Paula Abdul, the iconic singer, dancer, and choreographer, is currently unmarried. She has been married twice in her life: first to actor Emilio Estevez from 1992 to 1994, and then to businessman Brad Beckerman from 1996 to 1998. Both marriages ended in divorce, and since her second split, Abdul has not walked down the aisle again. Despite this, her romantic history remains a topic of public fascination, featuring rumoured affairs, a famous co-star who never became a partner, and an on-and-off relationship spanning nearly two decades.
Paula Abdul's Two Marriages and Their Endings
Paula Abdul's first marriage was to actor Emilio Estevez, which lasted from 1992 to 1994. The couple married in April 1992. The divorce was reportedly due to a fundamental disagreement about having children. Abdul wanted children, but Estevez, who already had two children from a previous relationship, did not. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, as reported by Hello! Magazine, Abdul said: "It was very hard for him to admit that he couldn't handle having kids again. It was heartbreaking for us both." Estevez had two children, son Taylor Estevez (born 1984) and daughter Paloma Estevez (born 1986), with model Carey Salley.
Two years after her divorce from Estevez, Abdul began a relationship with Brad Beckerman, a sportswear manufacturer, after a blind date. The couple married in 1996, but the marriage lasted only 17 months. Abdul filed for divorce in March 1998, citing irreconcilable differences. The wedding ceremony took place at the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Connecticut.
Rumoured Affairs and Notable Dates
Beyond her marriages, Abdul's dating history includes several notable figures. One of the most persistent rumours involves Jackie Jackson of The Jackson family. In the early 1980s, while Abdul was a cheerleader and later head choreographer for the Laker Girls, she reportedly had an affair with Jackie Jackson, who was then married to Enid Jackson. This alleged relationship was said to have helped Abdul secure her first major choreography job for the Victory album. In her 1995 book Jackson Family Values, Margaret Maldonado wrote that Jackie was injured in an automobile accident caused by his then-wife Enid after she caught him with Abdul. The rumour also suggested a long-lasting rift between Abdul and Janet Jackson over the affair.
Another famous rumour involved actor Keanu Reeves. Abdul and Reeves filmed the music video for her 1991 hit "Rush Rush," which reimagined them as the leads from Rebel Without a Cause. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in October 2019, Abdul addressed the speculation. She recounted an amusing incident where she went to Reeves's trailer and saw him air guitaring in his underwear. When asked directly if they ever dated, she insisted, "No."
On-and-Off Romance and Other Links
One of Abdul's most well-known relationships was with restaurateur JT Torregiani. The pair first linked in 2007. In 2014, Torregiani briefly dated Dancing With the Stars alum Cheryl Burke, but he and Abdul rekindled their romance in late 2020. In a 2007 interview with OK! Magazine, Torregiani spoke about Abdul, saying: "She is more nurturing than most women I know, let alone women I have dated. She has such a big heart and even with her crazy work schedule, she always makes time for me."
Abdul's dating history also includes John Stamos, Arsenio Hall, Colton Melby, Jeff Bratton, and John Caprio.
Net Worth and Latest News
Paula Abdul's net worth is estimated at $20 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her wealth comes from a career spanning over four decades in music, television, and choreography. Key income streams include her role as a judge on American Idol from 2002 to 2009, where her salary reportedly grew from about $1 million per season to between $5 million and $8 million in her final seasons. She also earned from judging on So You Think You Can Dance and The X Factor, a Las Vegas residency that began in 2019, choreography work, brand endorsements, and touring.
In recent news, Abdul is set to receive the Legacy Award for her contributions to choreography at the 15th World Choreography Awards. On the legal front, she tentatively settled with the production companies behind American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance and headed to trial against executive Nigel Lythgoe, after suing the parties for sexual assault, sexual harassment, and negligence. Lythgoe has continued to deny the allegations despite agreeing to a settlement with her.
