There’s a common assumption that celebrities always marry within their league. If a woman is beautiful, her spouse should be beautiful too, right? Although Hollywood is known for its vanity and shallowness, not all celebrities choose their partners based on looks. Some celebrity spouses might actually shock you by how normal they look.
The famous men that made this list are all known for marrying someone outside of their “league.” The media has dubbed their partners as the hotter ones in the relationship, leading to constant speculation over how these guys managed to land partners as beautiful as these women. This is proof that us normal folks actually stand a chance of marrying a celebrity, too!
With that being said, obviously love isn’t skin deep. For many people, it doesn’t matter so much how their partners look on the outside. What’s more important is who the person is on the inside. While the media might dub these husbands lucky for snagging such gorgeous women, we’re sure these couples don’t look at themselves that way. We’re sure these celebrities are used to being surrounded by gorgeous people every day, so it’s probably more important that they come home to someone they love versus someone who’s just there for eye candy.
Which one of these celeb couples surprised you the most?
15 Jay Z & Beyonce: He Won The Queen
Jay-Z and Beyonce are one of the richest power couples in the world. The couple has been married since 2008, and they dated for almost a decade before tying the knot. They’re the parents of 6-year old Blue Ivy and twins, Rumi and Sir, born last summer.
Despite their seemingly strong union, many fans remained confounded as to how Jay-Z won a beauty over like Beyonce.
The notoriously private couple have credited not talking about their relationship publicly as one of the reasons they’ve managed to stay together for so long. However, the world thought this power couple was no more just a few years ago when the news broke that Jay-Z had cheated on Beyonce. But a couple of apology albums later and a set of twins, and it appears that Bey and Jay are going stronger than ever. The Queen deserves nothing less!
14 K-Fed & Britney: He Did It For His Rap Career
No one knew who Kevin Federline was before the news broke that pop star Britney Spears had eloped with him after a months-long romance.
But K-Fed quickly shot to fame after becoming Mr. Spears, and during their short union, the couple welcomed two sons, Jayden and Sean. However, no one was surprised when this unlikely couple didn’t work out. Many were surprised that these two got together in the first place, given that Brit is the iconic blonde pop star and K-Fed was her rugged looking back-up dancer.
To make things worse, K-Fed didn’t have a reputation for being a stand-up guy, either. He abandoned his baby mama to marry Britney, which was allegedly only to help launch his own rap career, and he reportedly wasn’t too nice to be married to. Nowadays, K-Fed is known for his growing beer belly and the fact that he keeps on having kids, whereas Britney is looking (and living) better than ever!
13 Vincent & Alexis: Caught Himself A Gilmore Girl
Many Gilmore Girls fans wished that Alexis Bledel had ended up with her on-screen (and off-screen) lover Milo Ventimiglia. However, the actress ended up falling for another co-star- none other than Vincent Kartheiser.
The two celebs met while filming Mad Men, when Alexis played Vincent’s love interest for a few episodes. But it was clearly a Hollywood fairy-tale come true because it wasn’t long before the couple wed and had their first child, a son.
The couple is known for being notoriously private, so many fans didn’t realize they were even dating until they announced their wedding.
Many fans think that Alexis is the better looking one in this couple, but we doubt it matters to them. Based on the pictures, these two seem madly in love and we’re so happy for them!
12 Gavin & Gwen: She Was His Sweet Escape
Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani had one of the longest marriages in Hollywood after being married for almost 15 years. Together, the couple welcomed three sons: Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo.
Yet, in 2016, these two eventually filed for divorce amid rumors that Gavin had an affair with their nanny. The media immediately sided with Gwen, seeing her as the blameless wife who’d been scorned by her husband.
Even more, many fans said Gavin’s cheating was worse given that Gwen is way out of his league. Like it would make it any less worse if she wasn’t?
Despite the drama, Gwen has only had good things to say about her ex since parting ways. She’s now moved on to dating country crooner Blake Shelton, who fans also think is lucky to have scored a beauty as iconic as Gwen.
11 Marc Anthony & JLo: He Got Out Of The Friendzone
Jennifer Lopez is one of the sexiest mamas in the world, so it’s no surprise that she’s dated her fair share of hunky bachelors (her latest BF is none other than Alex Rodriguez!). However, the man that eventually tied her down wasn’t what any of us were expecting.
