Actress Jessica Biel and pop star Justin Timberlake have been married for ten years and together for almost 16, and they’re still going strong. The pair have had their ups and downs, including a brief breakup and even briefer photo scandal. But they recently renewed their vows and share two sons, one of whom was born during COVID-19 lockdown.
Here’s the complete timeline of their relationship thus far.
January 2007
Shortly after his break up with Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are seen snowboarding together with a group of friends in Park City, Utah, and some might say even flirting. Biel had just broken up with baseball star Derek Jeter. A source told People that Timberlake was only “trying to have a good time.”
They added, “He is in no way looking to be in a relationship. He’s single and he’s happy.”
May 2007
Another source says that Timberlake is “in love” with Biel, adding, “He wants to be with her all the time. He’s ready to be serious.”
December 2008
On the cover of British GQ, Biel calls her very private relationship with Timberlake her “one sparkly present” that she doesn’t “want to open in front of strangers.”
“It’s the one part of my life that is my own and not for anyone else,” she said at the time.
September 2009
Rumors start circulating that the couple have broken up, but a source said, “They’re together…They’re not breaking up. Any time they spend time apart it’s because they’re working.”
They did add, “Things have been a bit up in the air recently. They’ve been spending more time apart—more time with each of their friends, and they’ve been reevaluating [their relationship].”
March 2011
A few years later, things go from assessing to ending. They decided to end their relationship, but a source stated there were “no hard feelings” and it “was completely mutual, and they both decided it was time to move on.”
Reps confirmed the break up, saying, “Addressing the media speculation regarding Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake’s relationship, we are confirming that they mutually have decided to part ways. The two remain friends and continue to hold the highest level of love and respect for each other.”
June 2011
In the July issue of Vanity Fair, Timberlake is effusive about his ex.
“She is the single-handedly most significant person in my life,” he says. “In my 30 years, she is the most special person, okay? I don’t want to say much more, because I have to protect things that are dear to me—for instance, her.”
August 2011
The pair were seen in Toronto enjoying time together at an art deco diner on Queen Street West. An eyewitness said, “They were in good spirits….They seemed happy. They had brunch together. They were talking. They enjoyed their food. They had a nice time.”
A source explained, “They always remained friendly after the split and spent time together.”
November 2011
The break didn’t last too long, though. That November, Biel hinted in an interview with ELLE magazine that they may have reconciled after being asked about her dating life.
“A girl doesn’t kiss and tell,” she said.
December 2011
A month later, they were engaged. Timberlake proposed to Biel when they visited Montana, which she recounted years later on The Late Late Show.
“We were in Montana on a piece of property that we owned at the time,” Biel recalled. “We had snowboarded all day. It was in the middle of the winter. Waist-high snow. We were [in] head-to-toe snowboarding outfits—hats, gloves, everything.”
Biel continued, “And we go up to the property to just check out how the foundation is looking. And all of a sudden, he gets down onto his knees and just sinks into the snow.”
August 2012
In a cover story for InStyle, Biel says Timberlake picked out the ring himself and often helps her style choices.
“I had no say whatsoever [in the ring]. I don’t micromanage,” she said. “He is fearless in his choices and has a real eye for design. And I’ll be honest: He has better taste than I do.”
October 2012
On October 19, 2012, the couple marry in southern Italy, and like most of their moments, it’s quite private.
“I had a little bit of butterflies,” Biel told People about the ceremony. “I was about to stand up in front of my friends and family and bare my soul for the person I love. It was terribly emotional.”
January 2015
Timberlake confirmed Biel’s pregnancy on January 31, which was also his 34th birthday. He shared a pic of himself kissing Biel’s belly, captioning it, “Thank you EVERYONE for the Bday wishes! This year, I’m getting the GREATEST GIFT EVER. CAN’T WAIT. #BoyOrGirl #YouNeverKnow #WeDontEvenKnow #WeAreTakingBets.”
March 2015
Timberlake celebrates Biel’s birthday on Instagram.
April 2015
In April, the birth of their baby was confirmed by the couple’s publicist to People. The rep added that “mom and baby are doing well and dad is ‘ecstatic.’”
The baby boy was named Silas Randall, and his first photo showed him wearing a Memphis Grizzlies shirt.
August 2015
Biel shared something about motherhood with E! News, saying her most magical moment with Silas thus far was “probably the moment he wakes up from a nap. He’s sort of looking around and you sort of creep up and look over the crib and he looks up and he goes [big sigh] just a gummy mouth, no teeth, just a big smile, happy that you’re alive, and you’re just looking at him.”
