A Timeline Of Pamela Anderson's Relationships
Pamela Anderson is arguably the most adaptable personality in Hollywood. Hailing from a small town in Canada, she leveraged her budding Playboy platform into a career that's spanned over 30 years. No one can pull off a barbed-wire tattoo quite like her, either.
She's had an incredible transformation over the years, but her life has had its tragic side too. Tragedy seems to either toughen people or soften them; in Anderson's case, she's kept the gentleness she's had since she first embarked on her career. Despite the pencil-thin eyebrows and the barbed wire, she's a romantic at heart. "Love is the most important thing in the world," she told W Magazine magazine in 2017. "Everything else is meaningless, really."
This is the same mantra she has used to teach her sons, Dylan Jagger and Brandon Thomas Lee, whom she shares with her ex, Tommy Lee. She told W Magazine the exact advice she gives them: "Just be themselves, work on their craft, be passionate, and that there are no rules." Anderson added, "You do what you want to do." She has always been a woman who has done what she wanted to do and this, in large part, explains her longevity in the cultural zeitgeist — and we respect her for it. And she wouldn't be a romantic or a free spirit without an interesting relationship history that speaks to her resiliency and optimism.
Tommy Lee enters the picture
Before marrying Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, drummer and founder of Mötley Crüe, was married to model Elaine Starchuk from 1984-1985, according to Us Weekly, and actress Heather Locklear from 1986-1993.
But in 1994, Lee met Anderson at a bar called Sanctuary in Los Angeles, per E! News. Six weeks later, they jetted off for an impromptu trip to Cancun. Only four days later, on Feb. 19, 1995, they got married and, as Lee said in an excerpt of Mötley Crüe's autobiography "The Dirt," they got tattoos on each other's ring fingers instead of bands (via Rolling Stone). Anderson and Lee returned to California and she joined Lee at his Malibu home. Anderson suffered a miscarriage, but later they had son Brandon Thomas Lee in 1996. After filing for divorce and then reconciling, Anderson and Lee welcomed their second child, Dylan Jagger Lee, in 1997.
Despite starting a family, Anderson and Lee were facing hardships in their marriage, and Lee admitted in "The Dirt" that he played a part in their relationship's decline. "I turned into a whiny, needy little brat," Lee said, frustrated at how their children diverted her attention. "Maybe it was my way of becoming Pamela's third child, so I'd get the attention I needed, too. Now, all of a sudden, Pamela and I were arguing all the time. Our relationship had slowly degenerated from pure love to love/hate." In 1998, he spent four months in jail for spousal battery, and Anderson filed for divorce.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Their sex tape scandal
As if marriage and family life wasn't hard enough, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee faced a huge challenge with the theft and distribution of a sex tape that they had made while on vacation. As Lee wrote in "The Dirt:" "We weren't trying to make a porno, just to document our vacation" (via Rolling Stone). They hid it in their safe and didn't notice that the safe was missing until months later.
Lee figured it was someone who had worked in a construction project on their home. "The only people with the keys were my assistant and the construction crew, which, come to think of it, included an electrician who used to be a porn star and knew that business pretty well," he wrote.
Sure enough, their private tape had been sold and when they got their lawyers involved, the tape seemed to jump from one person to another like a hot potato. "They filed a $10 million lawsuit to try and stop whomever from profiting from it in any way," E! News explains, but the video took on a life of its own. In 1997, they signed the copyrights to Seth Warshavsky, the founder of Club Love, but later sued him, claiming that they were tricked while he made tons of money off of it. By the time the courts finally made Warshavsky pay up, his company was defunct, and Anderson and Lee made no money off of it.
What Pamela Anderson thinks of the Pam & Tommy Hulu series
As continuous cultural icons, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee inspired a Hulu series called "Pam & Tommy," streaming on Feb. 2, 2022. The major premise of the series focuses on the theft of their sex tape and the subsequent fallout, including the toll it took on their marriage. Sebastian Stan plays Lee, while Lily James plays Anderson.
While James' performance of the "Baywatch" icon has been lauded as excellent, per the Daily Mail, Anderson herself isn't happy about the new portrayal of her marriage. To make matters worse, she never even approved of the show being made in the first place. "The upcoming Pam & Tommy Hulu series has been very painful for Pamela Anderson and for anyone that loves her," an insider told ET. "It is shocking that this series is allowed to happen without her approval."
Shocking indeed, and the travesty comes as a double-invasion of her privacy and autonomy: It's a series about her that she didn't authorize, which chronicles the theft of a sex tape she made with her husband with the expectation that no one would see it. You don't put something in a safe if you're hoping it'll get leaked! "Pamela has no regrets about her life," the ET insider added, "but the only thing she would probably erase is this burglary. She feels so violated to this day. It brings back a very painful time for her."
Marcus Schenkenberg's short engagement to Pamela Anderson
After her divorce from Tommy Lee, Pamela Anderson moved on with Swedish model Marcus Schenkenberg. Anderson's new beau moved to New York City in 1991, and was the highest paid male model in the world at the time. Schenkenberg was a major name, modeling for Versace, Calvin Klein, and even Iceberg, for whom he modeled with Anderson.
