her face "melting" to Gayle King. It was a brutal reminder that even for the ultra-famous, post-partum life is no joke.
A Look Back: The Marriages That Actually Happened
To understand why people are so curious about his current status, you have to look at the history. De Niro doesn't do "casual" very often. When he’s in, he’s usually in for the long haul.
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- Diahnne Abbott (1976–1988): His first wife. They met on the set of Taxi Driver. He adopted her daughter, Drena, and they had a son together named Raphael. They stayed together for over a decade before calling it quits.
- Grace Hightower (1997–2018): This was the big one. They were together for over 20 years. It wasn't always smooth sailing—they actually filed for divorce in 1999, reconciled, renewed their vows in 2004, and then finally split for good in 2018. They share two children, Elliot and Helen Grace.
In between those, he had a long-term thing with model Toukie Smith. They never married, but they had twin sons, Julian and Aaron, via surrogate in 1995. Fun fact: his daughter Aaron actually came out as transgender in April 2025 and now goes by Airyn. De Niro has been super vocal about just supporting his kids no matter what.
Is a Third Wedding on the Horizon?
Kinda doubt it, but never say never. De Niro is 82 now. He’s busy. He’s still making movies, running the Nobu empire with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and chasing a two-year-old around.
During a 2023 legal battle with a former assistant, it came out that Tiffany basically runs the household. She's the one managing the staff and the 15 dogs they apparently share. Yeah, 15. That’s a lot of kibble. The assistant actually alleged that Tiffany was "the real boss," which, if you’ve seen her Tai Chi videos, makes total sense.
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What users actually want to know
When people search for "who is Robert De Niro married to," they aren't just looking for a name. They want to know if the 80-year-old icon has finally settled down. The answer is a bit more nuanced than a "yes" or "no." He has a partner, a daughter, and a very full house in Los Angeles. He just doesn't have the legal paperwork this time around.
Actionable insights for fans
- Check the credits: If you want to see the moment they met, go re-watch The Intern. Tiffany is right there on screen.
- Follow the news, not the rumors: De Niro is notoriously private. If he ever does get married again, he’ll likely keep it quiet until long after the fact.
- Respect the privacy: While he's a public figure, his relationship with Tiffany and their daughter Gia is something he tries to keep away from the paparazzi as much as possible.
Basically, Robert De Niro is living his best life as a late-in-life dad with a world-champion martial artist. Marriage or not, it seems to be working for him. If you're keeping track of the De Niro family tree, keep the name Tiffany Chen at the top of the list for current partners, but leave the "spouse" column blank for now.