Robert De Niro’s wife has been a recurring headline topic for decades, thanks to the actor’s very public marriages, high-profile breakups, and a much-discussed relationship with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. From Diahnne Abbott to Grace Hightower and now Chen, De Niro’s love life mirrors his career: long, layered, and full of surprises, including the arrival of his seventh child in his late seventies.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. |
| Date of Birth | August 17, 1943 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, USA |
| Age | 83 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Profession/Occupation | Actor, Producer, Restaurateur |
| Years Active | Since the early 1970s |
| Education | High School of Music & Art; Stella Adler Conservatory |
| Spouse/Partner | Diahnne Abbott (m. 1976–1988); Grace Hightower (m. 1997–2018); Tiffany Chen (partner) |
| Dating/Relationship Status | In a relationship with Tiffany Chen |
| Children | 7 |
| Parents | Robert De Niro Sr., Virginia Admiral |
| Height | 5’10” (178 cm) |
| Notable Works | Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull, Goodfellas |
| Awards/Honors | Two Academy Awards, Golden Globe, SAG Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Who Is Robert De Niro’s Wife? An Overview
Robert De Niro has been married twice in his life. His first wife was actress Diahnne Abbott, and his second was businesswoman Grace Hightower. Both marriages ended in divorce, spaced roughly two decades apart, and both produced children who remain part of his large, blended family today.
Between and after these marriages, De Niro dated several notable women, including Toukie Smith, Helena Springs, and, briefly, supermodel Naomi Campbell. None of these relationships led to marriage, though some resulted in children he continues to co-parent.
Since 2021, De Niro has been in a committed relationship with Tiffany Chen, a martial arts and tai chi instructor. Although the couple is unmarried, they welcomed a daughter together in 2023, making Chen the mother of his seventh child.
Diahnne Abbott: Robert De Niro’s First Wife (1976–1988)
Diahnne Abbott was an American actress and singer who married Robert De Niro on April 28, 1976. The pair had met while she was working as a ticket taker, and their relationship grew alongside his rising career in films like Taxi Driver and New York, New York.
Together, they had one biological son, Raphael De Niro, born in 1976, and De Niro also adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, born in 1971. Abbott herself appeared in films such as The King of Comedy, working alongside her then-husband on screen.
The marriage ended in divorce in 1988 after years of personal differences, reportedly worsened by De Niro’s demanding filming schedule. Abbott has largely stayed out of the public eye since the split, while Raphael has gone on to build his own career as a real estate broker in New York City.
Grace Hightower: Robert De Niro’s Second Wife (1997–2018)
Grace Hightower, a philanthropist and hostess, married Robert De Niro on June 17, 1997. The couple welcomed a son, Elliot, born on March 18, 1998, and De Niro also adopted Hightower’s daughter, Helen Grace, bringing another child into their blended household.
Their marriage was far from smooth. The couple briefly split in 1999, reconciled by 2004, and even renewed their vows before financial and custody disputes resurfaced years later. Hightower went on to launch her own business, Grace Hightower & Coffees.
De Niro officially filed for divorce in 2018, closing out what remains his longest marriage at roughly two decades. Elliot’s autism diagnosis became part of public discussions the family occasionally addressed, and Hightower has largely maintained her privacy since the divorce was finalized.
Tiffany Chen: Robert De Niro’s Current Girlfriend and Partner
Tiffany Chen is a tai chi and martial arts instructor, trained under her grandfather, Grandmaster William C.C. Chen. She and De Niro were first photographed together in August 2021, and their relationship has stayed relatively low-key compared to his previous marriages.
Chen comes from a competitive martial arts background, having earned awards recognized by Inside Kung-Fu magazine, and she has appeared alongside De Niro at public events like the Cannes Film Festival and a White House State Dinner. The age gap between the pair is notable, estimated at roughly 36 to 41 years.
Tiffany Chen and Gia’s Birth Health Scare
On April 6, 2023, Chen gave birth to Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, making her the mother of De Niro’s seventh child. Shortly after delivery, Chen experienced a postpartum complication involving facial muscle weakness, later diagnosed as Bell’s palsy.
Chen spoke publicly about the ordeal, describing symptoms like numbness, tingling, and difficulty eating as food fell from her mouth due to paralysis on one side of her face. She discussed her recovery in interviews with outlets including Entertainment Tonight Canada, offering a rare personal glimpse into the couple’s private life.
Toukie Smith and Other Past Relationships
Toukie Smith, a model and actress known for the sitcom 227, dated Robert De Niro through the late 1980s and into the 1990s. The couple never married but had twin sons, Julian Henry De Niro and Aaron Kendrick De Niro, born via surrogate in 1995.
Aaron has since come out as a transgender woman and now goes by Airyn De Niro, a shift the family publicly supported in April 2025. Smith and De Niro reportedly separated in the mid-1990s but maintained a strong co-parenting bond afterward.
