Top 10 Most Famous Celebrity/Athlete Couples
#10: Kate Upton & Justin Verlander
If either you or your partner happen to be an MLB player, don’t plan a destination wedding that would conflict with game seven of the World Series, just in case. It’s a lesson supermodel Kate Upton and Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander learned the hard way. Of all the reasons to postpone a wedding, winning the World Series is a pretty great one. But it’s clear they take Verlander’s baseball career very seriously. In her zeal to support her partner, Upton got some flak in 2016 when she tweeted out her displeasure at Justin not winning the MLB’s Cy Young Award. One thing is for certain: whether it’s working out or winning championships, these two are ride-or-dies.
#9: Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries
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Few celebrity-athlete couples can say they’ve had their romance documented on reality television. Yet that’s pretty much exactly what happened between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star wasn’t far removed from relationships with football players Reggie Bush and Miles Austin when she got with NBA player Kris Humphries. However, things quickly devolved between the pair, and the cameras were there to catch it all. The wedding special was heavily promoted, and some even wondered, a little harshly, if the whole relationship was a sham to garner ratings. The pair ultimately split after a little over two months of marriage.
#8: Carrie Underwood & Mike Fisher
The “American Idol” winner is no stranger to seeing dreams come true, but Carrie Underwood’s marriage to former NHL centre Mike Fisher does kind of sound like something from a romcom. After being matched up by her bassist, the two had a long distance courtship due to their demanding schedules. Eventually, they made it work, got hitched in 2010, and proceeded to start a family. Underwood’s career hasn’t slowed down, and before his retirement from the sport, she could often be seen cheering her husband from the stands or watching as he scrapped with other players.
#7: Shakira & Gerard Piqué
The 2010 FIFA World Cup not only gave us this absolute banger of a song, it also sparked the 11-year romance between Colombian pop diva Shakira and now-retired Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué. They got acquainted after he starred in her music video for “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” and soon landed on Forbes’ list of the “World's Most Powerful Couples.” Between their thriving careers, the pair enjoyed many years of happiness and media attention. The couple had two children, but eventually split in 2022 due to Piqué’s alleged infidelities.
#6: Ciara & Russell Wilson
Multi-hyphenate entertainer Ciara apparently kept it pretty coy when she first met then-Seattle Seahawks player Russell Wilson. But despite her wanting to feel out what she dubbed “friendship perspective” with the quarterback, the two became an item in 2015. Things have come a long way since then. They were married in 2016 and proceeded to build a gorgeous family. But what sets them apart is their mutual dedication to empowering youth. The couple have co-written a children’s book, opened a production company, and are even involved in projects designed to mentor high school students.
#5: Jennifer Lopez & Alex Rodriguez
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In a 1998 interview, MLB player Alex Rodriguez responded to a question about his dream date. His answer was simple: Jennifer Lopez. Talk about speaking it into existence. Although it would take a while, A-Rod and J.Lo would eventually become one of the most talked-about celebrity couples of the 2010s. The two confirmed their relationship in 2017, and in 2019, their engagement grabbed major headlines. However, the COVID pandemic forced them to postpone their nuptials. Rumors swirled that the relationship was on the rocks, and while they denied them at first, they called it quits in 2021.
#4: Gisele Bündchen & Tom Brady
Through Super Bowls and international modeling campaigns, the seemingly perfect pairing looked almost unbreakable. Since they went public with their relationship in 2006, Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen generated heaps of publicity, with many deeply invested in their coupling. Brady credited their success to complementary traits, saying that she was the big dreamer of the duo while he was the one who kept them grounded. If the quarterback’s multiple attempts to retire were any indication, he wasn’t the type to quit easily. That’s probably why fans were so shocked in 2022 when Brady and Bündchen announced their divorce after 13 years of marriage.
#3: Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade
Public personalities aren’t always totally upfront about who they are and what they stand for. What separates this celebrity couple from so many others is just how real they are. Actress Gabrielle Union and former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade are a power couple who obviously share a commitment to giving back to their communities. They’ve consistently used their platform to elevate issues that were important not just to them, but to their children as well. They’ve notably been incredibly supportive of their daughter from Wade’s previous relationship, Zaya, who’s trans, always seeking to uplift her and, by the same token, the LGBTQIA+ community.
#2: Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe
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Hollywood royalty and an MLB center fielder formed what may have been one of the first super high-profile celebrity-athlete couplings. Joe DiMaggio was a Yankee player and World War II veteran, while Marilyn Monroe was the epitome of Old Hollywood movie stardom. The two had a widely reported but deeply contentious relationship. DiMaggio was reportedly unable to cope with Monroe’s status as a sex symbol. Unfortunately, he was jealous and abusive, mistreating her. This ultimately led to Monroe filing for divorce in 1954, less than a year after they had officially exchanged vows.
#1: David & Victoria Beckham
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In 1997, worlds collided when a Spice Girl and a soccer icon became an item. Their decades-long relationship birthed a media sensation and a love story for the modern age. Victoria Beckham was still affectionately known as Posh Spice when she began seeing then-Manchester United player David Beckham. On top of being two of the most ridiculously good-looking people ever, both were at the top of their respective fields. Their whirlwind romance was made all the more sensational because of the intense media scrutiny surrounding it. However, through it all, the Beckhams and their children have become a dynasty all their own. Posh and Becks remain the blueprint for the modern celebrity supercouple.
