It’s always surprising to hear about celebrity couples with major age gaps, but what’s even more shocking is how young some stars were when they first crossed paths with their future partners, sometimes still in their teens while the other was already well into adulthood.
Many of these early encounters happened under unusual circumstances, whether through work, family connections, or mentorship, and looking back at them makes it hard not to do a double-take at just how much younger one partner was.
These relationships often went on to become high-profile romances or marriages, shaping careers, personal lives, and public perception in ways that are still talked about today.
Here are some celebrity couples who met their partners way earlier than you’d ever expect.
1. Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu
Priscilla Beaulieu was 14 years old when she had her first “real kiss” with Elvis Presley, who was 24.
Priscilla Beaulieu first met Elvis Presley in 1959 while he was stationed in Germany during his military service. She was 14 years old at the time, while Presley was 24 and already one of the most famous entertainers in the world.
According to Priscilla’s later accounts, their early relationship was closely supervised, yet emotionally significant, and included what she described as her first “real kiss.”
After Elvis returned to the United States, they continued their relationship through visits and long-distance communication.
They eventually married in 1967, divorced in 1973, and their relationship has remained a frequent subject of historical debate due to the age difference at its beginning.
2. Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown
In 1957, rock musician Jerry Lee Lewis married his cousin Myra Gale Brown. He was 22 and she was 13.
In 1957, rock-and-roll star Jerry Lee Lewis married Myra Gale Brown, who was not only his cousin but also just 13 years old at the time. Lewis was 22, already enjoying major commercial success in the music industry.
The marriage initially went unnoticed in the United States but caused an immediate scandal when it was revealed during a tour in the United Kingdom.
Public backlash was severe, leading to canceled performances and long-term damage to Lewis’s career.
The couple remained together for more than a decade before divorcing in 1970, after a relationship marked by instability and controversy.
3. Jerry Seinfeld and Shoshanna Lonstein
In 1993, then 39-year-old Jerry Seinfeld dated 17-year-old Shoshanna Lonstein.
Jerry Seinfeld began dating Shoshanna Lonstein in 1993 after meeting her in New York City’s Central Park.
At the time, Seinfeld was 39 years old and one of the most recognizable comedians in America, while Lonstein was 17 and still attending high school.
Their relationship quickly became tabloid news and sparked public criticism, particularly due to the contrast between their life stages.
Despite the attention, the couple maintained a relatively private relationship. They dated for approximately four years before separating in 1997, never marrying.
4. Bill Wyman and Mandy Smith
Bill Wyman was 47 when he started dating 14-year-old Mandy Smith. They got married when she was 18.
Bill Wyman, bassist for the Rolling Stones, began a relationship with Mandy Smith in the early 1980s when he was 47 years old and she was 14.
The relationship eventually became public knowledge and drew widespread criticism, especially in the British media.
Although Smith’s parents reportedly gave their consent for the relationship, it remained deeply controversial.
Wyman and Smith married in 1989 after she turned 18. Their marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce less than two years later.
5. Charlie Chaplin and Lita Grey
Actress Lita Grey was only 6 years old when she met filmmaker Charlie Chaplin at a Hollywood cafe.
Lita Grey first encountered Charlie Chaplin when she was 6 years old at a Hollywood café. Chaplin was already one of the most powerful figures in the film industry.
Years later, when Grey was 15, she became involved with Chaplin and soon became pregnant.
They married in 1924 after she turned 16. Their relationship ended in a highly publicized divorce that significantly damaged Chaplin’s reputation.
6. Uma Thurman and Gary Oldman
Uma Thurman was 19 when she and 31-year-old Gary Oldman married each other.
Uma Thurman married British actor Gary Oldman in 1990 after a relatively brief courtship. Thurman was 19 years old, while Oldman was 31 and at a very different stage in his personal and professional life.
Their marriage was intense and reportedly affected by lifestyle differences and personal struggles.
The couple divorced less than two years later, in 1992. Both later reflected that the relationship moved too quickly and lacked emotional stability.
7. Cher and Sonny Bono
Cher was 18 when she married Sonny Bono, her first husband, who was 29.
Cher met Sonny Bono in the early 1960s while she was still a teenager trying to break into the music industry. She married him in 1964 at the age of 18, while Bono was 29 and working as a producer.
Their relationship was both personal and professional, forming the foundation of their successful duo, Sonny & Cher.
Over time, tensions grew as Cher sought greater independence. They divorced in 1975 after more than a decade together.
8. Demi Moore and Freddy Moore
Demi Moore was only 17 when she married Freddy Moore who was around 28 or 29.
Demi Moore married musician Freddy Moore in 1980, shortly before her 18th birthday.
At the time, Freddy Moore was approximately 28 or 29 years old and already established in the music scene.The marriage coincided with the beginning of Demi’s acting career.
Their relationship became strained as her professional life accelerated. They separated in 1983 and finalized their divorce two years later.
9. Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas
Drew Barrymore was 19 when she married 31-year-old Jeremy Thomas.
