“Is He Your Grandpa?” The Rude Question Salma Hayek Keeps Hearing

When Salma Hayek married French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, the public had plenty to say. Whispers quickly turned into headlines, and one phrase echoed louder than the rest: “You only married him for the money.” But the truth behind their relationship tells a very different story.

How the couple met.

Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault first met at a 2006 gala at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, Italy. Even though they had seen each other at different events before, it was that night in Venice where they really got to talk and connect.

Salma has kept the details of their first meeting private but has hinted that it was a whirlwind romance. They spent the whole night chatting and quickly fell for each other. For them, having the same outlook on life was crucial. Soon after, they started dating, which was the beginning of their lasting relationship.

Their marriage was arranged.

Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault got engaged in 2007 and tied the knot in 2009. The delay was due to Hayek’s fear of marriage. After several failed attempts to set a date, Pinault came up with a plan.

Salma says, “I didn’t even know I was getting married that day. They dragged me to the court. I was nervous. My MIL had already been doing the lunch. I had no choice.” Hayek finally married Pinault, and later even agreed to a much bigger celebration.

People were skeptical.

There have been rumors that Salma Hayek married billionaire François-Henri Pinault just because he’s rich, some even call her a gold digger.

Salma says, “When I married him, everybody said, ’Oh, it’s an arranged marriage. She married him for the money.’ I’m like, ’Yeah, whatever. Think what you want.’ And we are strong in love, and I don’t even get offended.”

Moreover, people often comment on the couple’s appearance, discussing how François looks much older than Salma. Someone even dared to ask, “Is he your grandpa?” or “Is he your dad?”

Even though it may appear that Francois-Henri is significantly older than Salma, the truth is that the age difference is only 4 years. Salma is 58 and was born in 1966, while her husband is 62 and was born in 1962. So he is neither her “dad” nor her “grandpa.”

The couple proved everyone wrong.

While the start of their love story is a bit of a mystery, their bond has always been strong. Salma is very close to Pinault’s kids from his previous relationships. Even though she wanted many children, she couldn’t have any more after having her daughter at 41.

Salma often says, “The huge blessing I’ve had is that my husband has three other children. So I have four. And they are all so different.”

It’s no surprise that people think Salma Hayek is younger than she actually is. She has a remarkably youthful appearance and isn’t shy about showing off her figure, often posting bikini photos with confidence.