Robert De Niro has been married twice, to actress Diahnne Abbott and philanthropist Grace Hightower. He is not publicly confirmed to be married currently; his longtime partner is martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen, with whom he welcomed his youngest daughter, Gia, in April 2023. De Niro has seven children, and his relationships and family life have attracted public attention throughout his decades-long acting career.
Introduction
Robert De Niro is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, celebrated for films such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Godfather Part II. Alongside his long career in cinema, fans frequently search for information about his marriages, current partner, and children.
The answer to the question “Who is Robert De Niro’s wife?” requires a distinction between his former marriages and his current relationship. De Niro has been married twice: first to actress Diahnne Abbott in 1976 and later to philanthropist Grace Hightower in 1997. His relationship with Hightower became publicly separated in 2018. More recent reporting identifies martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen as his longtime girlfriend, and the couple welcomed a daughter named Gia in April 2023.
As of October 25, 2026, no new marriage to Chen has been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed. The most accurate description is that De Niro has two previous marriages and is currently reported to be in a relationship with Chen.
His family life spans several decades, and he is the father of seven children. Understanding his relationship history helps explain why searches for Robert De Niro’s wife often lead to different names.
What Happened? Robert De Niro’s Current Relationship
Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen have maintained a relatively private relationship despite occasionally appearing together at high-profile events.
Recent coverage has continued to identify Chen as De Niro’s girlfriend. In June 2026, the couple attended the Tribeca Film Festival Artists Dinner together. In September 2026, they were also photographed at the opening-night gala for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. These appearances show that their relationship remains publicly acknowledged, although they rarely discuss its private details.
Chen is a trained martial arts instructor and has a background in martial arts and dance. She and De Niro reportedly first became romantically linked in 2021, after meeting while working around the production of the film The Intern.
Their relationship became a larger public story in May 2023, when De Niro revealed that he had welcomed his seventh child. He made the announcement during an interview with ET Canada while promoting the film About My Father. When the interviewer referred to his six children, he corrected the number and said he had seven. His representative subsequently confirmed the birth to entertainment media.
The baby’s mother was not identified in the initial announcement. Later reporting and subsequent public appearances established that Chen was the mother of their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro.
The birth attracted considerable attention because De Niro was 79 at the time. However, his comments about fatherhood and later interviews indicate that his focus has been on enjoying time with his youngest child rather than turning his family life into a constant public story.
There is no verified announcement that De Niro and Chen have married. They are therefore best described as longtime partners rather than husband and wife.
Key Details About Robert De Niro’s Wife and Partner
Here are the essential facts for readers who want a quick overview of his relationship history.
- First wife: Diahnne Abbott, an actress and singer.
- Second wife: Grace Hightower, a philanthropist and former restaurateur.
- Current reported partner: Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor.
- Current marriage status: No publicly confirmed new marriage identified in the sources reviewed.
- Children: Seven.
- Youngest child: Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, born in April 2023.
- Relationship timeline with Chen: The couple was first romantically linked in 2021.
- Recent public appearances: They attended events together in 2026, including the Tribeca Film Festival Artists Dinner and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening-night gala.
These details clarify why different articles may use different names when discussing Robert De Niro’s wife. Some focus on Abbott, others on Hightower, and recent coverage generally discusses Chen as his current girlfriend.
Background: Robert De Niro’s First Wife, Diahnne Abbott
distractify.com
Diahnne Abbott was Robert De Niro’s first wife. She is an actress and singer who appeared in films during the 1970s and 1980s, including Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. De Niro and Abbott married in 1976, during the early years of his rise to international recognition.
Their marriage connected two people working in the entertainment industry, although De Niro’s career eventually became much more prominent internationally.
Their marriage and children
De Niro and Abbott had a son, Raphael, together. De Niro also adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from an earlier relationship. As a result, Drena became part of his family and is widely recognized as his eldest child.
The family arrangement is an important detail in De Niro’s biography because it illustrates that his role as a father began before the birth of his biological children with Abbott.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 1988. Although their relationship concluded, Abbott remains an important part of the actor’s personal history because of their years together and their family.