Drew Barrymore married bar owner Jeremy Thomas in 1994 when she was 19 years old. Thomas was 31, and the two had known each other only briefly before marrying.
The relationship occurred during a turbulent period in Barrymore’s personal life.
The marriage lasted just over a month. Barrymore later openly acknowledged that it was an impulsive decision driven by emotional instability.
10. Shirley Temple and John Agar
Shirley Temple was 17 when she married John Agar who was in his early 20s.
Shirley Temple married actor John Agar in 1945 at the age of 17. Agar was in his early twenties and at the start of his film career.
The marriage followed Temple’s transition from child star to adult actress, a period of major change in her life.
They had one child together during the marriage. The couple divorced in 1950, and Temple later stated that she had married too young.
11. Marilyn Monroe and James Dougherty
Marilyn Monroe and James Dougherty were 16 and 21, respectively, when they tied the knot.
Marilyn Monroe married James Dougherty in 1942 when she was just 16 years old. Dougherty was 21 and working as a merchant seaman at the time.
The marriage was influenced by Monroe’s unstable living situation and limited options as a minor.
Long separations followed when Dougherty went to sea. They divorced in 1946, shortly before Monroe’s acting career began to take off.
12. Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson
Melanie Griffith was 18 when she married Don Johnson who was 26.
Melanie Griffith married Don Johnson in 1976, shortly after her 18th birthday. Johnson was 26, and the two had met several years earlier when Griffith was still underage.
Their marriage lasted only six months, largely due to emotional and lifestyle differences. Despite the brief union, they later reunited. They remarried in 1989 and divorced again in 1996.
13. Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad Hilton Jr.
Elizabeth Taylor was 18 when she married Conrad Hilton Jr. who was 24.
Elizabeth Taylor married Conrad Hilton Jr. in 1950 at the age of 18. Hilton was 24 and heir to the Hilton hotel fortune.
The marriage quickly became troubled, marked by emotional strain and instability. It lasted less than a year. Taylor later described the relationship as deeply distressing and one of the most difficult periods of her life.
14. Céline Dion and René Angélil
Singer Celine Dion met her late husband, Rene Angelil, when she was 12 and he was 38.
Céline Dion met René Angélil when she was 12 years old after he became her manager. Angélil was 38 and played a central role in shaping her early career.
Their romantic relationship did not begin until years later, once Dion reached adulthood. They married in 1994 and went on to build both a family and a long professional partnership.
Despite ongoing public debate about their age difference, they remained together until Angélil’s death in 2016.
15. Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron met his wife, Brigitte Macron, when he was 15 and she was 39.
Emmanuel Macron met Brigitte Trogneux when he was 15 years old and a student at the school where she taught. She was 39 at the time and married with children.
Their relationship developed later, after Macron left school and reached adulthood. They married in 2007.
The circumstances of their meeting and their age difference have remained a subject of public discussion throughout Macron’s political career.
16. Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair
Pierre Trudeau was 47 years old when he met Margaret Sinclair, who was 18 at the time.
Pierre Trudeau met Margaret Sinclair when he was 47 and she was 18. Their relationship attracted attention due to the significant age gap and Trudeau’s public profile.
They married in 1971, shortly before he secured a renewed mandate as Canada’s Prime Minister.
The marriage was marked by intense media scrutiny and personal strain. They divorced in 1984 after years of public and private difficulties.
17. Aaliyah and R. Kelly
Late R&B Singer Aaliyah was 12 when she met R. Kelly, who was 25 at the time.
Aaliyah met R. Kelly when she was 12 years old, during the early stages of her recording career.
Kelly was 25 and served as her producer and mentor. In 1994, they were illegally married when Aaliyah was 15, using falsified documents.
The marriage was later annulled, and the relationship was concealed for years. It is now widely regarded as a serious case of exploitation within the music industry.
18. Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn
Filmmaker Woody Allen met his now-wife, Soon-Yi Previn, when she was 10 and he was in his 40s.
Woody Allen met Soon-Yi Previn when she was around 10 years old, as the adopted daughter of his longtime partner, Mia Farrow.
Allen was in his 40s at the time and was a regular presence in the household. Their romantic relationship began years later, when Soon-Yi was in her early twenties.
The revelation caused a major public scandal in the early 1990s. They married in 1997 and remain together, though the relationship continues to be heavily criticized.
19. Luc Besson and Maïwenn Le Besco
Luc Besson was 31 when he started dating 15-year-old Maïwenn Le Besco. She was 12 when they met, and she gave birth to their daughter when she was 16.
Luc Besson met Maïwenn Le Besco when she was 12 years old, during the early stages of her acting career. He began a romantic relationship with her when she was 15, while he was 31 and already an established filmmaker.
At age 16, Maïwenn gave birth to their daughter, an event that drew limited public attention at the time but has since been reexamined.
The two later married, though their relationship ended in divorce in 1997. In adulthood, Maïwenn has indirectly addressed the experience in her films, prompting renewed discussion about the power dynamics involved.
(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / Ajani Bazile-Dutes via Buzzfeed / Pinterest).