Beyond Smith, De Niro was linked to Helena Springs, a backing vocalist, in a paternity dispute from the early 1980s involving her daughter Nina. He was also romantically connected in media reports to supermodel Naomi Campbell in the early 1990s, though neither party confirmed a serious relationship at the time.
How Old Is Robert De Niro? Age and Career Snapshot
Robert De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in New York City, making him 83 years old as of 2026. He trained at the High School of Music & Art before studying acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory, laying the foundation for one of Hollywood’s most respected careers.
His breakout roles came in the 1970s with Mean Streets and The Godfather Part II, followed by defining performances in Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. He has won two Academy Awards and received honors including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Even in his eighties, De Niro remains active in film and television, with recent projects like About My Father and the series Zero Day. Alongside acting, he has built hospitality ventures such as Nobu and the Greenwich Hotel through his company TriBeCa Productions.
Robert De Niro’s Children: A Look at His Growing Family
Robert De Niro has seven children across four different relationships, spanning more than five decades of fatherhood. His oldest, Drena De Niro, was born in 1971, while his youngest, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, arrived in 2023, an age gap that has drawn significant media coverage.
His children include Drena and Raphael (with Diahnne Abbott), twins Julian and Airyn (with Toukie Smith), Elliot and adopted daughter Helen Grace (with Grace Hightower), and Gia (with Tiffany Chen). De Niro has also become a grandfather several times over through this large, blended family.
Tragedy touched the family in July 2023 when Drena’s son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, died at age 19 from combined drug intoxication involving fentanyl and cocaine. The loss was widely covered and remains one of the more painful chapters in the family’s history.
Robert De Niro’s Most Iconic Movies
Robert De Niro’s filmography reads like a history of modern American cinema. Early landmark performances in Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II, and Taxi Driver established him as one of the defining actors of the 1970s, working repeatedly with director Martin Scorsese.
The 1980s and 1990s brought further acclaim through Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino, roles that showcased his range from tortured antiheroes to comedic turns in films like Meet the Parents. His willingness to move between gritty drama and mainstream comedy widened his audience considerably.
More recently, De Niro has continued working steadily, appearing in The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon, alongside newer projects such as About My Father and Zero Day. This career longevity, spanning over five decades, is part of what keeps public interest in his personal life just as strong as his professional one.
Robert De Niro’s Net Worth
Robert De Niro’s net worth is widely estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with many financial outlets placing the figure around $500 million. This wealth comes from decades of acting fees, producing credits, and savvy business investments outside of Hollywood.
Beyond film royalties, De Niro has built a hospitality empire that includes the Nobu restaurant chain and the Greenwich Hotel in Manhattan. His production company, TriBeCa Productions, and involvement with the Tribeca Film Festival have also contributed meaningfully to his overall financial standing.
Given his continued acting workload well into his eighties, along with restaurant and property ventures, De Niro’s net worth has generally trended upward rather than plateaued, a pattern common among actors who diversify into business ownership.
Clearing Up Rumors: Laurence Fishburne, John Malone, Michelle Obama, and Amy Hood
Searches occasionally pair Robert De Niro’s name with figures like Laurence Fishburne, media investor John Malone, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and Microsoft executive Amy Hood. There is no verified romantic, business, or family connection between De Niro and any of these individuals.
These pairings most likely stem from unrelated news stories, coincidental event appearances, or search-engine keyword overlap rather than any documented relationship. De Niro has never publicly commented on ties to Fishburne, Malone, Obama, or Hood, and no credible reporting supports a personal link.
Readers searching these terms are typically looking for general biographical context on De Niro rather than a specific connection, so it’s worth noting plainly: these names don’t factor into his real relationship or family history.
FAQs
Who is Robert De Niro’s wife?
Robert De Niro has been married twice: to actress Diahnne Abbott from 1976 to 1988, and to Grace Hightower from 1997 to 2018. He is currently unmarried but in a relationship with Tiffany Chen.
Who was De Niro’s first wife?
His first wife was Diahnne Abbott, whom he married in 1976. The couple divorced in 1988 after twelve years of marriage.
What was Robert De Niro’s longest marriage?
His marriage to Grace Hightower, lasting from 1997 to 2018, was his longest at roughly two decades, despite a brief separation and reconciliation along the way.
Who is the mother of De Niro’s newest child?
Tiffany Chen is the mother of De Niro’s seventh child, daughter Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, born in April 2023.
How old is Tiffany Chen, and what is the age gap with De Niro?
Tiffany Chen’s exact age hasn’t been officially confirmed, but reports place her in her mid-forties, creating an age gap with De Niro estimated between 36 and 41 years.
How many children does Robert De Niro have?
De Niro has seven children total, born across relationships with Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith, Grace Hightower, and Tiffany Chen.
Was Robert De Niro ever linked to Naomi Campbell?
Media reports connected De Niro and Naomi Campbell in the early 1990s, but neither confirmed a serious relationship, and no further evidence supports a lasting romance.
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