De Niro has generally kept the details of his former marriage private. Consequently, there is limited reason to speculate about the personal circumstances that led to their separation.
Robert De Niro’s Second Wife, Grace Hightower
Grace Hightower is Robert De Niro’s second wife. She is known for her philanthropic work and business activities, and her relationship with the actor lasted for more than two decades.
The couple married in 1997. Their relationship included periods of difficulty and reconciliation before their separation became public in 2018. They share two children, Elliot and Helen Grace.
How did Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower meet?
Accounts of their relationship describe the pair meeting in the late 1980s, before their eventual marriage in 1997. Hightower had interests outside Hollywood, including business and charitable work, while De Niro was already an established film star.
They built a family together while De Niro continued working on major film projects. Their relationship received attention partly because they maintained a long marriage despite the demands of a public career.
Why did they separate?
De Niro and Hightower separated in 2018, and reports at the time covered the end of their marriage and the legal proceedings that followed. The precise private reasons for the separation should not be assumed beyond what the couple or reliable reporting has established.
Their separation also did not mean that their responsibilities as parents ended. They continued to share a family connection through their children.
It is important to distinguish their relationship history from De Niro’s current relationship with Tiffany Chen. Hightower is his former wife, while Chen is the partner identified in recent coverage.
Who Is Tiffany Chen, Robert De Niro’s Current Partner?
wionews.com
Tiffany Chen is a martial arts instructor who became widely known to entertainment audiences through her relationship with De Niro.
Unlike De Niro, whose professional life has been documented for decades, Chen has largely maintained a lower public profile. She has a background in martial arts and dance and is reported to have met De Niro while connected with the production of The Intern, the 2015 comedy starring De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
When did Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen start dating?
The pair were first romantically linked in 2021. Their relationship subsequently attracted more attention as they appeared together in public and later welcomed their daughter, Gia.
The couple has not shared every detail of their relationship with the public. As a result, claims about a wedding, engagement, or specific future plans should not be treated as confirmed without direct evidence.
Do Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen have a child together?
Yes. De Niro and Chen welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, in April 2023.
The birth was confirmed after De Niro revealed during an interview that he had become a father for the seventh time. Later reporting identified Chen as the child’s mother.
De Niro has spoken warmly about becoming a father again later in life. In an interview with AARP published in 2024, he discussed the joy of spending time with Gia and his desire to remain present in her life.
His comments offered a rare glimpse into his priorities away from the film industry.
Robert De Niro’s Seven Children
independent.co.uk
Robert De Niro has seven children from different relationships. Some are adults with careers of their own, while his youngest daughter is still very young.
His family includes children from his marriages to Abbott and Hightower, his former relationship with model Toukie Smith, and his current relationship with Chen.
| Child | Mother | Family background |
|---|---|---|
| Drena De Niro | Diahnne Abbott | De Niro’s adopted daughter |
| Raphael De Niro | Diahnne Abbott | Their son; later worked in real estate |
| Julian De Niro | Toukie Smith | One of the twins born in 1995 |
| Aaron De Niro | Toukie Smith | Twin brother of Julian |
| Elliot De Niro | Grace Hightower | Son from De Niro’s second marriage |
| Helen Grace De Niro | Grace Hightower | Daughter from his second marriage |
| Gia Virginia Chen De Niro | Tiffany Chen | Born in April 2023 |
Family details are based on published biographical and news reporting. Names and personal details should be checked against current reliable sources before republication.
Drena De Niro
Drena is De Niro’s adopted daughter from Abbott’s previous relationship. She has worked as an actress and has appeared in several film projects. She has also publicly expressed affection for her father on social media.
Raphael De Niro
Raphael is De Niro’s son with Abbott. He has worked in real estate, developing a professional career separate from his father’s work in cinema.
Julian and Aaron De Niro
The twins were born in 1995 to De Niro and Toukie Smith. Their birth came during a period when De Niro was not married to either Abbott or Hightower.
Elliot and Helen Grace De Niro
Elliot and Helen Grace are De Niro’s children with Grace Hightower. Both have largely been kept out of the public spotlight compared with their famous father.
