French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are well accustomed to the public eye, but in 2025 they made headlines again after a viral video in May showed Brigitte seemingly shoving the president while they stepped off a plane in Vietnam. Emmanuel quickly dismissed the moment as playful, but it sparked renewed interest in the couple’s relationship.
In July 2025, the Macrons filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in Delaware against conservative commentator Candace Owens, accusing her of spreading a baseless conspiracy that Brigitte was born male as part of a “campaign of defamation” to drive traffic and monetization.
Most recently, a Paris court convicted 10 people of cyberbullying Brigitte for sharing similar false claims online — handing down suspended sentences and awareness training as part of a broader crackdown on malicious misinformation.
Amid renewed focus on France’s First Couple, learn more about them, their relationship, and their 25-year age gap.
Who Is Emmanuel Macron’s Wife?
Emmanuel’s wife, Brigitte, is from the Trogneux family, who owns the successful Chocolaterie Trogneux. The business was founded in the 1800s. Brigitte is the youngest one of six children.
How Old Is Brigitte Macron?
As of January 2026, Brigitte is 72 years old. For Emmanuel’s part, he is 48 years old.
What Is the Age Difference Between Emmanuel & Brigitte Macron?
Emmanuel and Brigitte are nearly 25 years apart in age. She was born on April 13, 1953, and the French president was born on December 21, 1977.
Brigitte was a teacher at Emmanuel’s high school in Amiens. They met when he was 15 years old during a theatre workshop. In France, the age of consent is 15, but Emmanuel’s parents tried to break him and then-39-year-old Brigitte up once they found out about their relationship. After Emmanuel was sent to Paris for his final year of school, he reunited with Brigitte upon graduating. They wed in 2007.
Emmanuel and Brigitte have opened up about the controversy surrounding their age gap over the years. During an interview with the Paris Match in November 2023, the former educator recalled the time when Emmanuel was sent to Paris for school.
“My head was in a mess. … Emmanuel had to leave for Paris,” Brigitte said, according to the New York Post. “I told myself that he would fall in love with someone his [own] age. It didn’t happen.”
Do Emmanuel & Brigitte Macron Have Kids?
No, Emmanuel and Brigitte do not share children of their own, but she is a mother to three kids from a previous marriage. During her 2023 interview with the Paris Match, Brigitte recalled how her kids eventually accepted her relationship with Emmanuel.
“I took time so I would not wreck their lives,” Brigitte explained. “That lasted 10 years, the time to put them on the rails. You can imagine what they were hearing. But I didn’t want to miss out on my life.”
