Hunter Biden has faced more than his share of loss and hardship. The 1972 car crash that killed his mother and baby sister left him and his brother, Beau, to be raised by their father. Decades later, in 2015, Beau died of brain cancer. Alongside these personal tragedies, Hunter struggled for years with addiction and went through a difficult divorce.
Through it all, Hunter says his wife, Melissa Cohen, has been his “redemption” and his “protector,” standing beside him as he pursued recovery. He has sought treatment more than seven times, first taken to rehab by Beau, and in 2014 was discharged from the Naval Reserves after testing positive for cocaine.
In an interview with ABC News, when Melissa was asked if the public scrutiny made her worry about his sobriety, she replied without hesitation, “No. He’s incredibly strong.”
Hunter recalled to The New Yorker a moment early in their relationship when his father, President Joe Biden, spoke to Melissa on speakerphone. “He said to her, ‘Thank you for giving my son the courage to love again,’” Hunter remembered. “And he said to me, ‘Honey, I knew that when you found love again that I’d get you back.’”
Their marriage has unfolded in the glare of political controversy, particularly over Hunter’s $50,000-a-month position on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Melissa has been steadfast in defending her husband, calling him “an incredible human being” who cares deeply for his family, friends, and country. She has said she would welcome any investigation into his work, adding, “We live in truth, so sure.”
Despite the external noise, both describe their life together as an “extended honeymoon.” Hunter says, “I’m actually having an incredible extended honeymoon with my beautiful bride.” Melissa agrees: “I think I’m gonna be in the honeymoon phase for a very long time. Things have not been easy externally, but internally things have been amazing.”
For them, the core of their life is in the everyday — daily calls with Joe Biden, coffee runs, lunches together, evenings with Netflix — and, as Hunter puts it, being “absolutely enveloped in love” from family.
Let’s take a closer look at Hunter Biden’s wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, their first meeting, and the birth of their son.
Who Is Melissa Cohen?
Melissa is originally from South Africa and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, a milestone Hunter Biden attended in person to celebrate.
In his memoir Beautiful Things, Hunter described his spouse as an aspiring documentary filmmaker and an activist.
Before they met, Melissa tried to raise $30,000 for a documentary project called Tribal Worlds, which aimed to explore the past, present, and future of humanity through the experiences of African tribal communities. According to the Los Angeles Times, the campaign did not reach its funding goal.
Hunter also shared in his memoir that his spouse, Melissa, is fluent in five languages, among them Italian and Hebrew.
How Did Hunter Biden Meet His Wife, Melissa?
The couple met in May 2019 through mutual friends at the Sunset Marquis hotel. A friend of hers had written Melissa’s phone number on Hunter’s hand and urged him to call.
When they finally met, Hunter says it felt like love at first sight. “You have the exact same eyes as my brother,” he told her that night. “I know this probably isn’t a good way to start a first date, but I’m in love with you.”
That same evening, Hunter opened up about his past — the losses of his mother, sister, and brother, and his decades-long struggle with addiction. Melissa’s response to his admission about substance abuse was firm: “Well, not any more. You’re finished with that.”
Within days, the two were inseparable. Hunter recalls in his memoir that she wouldn’t let him out of her sight, even following him to the bathroom. They also got matching “shalom” tattoos during those first days together. “I instantly fell in love with her,” Hunter has said. “And then I’ve fallen in love with her more every day.”
They Married Just Six Days After Meeting
On May 17, 2019, less than a week after they first met, Hunter and his partner, Melissa, tied the knot in a private ceremony on the roof of her Los Angeles apartment. The wedding was small and unannounced, with no family members present. A friend captured the moment on a cellphone, and the couple exchanged simple gold bands Hunter had picked out.
Hunter’s first call was to his father, President Joe Biden, to share the news. Biden thanked his daughter-in-law, Melissa, for “giving my son the courage to love again.”
Their wedding took place about a month after reports surfaced that Hunter had ended his relationship with Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother Beau.
Melissa and Hunter Have a Son, Beau Biden
Less than a year after their marriage, Hunter and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their son, Beau Biden, on March 28, 2020.
They named him in honor of Hunter’s late older brother, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015.
Hunter Has Four Other Children
From his first marriage to Kathleen Buhle, Hunter has three adult daughters: Naomi, Finnegan, and Maisy. He has said that his daughters have a warm relationship with his current better half, Melissa.
In 2018, Hunter also fathered a daughter, Navy Roberts, with Lunden Roberts of Arkansas.
Melissa Cohen Was Also Married Before
Like Hunter, Melissa had been married prior to their relationship. Her first husband was Jason Landver, a member of a Los Angeles family involved in the jewelry business.
According to Hunter’s memoir, Jason filed for divorce in 2014 after three years of marriage. Further details about their relationship have not been publicly disclosed.