Back in 2004, JLo shocked the world when she married Marc Anthony after calling off her engagement to Ben Affleck less than a year earlier. Marc doesn’t fit the hunky type that J.Lo usually goes for. She and Marc had been longtime friends for years, which made their newfound romances even stranger.
Nevertheless, the couple welcomed twins, Emme and Max, in 2008 to the world’s delight. However, Jen and Marc eventually filed for divorce in 2012 and finalized it in 2014. Despite their failed marriage, the parents remain close friends, even touring together following their split.
10 Kristen & Dax: Made A Statement With Their Engagement
Kristen Bell is best known for her roles in shows like Veronica Mars and Gossip Girl. It turns out her other half, Dax Shepherd, is also an accomplished actor, having appeared in flicks like Without A Paddle and Zathura. The couple met in 2007 and were engaged in 2010, though they decided to postpone their marriage until California legalized same-sex marriage. How cool is that?!
The media constantly dubs Kirsten the “hotter” one in this relationship, but it doesn’t seem to bother them.
The couple went through with their marriage in 2013 (after the legalization of gay marriage) at the Beverly Hills County Clerk’s Office.
They’ve gone on to welcome two daughters: 5-year old Lincoln and 4-year old Delta. Like many celeb couples on this list, they credit maintaining a low profile (and marriage counseling) as the key to a successful relationship.
9 Jordan & Christina: She Likes Her Men Normal
Christina Aguilera has become known for dating men who are outside of her league. Or, should we say she’s out of their league. The singer originally married Jordan Bratman in 2005. Christina is known for her dramatic, over-the-top look, so the public was surprised when she settled down with someone so average looking. The couple welcomed a son together before officially divorcing in 2011.
However, this isn’t the only guy X-Tina has been with that fans think isn’t on her same level. The celeb is currently engaged to Mathew Rutler, who also has a pretty average look compared to her. The pair has been engaged since 2010 (yes, she was still technically married to Jordan when she said “yes”), and they have a daughter together. True love totally sees past looks!
8 Sacha & Isla: Even Borat Can Fall In Love
Sacha Baron Cohen is known for the wide range of eccentric characters he’s played in movies… and on the red carpet. But he’s also equally known for his unlikely marriage to the gorgeous Isla Fisher. Sasha towers over a foot taller than his petite wife. It often looks hilarious in photos when he’s in costume as one of his raunchy characters while she’s glammed and ready to go to the red carpet.
Despite how unlikely these two seem, they’ve been together since 2002 and married since 2010.
The pair has two daughters, 10-year old Olive and 6-year old Elula, and 3-year old son Montgomery. Isla has confirmed that she converted to Judaism before their wedding, "I will definitely have a Jewish wedding just to be with Sacha. I would do anything—move into any religion—to be united in marriage with him,” she once said. “We have a future together and religion comes second to love as far as we are concerned."
7 Max & Elizabeth: They Were College Sweethearts
Elizabeth Banks has been married to Max Handelman for almost two decades. The pair tied the knot in 2003, after originally meeting on their first day of college in 1992. The couple wed before Elizabeth shot to fame a decade later, which many fans believe is the reason Max was able to score a bombshell like Elizabeth. Um, maybe these two just love each other?
If you want even more proof that these two are crazy for one another, it turns out Elizabeth even converted to Judaism for her future husband. “I did not have my mikveh, so technically I'm not converted," but that she has "been essentially a Jew for like 15 years," she once explained. Elizabeth and Max have two sons both via surrogates: 6-year old Felix and 5-year old Magnus.
6 Tommy & Pamela: She Always Goes For Rockers
Pamela Anderson has had quite the colorful dating life, and many of her past partners have been declared by the media as not in her league. However, she’s never had any romances as famous as her doomed marriage to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.
The couple got hitched in 1995 after only knowing each other for a whopping 4 days- yep, we’re serious! The couple had two sons, Brandon born in 1996 and Dylan born in 1997. Their marriage was less than perfect, as Tommy was arrested for domestic violence after assaulting his wife in 1998, for which he served six months in jail. Pamela has also admitted she contracted hepatitis C after sharing needles with Tommy.
After all of this, it was no surprise when the couple divorced in 1999.
