You probably remember exactly where you were when the news broke. It was November 2017. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb sat on the Today show set, looking like they’d seen a ghost, and told the world that Matt Lauer was gone. Just like that. The face of morning news for two decades was erased. But while the headlines focused on the office, a much quieter, messier drama was unfolding at home in the Hamptons.
People always search for matt lauer and wife as if they are still a unit. They aren't. They haven't been for years. But the way that marriage collapsed—and who is in his life now—tells you more about the man than any 7:00 AM interview ever could.
The Model and the Newsman: A Dutch Exit
Annette Roque. That’s the name that was whispered in every supermarket checkout line for years. She’s a former Dutch model, known for her J. Crew catalogs and a certain "exotic" look that the 90s couldn't get enough of. She met Lauer on a blind date in 1997. It wasn't "love at first sight," or so Lauer told the Palm Beach Post back in the day. It was a slow burn. They married in 1998, but the cracks were there almost from the start.
Honestly? Most people don't realize she actually filed for divorce back in 2006. Long before the NBC scandal. She cited "cruel and inhumane" treatment in court documents, claiming he was controlling and criticized her parenting. She withdrew the papers three weeks later. Why? Rumors of a massive "post-nup" deal surfaced—basically a financial incentive to stay and keep his "America’s Dad" image intact.
It worked. For a while.
They had three kids: Jack, Romy, and Thijs. They lived that high-end Hamptons life, tucked away at Strongheart Manor, a $36 million estate. But when the 2017 allegations of workplace misconduct and the subsequent report from Brooke Nevils came out, the house of cards finally folded. Annette didn't just leave; she essentially vanished from public view.
The $20 Million Goodbye
The divorce settlement wasn't a quick handshake. It was a grind. Sources like People and Page Six reported that Lauer ended up paying Roque up to $20 million. He also lost the horse farm—Bright Side Farm—which was basically Annette’s life’s work.
They officially finalized everything in September 2019. By then, the "matt lauer and wife" Google searches were starting to point toward a new name.
Enter Shamin Abas: The New Chapter
If you see photos of Matt Lauer today, he’s usually with Shamin Abas. She isn't his wife, but they’ve been together since 2019. It’s a weirdly full-circle story because they actually knew each other for twenty years before they started dating.
Shamin is a powerhouse in her own right. She’s a Welsh-born PR and marketing executive who works in the "ultra-high-net-worth" world. Think luxury cars, private jets, and the Hamptons elite. She’s been married twice before—once to a dentist and once to a nightclub owner.
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- How they met: Through work in the early 2000s.
- When it turned romantic: Late 2019, right after the divorce was inked.
- The Vibe: Extremely low-key.
They aren't hitting the red carpets. You might catch a grainy paparazzi shot of them at a New York City restaurant or attending a high-profile wedding, like Don Lemon’s in 2024. But for the most part, they stay off the radar.
What is Life Like for Matt Lauer in 2026?
He’s 67 now. He looks different. The polished, "I’m-ready-to-interview-the-President" look is gone. Recent sightings in Sag Harbor show a man who is fully bald, often in casual gear, looking... well, older. Time hasn't been a friend to his public image.
Is he making a comeback? Every year, a "source" tells People magazine that Lauer is "eyeing a return to media." And every year, the industry collectively says, "No thanks."
He spends most of his time between the Hamptons and his massive farm in New Zealand. He’s reportedly still close with his kids, which seems to be his main focus. But the social circle? That’s shrunk. He was reportedly deeply hurt by Katie Couric’s memoir, Going There, where she shared some of the darker sides of working with him.
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The Realities of Co-Parenting
Despite the $20 million payout and the "cruel treatment" allegations from 2006, Lauer and Annette Roque have managed to co-parent. They’ve been seen at equestrian events for their daughter and graduations for their sons. It’s all business. It’s civil. It’s for the kids.
Annette still runs Bright Side Farm. She’s stayed incredibly private. No tell-all books. No sit-down interviews with Oprah. Just a quiet life on the coast.
Understanding the Legacy
The search for matt lauer and wife often stems from a desire to see how the story ended. Did the "good guy" image ever recover? No. Did the wife get her due? Financially, yes. Emotionally? Only she knows.
Here is what we know for sure about the current state of things:
- Marital Status: Divorced since 2019.
- Current Partner: Shamin Abas (dating since 2019).
- Financials: Settlement estimated at $20M plus property.
- Residence: Primarily the Hamptons and New Zealand.
If you’re looking for a lesson in all of this, it’s probably about the "silent" partner. Annette Roque spent twenty years being the background character in the Matt Lauer show. When the show was canceled, she was the one who walked away with the most dignity—and the horse farm.
If you want to keep tabs on how these high-profile divorces affect long-term wealth and reputation, your best bet is to follow the real estate moves. Lauer sold his Hamptons compound for a significant loss (around $33 million after asking for $44 million). That tells you more about his "urgency" to move on than any PR statement ever could. Keep an eye on the New Zealand property filings; that’s where the final chapter of his privacy is currently being written.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Research the "Character Test": Look into New Zealand's "Good Character" requirement for land ownership, which Lauer had to navigate after his firing.
- Follow the PR: Watch how Shamin Abas's marketing firm handles luxury branding, as it provides a blueprint for how to maintain a high-end career while associated with a controversial figure.
- Check the Property Records: Suffolk County real estate transfers often reveal more about celebrity splits than the tabloids do.