Madonna's men

From Hollywood actors to backing dancers, sports stars to film producers, Madonna has racked up an impressive list of male companions over the years. We look at the men who have rocked her world...

From Hollywood actors to backing dancers, sports stars to film producers, Madonna has racked up an impressive list of male companions over the years. We look at the men who have rocked her world...

John 'Jellybean' Benitez

Back in the early eighties, when Madge was starting out on the road to super stardom, she embarked on a brief relationship with musician John 'Jellybean' Benitez.

Benitez is credited with setting Madonna on the road to fame, writing her breakthrough chart hit Holiday in 1983.
Sean Penn

While filming the video for Material Girl in 1985, Madonna fell for actor Sean Penn and following a whirlwind romance, the pair married later that year.

Reports suggesting problems in the relationship were rife soon after, however, and after Penn initially filed then withdrew divorce papers in 1987, they split on New Year's Eve 1988 - the divorce coming through a year later.

Speaking about her marriage to Penn, Madonna admitted: 'I was completely obsessed with my career and not ready to be generous in any shape or form.'
Warren Beatty

By now one of the biggest stars on the planet, Madonna starred in the film Dick Tracy in 1989.

While working on the movie, she fell for the director and lead, Warren Beatty, who was just over 20 years her senior, and they embarked on a brief but much written about relationship.
Tony Ward

Soon after her fling with Warren Beatty, Madge started dating bisexual model and one-time porn star Tony Ward, who had starred in her music videos for Cherish and Justify My Love.

The relationship ended in 1991.
Vanilla Ice

Later in 1991, following rumours of a brief dalliance with John F Kennedy Jr, Madonna had an eight-month fling with rapper Vanilla Ice, who also played a 'prominent' role in the queen of pop's much talked about Sex book.
Dennis Rodman

The mid-nineties saw Madonna get cosy with flamboyant basketball player turned actor, turned musician, turned model, Dennis Rodman.

Rodman has since described how the affair began, Madonna having apparently given him 'a sexy look' before saying: 'You're staying with me, in my room.'

Aah, the art of romance...
Carlos Leon

In September 1994, while jogging in Central Park, Madonna took a fancy to personal trainer Carlos Leon.

Two years later she gave birth to Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon.
Andy Bird

As the nineties drew to a close, Madge enjoyed a year-long, on-off affair with British writer Andy Bird.

Bird later sold his story about their relationship while Madonna set her sights on another British boy...
Guy Ritchie

In 1998, Madonna was introduced to film producer Guy, by Sting's wife Trudie Styler.

The pair hit it off immediately and it wasn't long before Madge had become an honorary Brit, moving to Ritchie's country estate in Wiltshire.

Their first child, Rocco, was born in 2000, shortly before a fairytale wedding at Skibo Castle, Scotland.

In 2008, reports began emerging that the relationship was on rocky ground and, in December of that year, it was announced the pair had agreed a divorce settlement.
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