Celeb Age Gap Relationships That Debunk The Myth That The Man Is Always The Older Partner

Age gap relationships have always existed. Historically, the men were older, and it was for good reason. As explained in a study published by Cambridge University Press, cisgender men tend to value a cisgender woman's reproductive capacity over all other characteristics. And so, because women have a limited fertility window, the younger ones are more "desirable." As for what women want, the study found that they are more attracted to men who can acquire necessary resources — an attribute that doesn't have an age limit, and may even get better with age.

While this makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, we're no longer in the hunter-gatherer era. That's one of the reasons why age gap relationships don't get the support they once did, which is especially the case if a woman is the older partner. "Us humans are judgmental, and if what our neighbor is doing is misaligned with what we expect, we put a spotlight on it," Grace Lordan, associate professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics, told the BBC in March 2022. "Women who match with younger men go most against the grain when it comes to our narrative of marriage, and so suffer the most judgment."

Although the best age gap for a successful relationship is three years, that's not a fool-proof number that works for everyone, nor does it suggest that larger gaps won't bring long-term bliss. What's more, as these couples prove, a happy relationship doesn't depend on the man being the older partner. 

Although "Project Runway" host Heidi Klum's most high-profile relationship was with singer Seal, it's her relationship with Tom Kaulitz, of the band Tokio Hotel, that had people talking when they first started dating in 2018. At the time, the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur was 45 and Kaulitz was 29, and that age gap didn't sit well with some. In fact, the online abuse from trolls was so bad that Klum had to turn off the comment function on her Instagram.

But love conquered hate, and Klum and Kaulitz were married in 2019. "I'm just a much happier person," Klum told People in January 2020. "For the first time, I have a partner who I can discuss everything with. Someone who shares duties that we all have in our life."

Although some couples find that an age gap affects their sex life — and not always in a good way — Klum and Kaulitz have figured out how to keep their relationship spicy. Their strategies? Not being afraid of PDA, and going lingerie shopping together. "He loves sitting there and I go into the changing room and I come out with a different outfit on," Klum told People in July 2025. In other words, even supermodels and their partners need to work at keeping the flame burning.

Cher has never been one to follow the mainstream. Ever since shooting to fame in the 1970s with "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour," she's been a pop culture staple. As an Academy Award-winning actress, a two-time Grammy-winning rock artist, and a rocker of iconic hair looks we'll never forget, Cher has proven time and again that she does things her way and doesn't care what anyone thinks.

That's why, when she started showing up to events a few years ago with a new, much younger man on her arm, it was hardly a surprise — even though the man in question, music executive Alexander "AE" Edwards, is a whopping 40 years younger than the 79-year-old diva. "Before I met him, I walked around my house saying, 'I want a man and a toddler,' " Cher told Dax Shepard on his "Armchair Expert" podcast in January, via The Daily Beast. "I wasn't expecting them, maybe, together, but that's what I wanted." The toddler in this equation is Edward's 6-year-old son, Slash.

In November 2025, when Cher was interviewed by Gayle King for "CBS Mornings," her relationship with Edwards came up. "He just says, 'You know, you get older, but your spirit is younger,' " Cher told King, adding that the secret to their relationship is laughing and having a good time. As for those who have a problem with the age difference? "They're not living my life," Cher said. "Nobody knows what goes on between us, but we just have a blast."

Although Priyanka Chopra, age 43, is only 10 years older than hubby Nick Jonas, when she talked with Hoda Kotb for "Today" in 2023, she admitted that the age difference initially stood in the way. "I didn't give it much of a chance because I was like, 'He's 25 years old, he's a rockstar. I want to get married, I want to settle down, I want to have a baby.' I was 35 at the time," said Chopra, adding that she wanted stability and wasn't sure she'd find that in someone his age. But after their first date, in 2018, her opinion changed. "We spent the whole evening together, and I realized my husband is just like an old soul. He's stability in human form," she explained. 

And all in the span of that whirlwind year, the couple got to know each other's families, went Instagram official with their engagement in August, and tied the knot in December. For the big day, Chopra looked stunning as one of the handful of celebrity brides who wore pants to their wedding. Since then, Chopra and Jonas have become parents, welcoming a daughter, Malti Marie, via surrogate in 2022, and have collaborated on a handful of projects — in addition to being each other's biggest fans. 

As for that age difference? "I don't think about it," Chopra told Kotb in 2023. "I think people think about it a lot more than I do."

It was never much of a surprise to "Sex and the City" fans whenever Samantha Jones dated younger men, and it turns out that Kim Cattrall, who played the confident cougar all those years, has a younger guy in her life, too. As one of the celebs who were older when they found love, the actress coupled up with a man 14 years her junior. In December 2025, Cattrall, 69, married Englishman Russell Thomas, whom she'd been dating since 2016. 

Another example of Cattrall's comfort with age gap romances was her 2012 starring role in the stage adaptation of Noël Coward's comedy of manners, "Private Lives," opposite Matthew "Mr. Darcy" Macfadyen, who is 18 years younger than she. When The Standard asked Cattrall if there was an issue with the age difference, she said, "No, not at all. He's so gorgeous and adorable. At a certain age, people merge, don't they?" The actress added, "I don't think in those terms anymore. Maybe I've lived longer and done more things, but I don't see a difference onstage. Some of the lines might have a different significance because of my age, but that adds richness." Clearly, Cattrall is taking her own advice to heart.

When it comes to progressive Hollywood couples, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are among the coolest. Not only are they among the celebrity parents who are loud and proud of their trans and non-binary kids, but they are also at the forefront of normalizing couples therapy. 

Another progressive plus is that they have an age gap relationship in which the "Bring It On" actress, 53, is 10 years older than the former NBA player. Granted, a decade doesn't seem like much, but in a culture that loves to judge, Union's being older is enough to prompt an "OMG" from some, including her husband's family. "When I first met his family, the older sisters, who are closer in my age, [were] immediately good," Union told Michelle Obama on Obama's "IMO podcast," in August, via People. But when it came to Wade's older sister, Tragil, things didn't go so smoothly. "She has been the gatekeeper to keep [Dwyane] sane and to keep him doing everything he needs to do without interference from anybody," Union told Obama. "And before I got to the wife stage, like when we were just [at] the very beginning, I think Tragil and his mom were like, 'What do you want? Who are you, you older lady?' "

Although the couple married in 2014, Union shared that it took quite a few years before Wade's family fully trusted her. "Now, it's easy, because we are all on the same side," Union explained. In addition to having been together since 2009, the couple shares one daughter, Kaavia James, and the actress is stepmom to Wade's three children from previous relationships, and his nephew, of whom he is a guardian.