“Robert De Niro wife,” they are usually looking for information about the actor’s marriages, former spouses, and current relationship status. Robert De Niro has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Diahnne Abbott, while his second marriage was to Grace Hightower. Neither marriage is current. Today, De Niro is in a long-term relationship with Tiffany Chen, who is widely described by major entertainment sources as his girlfriend or partner rather than his wife.
De Niro has maintained a highly successful career while keeping many aspects of his private life away from the spotlight. The actor has seven children, and his family has grown over the years through his marriages and other relationships. His most recent child, daughter Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, was born in 2023 to De Niro and Tiffany Chen.
Quick Facts
| Name | Relationship | Years Married/Relationship | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diahnne Abbott | First wife | 1976–1988 | Raphael; De Niro adopted Drena |
| Grace Hightower | Second wife | 1997–2018 | Elliott and Helen Grace |
| Tiffany Chen | Current partner | Together since around 2021 | Gia Virginia |
Robert De Niro and Diahnne Abbott
Robert De Niro married Diahnne Abbott in 1976. Abbott was an actress and singer who appeared in films including Taxi Driver, in which she worked alongside De Niro. During their marriage, the couple welcomed their son Raphael De Niro. De Niro also adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, giving him an important role in her upbringing.
The marriage lasted approximately 12 years before ending in divorce in 1988. Although their relationship eventually came to an end, this period was an important chapter in De Niro’s family history. His marriage to Abbott also marked the beginning of his life as a father, a role that would become increasingly significant as his family expanded over subsequent decades.
Key Facts About Diahnne Abbott
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Diahnne Eugenia Abbott |
| Relationship with De Niro | First wife |
| Marriage | 1976 |
| Divorce | 1988 |
| Children connected to marriage | Raphael and Drena |
Robert De Niro’s Marriage to Grace Hightower
After his first marriage ended, De Niro eventually began a relationship with Grace Hightower, an actress, singer, and philanthropist. The couple married in 1997 and welcomed their son Elliott. They separated in 1999, but their marriage was not immediately finalized, and they later renewed their vows in 2004.
Their relationship continued for many years before they separated permanently in 2018. De Niro and Hightower also had a daughter, Helen Grace, who was born via surrogate. Their long relationship remains one of the most significant chapters in De Niro’s personal life, particularly because the couple continued sharing family responsibilities after their separation.
Important: Grace Hightower is Robert De Niro’s former wife, not his current wife.
Is Robert De Niro Married Now?
As of 2026, Robert De Niro is not publicly known to be married. His previous marriages—to Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower—ended before his current relationship with Tiffany Chen. Major entertainment coverage continues to refer to Chen as De Niro’s girlfriend or partner rather than his wife.
This distinction is especially important for anyone searching “Robert De Niro wife” because online celebrity biographies sometimes mix former spouses and current partners. Based on established reporting, De Niro has two former wives, while Tiffany Chen is his current longtime partner.
Who Is Tiffany Chen?
Tiffany Chen is a martial arts instructor and the woman currently associated romantically with Robert De Niro. The pair’s relationship became public around 2021, and they have since appeared together at various events. Their relationship received additional attention in 2023 after they welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro.
De Niro publicly confirmed the arrival of his seventh child in 2023, and later details identified Tiffany Chen as the mother. The birth added another chapter to the actor’s already large family and renewed public interest in his personal life. Despite the attention, De Niro and Chen have generally maintained a relatively private relationship compared with many other celebrity couples.
Robert De Niro’s Children and Family
Family has been an important part of De Niro’s life. According to PEOPLE’s recent career and personal-life retrospective, he is the father of seven children: Drena, Raphael, Julian, Aaron, Elliott, Helen Grace, and Gia. His children were born through different relationships, and De Niro has experienced fatherhood across several decades.
His family history includes biological children, an adopted daughter, and children born through assisted reproductive arrangements. This makes his personal story more complex than simply identifying a current or former wife. His relationships have changed over time, but his role as a father has remained a consistent part of his life.
Children at a Glance
| Child | Mother/Family connection |
|---|---|
| Drena De Niro | Adopted daughter of De Niro |
| Raphael De Niro | With Diahnne Abbott |
| Julian De Niro | With Toukie Smith |
| Aaron De Niro | With Toukie Smith |
| Elliott De Niro | With Grace Hightower |
| Helen Grace De Niro | With Grace Hightower |
| Gia Virginia Chen De Niro | With Tiffany Chen |
Robert De Niro’s Personal Life Today
Robert De Niro remains active professionally despite being in his eighties. PEOPLE reported in August 2026 that the actor celebrated his 83rd birthday and continued working across film and television. His career has lasted more than five decades, with acclaimed performances in movies such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather Part II, and Goodfellas.
His personal life has changed considerably throughout those decades, but his family continues to be an important part of his story. Today, the most accurate way to describe his relationship status is that he has two former wives—Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower—and a current partner, Tiffany Chen. Therefore, someone searching for “Robert De Niro wife” should distinguish between his marriage history and his present relationship.
Conclusion
The answer to “Robert De Niro wife” depends on whether you mean his current partner or his former spouses. De Niro has been married twice: first to Diahnne Abbott, from 1976 until their 1988 divorce, and later to Grace Hightower, whom he married in 1997 and permanently separated from in 2018.
Today, De Niro is in a relationship with Tiffany Chen, with whom he welcomed daughter Gia in 2023. Chen is not publicly identified as his wife. This makes it important to use accurate terminology when discussing De Niro’s personal life and marriage history.
FAQs
1. Who is Robert De Niro’s wife?
Robert De Niro has had two wives, Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower. He is not currently known to be married.
2. Who is Robert De Niro’s current partner?
His current longtime partner is Tiffany Chen, a martial arts instructor.
3. How many times has Robert De Niro been married?
Robert De Niro has been married twice, to Diahnne Abbott and Grace Hightower.
4. Does Robert De Niro have children with Tiffany Chen?
Yes. De Niro and Tiffany Chen welcomed their daughter Gia Virginia Chen De Niro in 2023.