She added, “You quickly move on from it because there is a dirty diaper in your palm.”
April 2016
Biel told ELLE.com at the Tiffany Blue Book gala that parenthood changed her style.
“Some days it does feel as though there’s no time for anything. Fashion sometimes feels like it goes to the bottom of the list,” she said. “I do feel like I have to make a little bit more of an effort, because it’s very easy to just throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and sneakers and just run out the door, because you’re doing a million things at once.”
She continued, “You have to just say: You know what, I’m going to put on my heels, I’m going to put on my dress, and I’m going to do it. You do have to make an effort, I think.”
When asked about Timberlake’s style, she replied, “No, nothing’s changed for him, he’s fine…He always looks great, even when he’s sloppy!”
April 2017
Jessica Biel’s 7th Heaven costar Beverley Mitchell told Access Hollywood Live that she was there when they met and sparks flew.
“I was there like the moment the love connection happened,” said Mitchell. “I was like, ‘Okay, this is happening.’ They met, it was at the Golden Globes. It was so cute because they were like—it’s that moment like I like you, I think you like me. It was very, very sweet. They were definitely flirting. They were really cute.”
August 2017
The actress spoke with ELLE.com at the premiere of her TV series The Sinner, saying her character was informed by her son Silas.
“It’s personal for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to do this role if I didn’t know what it was like to be a mom. If I wouldn’t be able to see my son every day…I get emotional just thinking about it.”
That same month, she told Marie Claire, “You think you’re a selfless person, and then you realize you’re not. These little people come around, and they require so much, and your schedule is really not your own, nor is it important anymore, and it’s very clear that it’s your life now, revolving around this dude. I’m not that person who feels like, Oh, my whole life changes for my kid, but it does.”
February 2018
Biel starred in the video for Timberlake’s single “Man of the Woods,” being the babe of the song.
October 2019
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight Timberlake opened up about needing to go on vocal rest, and how Biel helped him cope with the disappointment of canceling shows.
“I think anybody out there, you know, you go through anything, to have somebody by your side to really go through it with you and get in the mud with you, so to speak, I’m sure you know what that’s like,” he said. “It’s like once you find that person, it’s like a baptism, where you’re like, ‘I can’t go back,’ you know what I mean? Like, I don’t, I can’t go back, so, which is what fatherhood’s like too.”
Biel also spoke to Entertainment Tonight, and shared how she knew that Timberlake was the one.
“I knew that he was my person early on, but we were so young,” she said. “There wasn’t any big risks being taken. There wasn’t anything… really putting anything on the line. We were just hanging out. I think before we got married, that’s when I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is the person I want to be in the boat with when we hit the rapids, because we’re going to hit the rapids and we’re going to have to hold on tight. Can you row? Because I can row, I think you can row, let’s try this.’”
Biel added, “It was like that early on in our relationship and when you’re married for the first time you go, ‘Okay. You can’t just jump out of this thing.’”
December 2019
In 2019, pics were leaked of Timberlake holding hands with his Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright, and Us Weekly reported that Biel pushed him to apologize publicly.
“Jessica encouraged Justin to put out his statement on Instagram because she felt embarrassed by his actions and wanted him to take accountability,” a source said. “Jessica was very upset and embarrassed by Justin’s behavior. [But] they are still united, very much together and strong.”
Wainwright’s rep denied anything happened between them, as did he in his statement. He wrote:
I stay away from gossip as much as I can, but for my family, I feel it is important to address recent rumors that are hurting the people I love.
A few weeks ago, I displayed a strong lapse in judgement—but let me be clear—nothing happened between me and my costar. I drank way too much that night and I regret my behavior. I should have known better. This is not the example I want to set for my son. I apologize to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation, and I am focused on being the best husband and father I can be. This was not that. I am incredibly proud to be working on Palmer. Looking forward to continuing to make this movie and excited for people to see it.
July 2020
Before the couple confirmed it, The Daily Mail reported the couple had welcome a second child.
September 2020
A few months later, Timberlake’s former *NSYNC colleague Lance Bass told Entertainment Tonight, “The baby is cute of course; it’s Justin and Jessica!”
While he spilled those beans, he did not reveal the baby’s name, adding, “Justin would kill me!”
Timberlake’s friend and collaborator, Brian McKnight also confirmed the child’s existence in an interview with Hollywood Life.
