California Governor Gavin Newsom is once again in the headlines—but this time, it’s not for policy. He’s suing Fox News for $787 million, accusing the network of deliberately twisting his conversation with former President Donald Trump about National Guard deployment during the Los Angeles protests.
Newsom claims Fox misrepresented the call to make it look like he lied, and he’s drawing a direct comparison to the network’s massive Dominion settlement from 2023.
While the lawsuit takes aim at media accountability, it also puts a fresh spotlight on Newsom’s personal life—one that’s often tangled with public drama of its own. From a messy first marriage to Kimberly Guilfoyle to raising four kids with his current wife, filmmaker and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, his family life has unfolded just as publicly as his political career.
So, who is the woman behind California’s top office—and what’s life like inside the Newsom household? Here’s a look at everything you need to know about Newsom’s spouse and children.
Gavin Newsom’s First Wife and Their Relationship
Newsom married Kimberly Guilfoyle on December 8, 2001, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in San Francisco. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the home of Ann and Gordon Getty, attended by hundreds of political figures, media personalities, and friends. At the time, Newsom was serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and Guilfoyle was working as a prosecutor in the city’s District Attorney’s office.
The couple quickly attracted public attention and were frequently featured in magazines and newspapers. Their polished image and media presence earned them comparisons to political power couples of the past.
However, as their careers progressed, they began living on opposite coasts—Newsom in San Francisco and Guilfoyle in New York, where she had started working in television. The physical distance and conflicting schedules gradually strained the relationship.
In January 2005, they jointly announced their decision to divorce, citing the demands of their respective careers. The separation was described as amicable, and their divorce was finalized on February 28, 2006.
Newsom Has Four Children with His Second Wife, Jennifer
Newsom began dating filmmaker Jennifer Siebel in October 2006, after meeting on a blind date set up by their mutual friend. Just a few months into their relationship, in February 2007, Newsom publicly announced that he would seek treatment for alcohol use disorder.
The decision came on the heels of multiple personal controversies, and Siebel’s presence in his life was widely seen as a stabilizing force during that time. Though Newsom didn’t directly link her to his decision, many around him acknowledged that her influence played a key role in helping him reset personally.
By the end of that year, the couple announced their engagement. They were married on July 26, 2008, in a riverside ceremony in Stevensville, Montana. The wedding reflected Siebel’s taste and values, with close friends and family in attendance, including prominent names like Nancy Pelosi and Willie Brown. Newsom later described the day as something he wanted to make “magical” for his bride.
Since then, they’ve built a family together. Their first daughter, Montana Tessa Newsom, was born in 2009. In 2011, they welcomed their son, Hunter Siebel Newsom. Their second daughter, Brooklynn, arrived in July 2013, followed by their youngest child, Dutch William Siebel Newsom, in 2016.
View this post on Instagram
Despite Newsom’s demanding public schedule, the couple has often emphasized the importance of family, and Siebel—now known as California’s First Partner—has maintained her own career as a documentary filmmaker and advocate while raising their four children.
Know More About Gavin Newsom’s Wife, Jennifer
Jennifer was born and raised in the Bay Area, the second of five daughters in a well-connected San Francisco family. Her father, Ken Siebel, is an investment manager, and her mother, Judy, co-founded the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
At age six, she witnessed a tragic accident when her older sister, Stacey, was killed by a runaway golf cart, which left an indelible mark on her.
She grew up in Ross, California, attending The Branson School, where she played varsity sports and thrived academically. She later attended Stanford University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and an MBA. While studying, she was also recruited to play soccer for Stanford and later completed a theater program at the American Conservatory Theater.
Before entering public life, Jennifer worked internationally with Conservation International and later pursued acting in Los Angeles. Her shift toward filmmaking led to the creation of Miss Representation in 2011, followed by several documentaries exploring gender norms and social inequality. In 2011, she co-founded The Representation Project, a nonprofit aimed at challenging limiting stereotypes.
Since her husband took office as governor, Jennifer updated the traditional title of “First Lady” to “First Partner” to make it gender-inclusive. Though her nonprofit work has drawn some scrutiny over donor ties to state-regulated entities, she stepped back from fundraising duties in 2015. Today, she balances her public advocacy and creative projects with raising four children alongside the governor.