Gia Virginia Chen De Niro
Gia is De Niro’s youngest child with Tiffany Chen. Her birth in April 2023 drew worldwide attention because De Niro was 79 years old when he became a father again.
Although the actor has occasionally discussed parenting in interviews, the family generally maintains privacy around the children’s everyday lives.
What Officials and Organizations Have Said
There has been no verified official announcement of a new marriage between De Niro and Tiffany Chen in the sources reviewed for this article.
The most useful evidence comes from De Niro’s own public comments and reporting from established news organizations:
- May 2023: De Niro told ET Canada that he had welcomed his seventh child. His representative confirmed the news to entertainment outlets.
- January 2024: In an interview covered by RTÉ, De Niro discussed becoming a father again later in life and his affection for his youngest daughter.
- May 2025: ABC News published a detailed account of his seven children, including Gia and the children from his earlier relationships.
- June and September 2026: Entertainment reporting documented public appearances by De Niro and Chen together, continuing to describe Chen as his girlfriend or partner.
These reports support the distinction between De Niro’s previous marriages and his current relationship. They do not establish that he has married Chen.
Why Robert De Niro’s Relationship History Matters
Robert De Niro’s personal life attracts attention because he has spent decades in the public eye. His marriages, relationships, and experiences as a father are part of the broader story of a major film career.
However, a celebrity’s relationship status can be misrepresented when different websites use the terms wife, girlfriend, partner, and ex-wife interchangeably.
In De Niro’s case, the distinction is particularly important:
- Diahnne Abbott was his first wife.
- Grace Hightower was his second wife.
- Tiffany Chen is his current publicly reported partner.
- He has seven children from his relationships.
Using the correct terms helps readers understand his family history without confusing an earlier marriage with his current relationship.
His experience also illustrates how family life evolves over time. De Niro became a father in the early 1970s and welcomed his youngest child in 2023. That long span has brought different stages of parenting, from raising children who are now adults to caring for a young daughter later in life.
For readers, the most important point is not speculation about whether he will marry again. It is the distinction between confirmed facts and unannounced personal decisions.
What Happens Next?
As of October 25, 2026, there is no confirmed public announcement that Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen plan to marry.
The couple continues to make occasional public appearances, but their future relationship plans have not been established by a verified announcement. Any suggestion of an upcoming wedding should therefore be treated as speculation unless supported by reliable reporting or a direct statement.
Future updates may clarify their plans if either person chooses to share them. Until then, the accurate summary remains that De Niro has been married twice and is currently reported to be in a relationship with Chen.
His career and family life continue to draw interest, but the details of his private relationships should be reported carefully and respectfully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Robert De Niro’s wife now?
Robert De Niro has no publicly confirmed current wife in the sources reviewed. His former wives are Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower. He is currently reported to be in a relationship with Tiffany Chen.
2. How many times has Robert De Niro been married?
De Niro has been married twice. He married Diahnne Abbott in 1976 and Grace Hightower in 1997. He and Hightower separated in 2018.
3. Who is Robert De Niro’s girlfriend?
His current publicly reported partner is Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor. They were first romantically linked in 2021 and welcomed a daughter together in April 2023.
4. Does Robert De Niro have children with Tiffany Chen?
Yes. They have a daughter named Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, born in April 2023. De Niro has seven children in total.
5. Who was Robert De Niro’s first wife?
His first wife was Diahnne Abbott, an actress and singer. They married in 1976 and divorced in 1988. They have a son, Raphael, and De Niro adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena.
6. Who was Robert De Niro’s second wife?
His second wife was Grace Hightower. They married in 1997 and separated in 2018. They have two children together, Elliot and Helen Grace.
7. How old was Robert De Niro when his youngest child was born?
De Niro was 79 when Gia was born in April 2023. He later discussed the experience of fatherhood in interviews, describing the joy of spending time with his youngest daughter.
8. Are Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen married?
No verified public announcement confirming their marriage was identified in the sources reviewed as of October 25, 2026. They are described in recent reporting as partners or boyfriend and girlfriend.