Anderson was an outspoken advocate for PETA at this point in her fame, and allegedly Schenkenberg caught her attention (and approval) by "saving a bird from a Monaco toilet," according to ABC News. The couple was largely secretive during their relationship, but Us Weekly notes that they were engaged from 2000 to 2001. No doubt after having a tape stolen from her home, Anderson felt more comfortable keeping things private.
Despite their split, Anderson's publicist told ABC News in 2001 that she and Schenkenberg stayed on good terms. The amiability seems to remain, as Schenkenberg shared a photo on Instagram in January 2018 of himself and Anderson with friends. In 2013, Schenkenberg also posted a throwback photo of himself and Anderson on the beach in a shoot for Vanity Fair, so clearly there's good vibes between the two.
Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson's bumpy start
Another major media moment came with Pamela Anderson's relationship with Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie. The two started hanging out in 2001 but had a rocky start. They got engaged in 2002 but called things off in 2003, according to Us Weekly, but they came back into each other's orbits and in 2006, they tied the knot on a yacht just off the coast of St. Tropez, France.
They parented Anderson's two children and Kid Rock's son, Bob Jr., together, according to CBS News, at his Malibu home. However, from the get-go, they had issues. At least, that's what Kid Rock later said on the "Howard Stern Show." Anderson didn't trust Kid Rock's son, and didn't like him around her boys, thinking that he might hurt them, even though the boys got along well, according to him (via Today). But money was also an issue. Kid Rock alleged that Anderson was hard up, telling Stern that Anderson spent his money freely and also wasn't happy with his house. "If we don't fix this house, I'll throw up," she allegedly said, according to Kid Rock.
Things took a major turn when Anderson was working in Vancouver and Anderson wanted Kid Rock to come up and see her. He had tickets to a Lakers game, he told Rolling Stone, and she said, "I just had a miscarriage," and hung up the phone. Anderson filed for divorce shortly after.
How Borat played a role in their marriage
While it seems longer, Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock were only technically married for four months. Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat" came out in 2006 and Anderson had a cameo in the film and was part of the central theme of the comedy. Anderson knew what was coming in the movie, though. "She was the only person in on that movie, yes," Baron Cohen told the Daily Beast. But rumors circulated that the movie was the reason for her subsequent divorce from Kid Rock.
Baron Cohen said he texted Anderson to ask her what her then-husband thought of the movie: "How did it go? What did he think?" She texted back that they would soon be divorced and when he asked why, she said: "The movie." He added, "And I thought it was a joke but then a few weeks later they got divorced and they put as a reason for divorce, 'Borat.'"
Whether this was the real reason, Anderson and Kid Rock did divorce in 2007, and they never spoke again, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Her main concern was the welfare of her children. "I'm very concerned with the press," she said in a statement, according to CBS News. "I know I have people who want to defend me or people who want to defend [Kid Rock], but my children can read — and I'd like to resolve this amicably — not fueling fires — and with dignity." Kid Rock did spill some dirt in interviews, but that's history.
Rick Salomon and Pamela Anderson's brief first marriage
Hot on the heels of her split from Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson married poker player Rick Salomon, who was famous for previously leaking a sex tape with Paris Hilton in 2001, according to Page Six, which blew up the world almost as much as Anderson's tape theft. Anderson was reluctant to dish out all the details about her new relationship, and when she appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2007, she said that she was engaged but said only that the man she was dating was a poker player, per the BBC.
Anderson and Salomon married in October 2007 at The Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, according to Us Weekly. However, by December of that same year they had parted ways, and Anderson sought an annulment rather than a divorce, as USA Today points out, on the grounds of fraud. The outlet also noted that Anderson requested that the court not "award spousal support," and she wished their assets to be kept "separate." In addition, Anderson wanted "a retired judge" to manage the annulment affairs, which is an advantage for A-lister splits, because it means the details of the split are handled out of court and therefore are less accessible to the public.
Rick Salomon strikes again!
Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon gave love another try in 2013, and they married in January 2014. "We're very happy," Anderson told E! News at the time. "Our families are very happy and that's all that matters." When Anderson appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2013, she explained that Salomon was back in the picture. "I say we're best friends ... with benefits," she said, (via E! News). "You keep going back to the same guys," DeGeneres teased her. "You're married, then you go back." Anderson took it in stride and said, "It's recycling!" She added, "No, I'm very happy. We're happy. He's a great guy."
However, by July of 2014, they had separated, and the divorce was heated and unpleasant. Anderson received a restraining order against Salomon in March 2015, TMZ reported. She claimed that he became cruel when he lost a poker game. Anderson said she was "scared of what he is capable of doing to me," according to People.
With such an acrimonious split, it's unsurprising that the relationship itself would have been stressful. She told W Magazine of her second marriage to Salomon: "I look back at pictures of myself when I was in this awful relationship, and I looked 20 years older." Anderson added, "I know it sounds like a cliché, but happiness has a lot to do with beauty. Calm, peacefulness and not-constant stress are very, very important to feeling beautiful." So it's safe to say Anderson was relieved to be out of that situation.