Yet, in 2007, Pamela admitted that she and Tommy were still regularly hooking up (though they’d since re-married other people), and in 2008 she said they were trying to make things work. However, as it had previously, things eventually fizzled out between these two crazy lovers.
5 Seal & Heidi: She Was Hunting For A Baby Daddy
Heidi Klum is one of the most famous supermodels in the world, while Seal is one of the most well recognized British singers. Still, many fans were surprised when these two got together, especially given that Heidi was pregnant with another man’s baby at the time.
Before getting with Seal, Heidi was in a relationship with Flavio Briatore. But by the time she announced her pregnancy with their daughter, the couple were already broken up. A few months before giving birth, Heidi met and began romancing Seal. Evidently, it was love at first sight because Seal had no qualms stepping up to the plate and being a father to Heidi’s daughter, Leni. He was reportedly even there for Leni’s birth.
Heidi and Seal eventually tied the knot in 2005 and welcomed two sons and one more daughter. Seal officially adopted Leni in 2009. Unfortunately, like many celeb couples, this couplecalled it quits in 2012, though they remain on amicable terms for the sake of their kids.
4 Francois & Salma: Being A Billionaire Helped
Salma Hayek could definitely have her pick of men, which is why many fans were surprised when she eventually settled down with French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault. Given Salma’s bombshell status, many fans were surprised when she began dating someone who didn’t have the same celebrity looks she did. But the events leading up to their marriage made their union all the more strange.
Francois already had two children from a previous marriage when he began romancing Salma in 2006. However, things got sticky fast when model Linda Evangelista announced she was pregnant with his child when he was already dating Salma (it’s unclear if he cheated on Salma or not). A few months later, Salma announced that she was also pregnant.
In a twist of events, Salma ended their romance a few months after their daughter Valentina’s birth, which many speculated was due to the drama with Linda.
However, this story does have a happy ending. Salma eventually reconciled with Francois, and the two were officially married in 2009. François reportedly has no contact with his son or with Linda. To this day, many fans speculate that Salma stayed with her baby daddy primarily because of the wealth in his bank account. Do you think it played a part in her decision?
3 Ben & Christine: His Humor Makes Up For It
We can imagine that being married to Ben Stiller must be like attending a comedy show 24/7.
The actor is known for his hilarious persona, which is evidently how he won his gorgeous wife over, Christine Stiller. The pair met while filming a never-broadcasted pilot for a show called Heat Vision and Jack. Christine has gone on to star in a variety of her hubby’s movies, including Zoolander, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, Tropic Thunder, and Arrested Development.
Alas, this unlikely pairing wasn’t meant to last. In 2017, Christine and Ben announced their separation after two kids and 17 years together. As of now, the two are still legally married, though sources say they are living separately. Do you think this funny guy will ever be able to win back his leading lady?
2 David & Amber: The Shocking Age Difference
No one thought it was going to last between David Cross and Amber Tamblyn when they announced their engagement in 2011. The pair has an almost 20-year age difference between them that many fans thought would be their downfall.
Nevertheless, this unlikely couple has proved everyone wrong. David and Amber eventually got married in 2012 and went on to welcome their first child, daughter Marlow, in 2017.
Amber made headlines for wearing a yellow dress for their eccentric wedding.
"It was marigold, and it had a train in the back that was cream. Like a center-piece that was cut out in the middle,” the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants star told US Weekly about her unique choice. The reason she went for yellow? "There's nothing really traditional about me." We guess that’s why her marriage isn’t traditional, either!
1 Jason & Rosie: The Secret To Winning An Angel
You know you’re a lucky man if you manage to win the woman who replaced Megan Fox in the Transformer’s franchise who also happens to be a former Victoria’s Secret Angel. Seriously, what did Jason Statham do to deserve all of this? Well, he must have done something special, because the actor has been dating Rosie Huntington-Whitley since 2010.
Many fans have often wondered about the romance between Jason and Rosie, declaring her the more attractive one in this power couple. Despite the interest in their personal life, Rosie and Jason seem like a pretty normal pair. The two became engaged in 2016 and welcomed their son Jack in 2017. Nowadays, this famous couple is focusing on planning their wedding and raising their little family.
References: US Weekly, People Magazine, Life & Style, Hollywood Life