Robert De Niro’s relationship status has attracted almost as much curiosity as his legendary film career. The two-time Oscar winner is not currently married, but he has been in a long-term relationship with martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen. The couple has been together since 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, in April 2023.
Their relationship represents a new chapter for De Niro after two marriages and several decades in the public eye. While the actor has traditionally kept his personal affairs relatively private, he and Chen have occasionally appeared together at major events.
His Current Partner
Tiffany Chen is a martial arts instructor with a background in Chinese martial arts. She is also the mother of De Niro’s youngest child.
De Niro and Chen reportedly met while working around the production of the 2015 film The Intern, in which De Niro starred. Their relationship developed several years later, with the pair becoming romantically involved around 2021.
The couple’s 36-year age difference has generated considerable media interest, but they have largely avoided turning their relationship into a public spectacle.
Their Daughter
In April 2023, De Niro confirmed that he had welcomed another child at the age of 79.
Their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, became De Niro’s seventh child. Her arrival added another generation to a family whose children span more than five decades.
De Niro has spoken warmly about becoming a father again later in life. He has also been photographed spending time with Chen and their daughter, although they have generally maintained a relatively private family life.
Public Appearances
Although De Niro and Chen rarely discuss their relationship in detail, they have appeared together at high-profile events.
Their appearances at film festivals and other entertainment occasions have given fans glimpses of their partnership. The pair have been seen together at events connected with the Tribeca Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.
Their public appearances tend to be understated rather than staged, fitting with De Niro’s long-standing preference for keeping his private life away from excessive attention.
First Marriage
Before Chen, De Niro was married twice.
His first wife was actress and singer Diahnne Abbott. They married in 1976 after developing a relationship during the early years of De Niro’s rise in Hollywood.
Abbott already had a daughter, Drena, from a previous relationship. De Niro adopted Drena and became her father.
The couple also welcomed their biological son, Raphael De Niro, during their marriage.
Their relationship lasted more than a decade before they divorced in 1988.
Second Marriage
De Niro later married actress and philanthropist Grace Hightower.
The couple initially married in 1997 and went on to have two children together: Elliot and Helen Grace.
Their relationship experienced several difficult periods. They separated in the late 1990s before reconciling and renewing their vows, but eventually separated permanently.
Their divorce was finalized in 2018 after more than two decades of an on-and-off marriage.
Seven Children
De Niro’s family extends far beyond his two marriages.
He has seven children: Drena, Raphael, twins Julian and Airyn, Elliot, Helen Grace and Gia Virginia.
The children come from different stages of his life and have pursued very different paths.
Drena has worked as an actress and filmmaker, while Raphael built a career in Manhattan real estate. Julian has pursued acting, and Elliot has competed in Special Olympics tennis.
His younger daughters, Helen Grace and Gia, have largely remained outside the entertainment spotlight.
A Different Chapter
De Niro’s relationship with Chen is notably different from his previous marriages because there has been no public wedding.
Despite being together for several years and raising a daughter, neither has announced a marriage. As of 2026, De Niro is therefore not legally married.
The couple’s approach also appears considerably quieter than the public attention surrounding some of De Niro’s earlier relationships.
Age Gap
The 36-year age difference between De Niro and Chen has inevitably become part of the media conversation surrounding them.
However, the couple has continued their relationship while focusing primarily on family life. Their daughter has become an important part of De Niro’s life during his later career.
For an actor whose professional career spans more than half a century, fatherhood at an advanced age has offered a very different kind of spotlight.
Where Things Stand
As of 2026, Robert De Niro does not have a wife. His longtime partner is Tiffany Chen, and the couple share their young daughter, Gia.
His romantic history includes two marriages—to Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower—but his current relationship has remained unmarried.
For De Niro, the latest chapter is less about another wedding and more about family. At an age when many of his contemporaries have stepped away from the spotlight, he continues to act, attend major international film events and raise his youngest daughter with Chen.