Adil Rami kissed and told
Pamela Anderson switched gears in 2017 and began dating French soccer player Adil Rami. Apparently, the relationship was hot and heavy, and Rami occasionally boasted to his team mates about his trysts with Anderson. Former teammate Aleksandr Kokorin spilled the details in a YouTube video, claiming that "everybody was interested in what their relationship was like in bed," (via The Sun US). Kokorin added, "Rami said that Pamela was the best woman he'd had in his life." But this wasn't all. "He said that he and Pamela used to have sex 12 times a night," Kokorin added.
While things may have burned hot, the relationship ended abruptly in 2019 when Anderson posted an Instagram claiming that Rami had been unfaithful. "The last (more than) 2 years of my life have been a big lie," Anderson wrote, saying that she thought they had a "great love" but this proved to be false. "I was scammed." She claimed that Rami "was living a double life." Anderson then added, "He lied to [us] all. How is it possible to control 2 women's hearts and minds like this — I'm sure there were others. He is the monster."
Anderson accused Rami of violence but the soccer player addressed these claims with the French outlet Le Figaro and said, "I know what you wanted to do by accusing me of that. When someone speaks first on social media, they feel like they are telling the absolute truth," (via The Sun). Clearly, they weren't going to stay friends.
Pamela Anderson marries a man she dated 30 years before: Jon Peters
After the tumultuous relationship with Adil Rami, Pamela Anderson decided to go back to a man she had dated in the 1980s, producer Jon Peters. They had connected several decades prior when Anderson first moved to Los Angeles from Canada. "I walked in and saw this little angel sitting at the bar. It was Pammy. She was like 19," he told The Hollywood Reporter. The two married in January 2020 in Malibu, and it was the fifth wedding for both of them.
Peters was by all accounts delighted with the situation. "Pamela has never seen her full potential as an artist. She has yet to shine in a real way," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "There is much more to her than meets the eye, or I wouldn't love her so much. There are beautiful girls everywhere. I could have my pick, but — for 35 years — I've only wanted Pamela. She makes me wild — in a good way. She inspires me. I protect her and treat her the way she deserves to be treated."
"They love each other very much. It's a great Hollywood romance," Anderson's publicist told the Los Angeles Times. Despite the cheerful tone of the day, their marriage lasted only 12 days. Anderson didn't end up counting it as an actual marriage and wrote in a statement: "No hard feelings — no Marriage, no Divorce ... just a bizarre theatrical lunch." So that's that!
Pamela Anderson marries Dan Hayhurst, her bodyguard
In December 2020, Pamela Anderson announced that she had married fellow Canadian Dan Hayhurst, who happened to be her bodyguard. He actually hailed from the same town Anderson did in British Columbia, and the two got close during the coronavirus lockdown. Anderson returned to Ladysmith on Vancouver Island at the start of the pandemic, and it was here that she connected with Hayhurst, according to the Hollywood Life.
She told the Daily Mail: "I'm exactly where I need to be — in the arms of a man who truly loves me." They married on Christmas Eve on a property previously owned by her grandparents, so the wedding was both traditional and nostalgic. "I was married on the property I bought from my grandparents 25 years ago, this is where my parents were married and they are still together," Anderson said. "I feel like I've come full circle." Hayhurst, conveniently, is a builder and a handyman, so he helped Anderson renovate the property.
Friends were all over the simple ceremony. "Pamela fell in love with the boy next door," a friend told the outlet. "This is who she would have ended up with if she never left Vancouver Island." However, in January 2022, Anderson filed for divorce from Hayhurst after one year of marriage. So maybe the small town vibe wasn't her scene after all.
Pamela Anderson's resiliency
With a long, adventurous road, including many relationships and marriages, Pamela Anderson seems indestructible in the face of disappointment and loss. If we've learned anything about Anderson, it's that she'll fearlessly do what she wants, and that includes following her bliss when it comes to relationships. So do the divorces and separations wear her down? An insider explained to People that this isn't the case. "Pam loves weddings. The divorces aren't that hard to her," they said.
"She's very quick to pull the trigger," the source added. "How quick is she to undo the trigger? She realizes things weren't meant to be. She's a very huge Anaïs Nin fan. She has every one of the books. They're a lot about sexuality and the ebbs and flows of it. She flows right into it and she flows right out of it."
In fact, Jon Peters spoke about her courage and shrewdness, but also the undeniable allure she's always had. Speaking of Anderson at 19, Peters told The Hollywood Reporter: "Of course, [Hugh] Hefner loved her and saw her beauty. Pamela was a girl who with no makeup was gorgeous. She was very smart and very talented. I tried to talk her out of doing 'Playboy'. I said, 'Don't do 'Playboy'. Focus on a serious career.' She said, 'You're nuts.' She wanted to do 'Playboy,' and she went on to do 13 covers." Anderson's obviously got nine lives, and no one's going to stop her from living them!