Who has Jennifer Lopez been married to? What really happened

Who has Jennifer Lopez been married to? What really happened

Jennifer Lopez is a romantic. Honestly, she’s the first to admit it. She’s spent decades chasing that big, cinematic kind of love she portrays on the silver screen, which has led to some pretty high-profile trips down the aisle. If you’re trying to keep track of who has Jennifer Lopez been married to, you’re looking at four distinct eras of her life. Each one came with its own set of headlines, heartbreak, and, eventually, a new chapter.

As of early 2026, J.Lo is officially single again. After a whirlwind couple of years that felt like a Hollywood script come to life, her most recent marriage has officially shuttered. It’s been a lot to keep up with, even for the most dedicated fans.

The First Husband: Ojani Noa (1997–1998)

Before she was "J.Lo," she was an up-and-coming actress filming Blood and Wine in Miami. That’s where she met Ojani Noa. He wasn’t a movie star. He was a waiter at a restaurant owned by Gloria Estefan.

They married in February 1997. It was a short-lived romance that barely made it to the one-year mark before they split in 1998. While it seemed like a simple case of "too much, too soon" as her career exploded with Selena, the aftermath was anything but simple. For years, Lopez had to fight legal battles to stop Noa from publishing tell-all books or releasing private honeymoon footage.

Kinda messy, right? It was a tough lesson in the price of fame.

The Backup Dancer: Cris Judd (2001–2003)

After a high-voltage relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jennifer pivoted. She met Cris Judd on the set of her "Love Don't Cost a Thing" music video. He was a choreographer and dancer—a "sweet person" who felt like a breath of fresh air after the chaos of her previous relationship.

They tied the knot in September 2001 at a private home in Calabasas. But the "private" part didn't last. Judd later described the marriage as a "circus," with paparazzi literally climbing mountains to get a shot of them.

  • Married: September 29, 2001
  • Separated: June 2002
  • Finalized: January 2003

The marriage lasted about nine months. Judd has since been pretty classy about the whole thing, noting that being a "private person" in her "public world" was just a fundamental mismatch.

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The Longest Run: Marc Anthony (2004–2014)

If you ask most people about J.Lo’s husbands, Marc Anthony is usually the first name that pops up. This one felt different. They were old friends, they shared a heritage, and the chemistry was undeniable.

They got married in a surprise backyard ceremony in June 2004, just months after her first high-profile breakup with Ben Affleck. This wasn’t just a flash in the pan; they stayed together for seven years. They had twins, Max and Emme, in 2008.

Even though they announced their split in 2011, the divorce wasn't finalized until 2014. They’ve managed to stay incredibly close as co-parents, which is rare in Hollywood. Honestly, their professional collaborations post-divorce are sometimes better than the ones they did while married.

The Sequel: Ben Affleck (2022–2025)

This is the one that broke the internet. Twice.

"Bennifer" originally happened in the early 2000s, but they called off their wedding in 2004 because the media pressure was just too much. Fast forward nearly twenty years. They find their way back to each other in 2021. It felt like destiny. They eloped in Las Vegas in July 2022, followed by a massive celebration in Georgia.

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But the fairytale hit a wall.

By early 2024, rumors were everywhere. Jennifer showed up to the Met Gala alone. Ben moved into a rental. On August 20, 2024—the second anniversary of their Georgia wedding—Jennifer officially filed for divorce. She listed their separation date as April 26, 2024.

The divorce was finalized in early 2025. By the time we hit 2026, the two have remained "cordial" for the sake of their blended family, but the romantic reunion of the century is officially over. No spousal support was exchanged, and Jennifer legally dropped "Affleck" from her name to go back to being a Lopez.

Why This History Still Matters

People love to criticize Jennifer for the number of times she's said "I do." But if you look closer, it’s a story of someone who refuses to settle for "fine." She’s talked openly in recent interviews about the "hard work" of self-love and how she used to look for her worth in the eyes of the men she was with.

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She’s heading into 2026 focused on her kids and her career. No dating. No new "soulmates." Just J.Lo.

The Actionable Insight: If you’re looking to follow her lead, the big takeaway from her 2025/2026 transformation is the importance of being "whole" on your own before trying to merge lives with someone else.

If you want to keep tabs on her upcoming projects or how she's navigating this new single chapter, you can check out her latest updates on her official social channels or through major entertainment outlets like People or Variety.