“Having kids and having his family, I think [Justin] took some time to focus on those things because those things are very important,” he said. “I think if he’s going to do music, he’s going to make sure that that’s secure, and then he’ll bring us into his music. And being inspired! He just had a new baby. I think that’s going to be really inspiring for him and he’ll have some new music based on that, I’m sure.”
January 2021
Timberlake confirmed he had a new baby himself while speaking to Ellen DeGeneres on her former talk show, a son named Phineas.
“He’s awesome and so cute. Nobody’s sleeping,” Timberlake said. “But we’re thrilled. We’re thrilled and couldn’t be happier. Very grateful.”
June 2021
In June, Biel went on Dax Shepard‘s Armchair Expert podcast, and talked about having a baby during lockdown.
“I had, like, a secret COVID baby,” she explained. “It wasn’t like it was supposed to be a secret. It was just COVID happened, and then I went to Montana with my family and never left.”
October 2021
With the pandemic, the couple spent more and more time in Montana and ended up listing their home in the Hollywood Hills home for $35 million.
“They’re rarely in L.A. and are happy to live in Montana,” a source told People. “They also still have a place on the East Coast.”
March 2022
Timberlake posted on Instagram for Biel’s 40th birthday, and wrote on his Story, “Whether it’s laid up on a couch, kicking my ass at the gym or, dressing up at ridiculous costume parties… you make it all look good. I love you and I celebrate you every day.”
Biel revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that her husband threw her a huge birthday party for the milestone birthday and covered a bunch of her favorite songs.
“He’s just my favorite….He threw me such an amazing, amazing party. And he flew his band in and he performed for me,” she gushed. “Look, I will go head-to-head with everybody, but I’m his No. 1 fan. And I mean, who do I want to see on my birthday? It’s him and his band. He’s my favorite.”
She added, “Everything from Feist to Radio Head to Donny Hathaway … it just goes on and on.”
May 2022
During the premiere of her Hulu series Candy, Biel told Entertainment Tonight why her relationship with Timberlake is going strong ten years later.
“It’s a really good question, right?” she said. “Well, I’ll have to give Justin the credit in this moment, for this one thing that he always says to me: ‘We might be married, but we have to keep dating,’ and it’s so true. You just have to keep making time for each other and you have to keep making each other a priority. And do the things that you love together.”
“It’s not always easy, as we all know, but those touch point moments make all the hard times palatable,” she added.
Timberlake even made a cameo in the series as Deputy Steve Deffibaugh, a part he volunteered for after reading the show’s script.
“He said, ‘Oh, who’s playing this character?’ I said, ‘Oh, I don’t know, probably somebody local. We don’t have any money left,’” Biel said. “And he goes, “I want to play it.’”
October 2022
The official anniversary of ten years of marriage was that October, and Timberlake posted, “10 years ain’t enough! You make me a better husband and father every day! I love you so much you beautiful human! Run it back!”
Biel shared a carousel of images as well, writing, “Being married to you is the adventure of a lifetime! Run it back, baby. RUN IT BACK. I love you.”
November 2022
Biel’s post revealed that the couple had a vow renewal ceremony when she reshared it in a Story, writing, “From our wedding vow renewal this summer—in Italy where it all went down.”
She went on Today and described the ceremony as “very intimate” with just a “couple of friends.”
“We almost canceled it,” Biel said. “We thought, ‘This is silly, are we going to feel goofy doing this?’ And actually, it was so moving. I felt like, ‘Wow, we’re going to keep doing this. Look at us!’ It felt really nice.”
She added of her marriage, “It feels so, I don’t know, a combination of incredibly safe and just deep understanding of another person.”
January 2023
Biel celebrated Timberlake’s 42nd birthday, writing, “Happy birthday to the person who challenges and inspires me every day. The person who keeps me laughing and creating and risking it all. The person who makes the ordinary extraordinary. You know who you are. I love you.”
March 2023
Timberlake fêted Biel’s 41st birthday with his own Instagram tribute to her, featuring a carousel of couple pics. “Let me tell y’all about this human… she is the most badass, most graceful, most gorgeous DREAM of a partner I could have ever wished for,” he wrote in his caption. “And today is her bday! I’m so glad you were born, my love. And, I’m so lucky that you are choosing to do this thing called life with me. Aging like a FINE🍷!!!! I love you to the moon and back. —Huz.”
Later that month, on Thursday, March 23, the pair were at the final night of SZA’s SOS Tour in Los Angeles. On his Instagram Stores, Timberlake shared a photo of their tickets to the concert at The Kia Forum, with the words “Date night” over it, even tagging SZA herself. There were also some video shots of them dancing and enjoying themselves during the show.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.