Annette Roque is a Dutch-born former model and equestrian who spent many years connected to American television personality Matt Lauer. She built a private lifestyle while raising her family away from constant media attention.
She became widely known because of her long marriage to Matt Lauer, former NBC host. Their relationship attracted major attention after marital difficulties, Lauer’s career controversy, separation, and eventual divorce in 2019.
This article explores Annette Roque’s background, modelling career, relationship with Matt Lauer, marriage, children, divorce journey, reported settlement, equestrian interests, and life after their highly publicised separation in detail.
Who Is Annette Roque?
Annette Roque is a former Dutch model and equestrian who became a familiar name through her relationship with Matt Lauer. Before her marriage attracted attention, she had already worked professionally as a model.
Her life changed significantly after meeting Lauer through a blind date in 1997. Their relationship developed quickly, eventually leading to an engagement, marriage, three children, and more than two decades together as husband and wife.
Today, Annette maintains a much quieter lifestyle and remains closely associated with horses and family life. Her divorce settlement and long relationship with Lauer continue to generate considerable public interest.
Annette Roque’s Early Life and Background
Annette Roque was born in the Netherlands and later established herself as a professional model. Her Dutch background remained an important part of her identity even after her life became connected with American television and celebrity culture.
She spent part of her adult life working within the modelling industry. Her appearance and professional work provided opportunities in fashion, although her later marriage eventually brought her considerably more public recognition than her modelling career.
Annette generally preferred privacy instead of building a public celebrity image. Even during the years when her husband appeared regularly on national television, she largely concentrated on her personal interests, children, and home life.
Annette Roque’s Modelling Career
Before becoming known as Matt Lauer’s wife, Annette pursued modelling professionally. Her career allowed her to establish an identity of her own before she entered one of the most discussed celebrity marriages of her generation.
Her modelling background also placed her within social and professional circles where she could eventually meet prominent personalities. However, she gradually became better known for her personal life after beginning her relationship with Lauer.
As the years passed, Annette moved away from being primarily associated with modelling. Family responsibilities and her interest in horses became increasingly important parts of the lifestyle she built outside the entertainment spotlight.
How Annette Roque Met Matt Lauer
Annette Roque and Matt Lauer first met through a blind date in July 1997. At the time, Lauer was building his reputation as an important television personality, while Annette was known professionally as a Dutch-born model.
Their first meeting quickly developed into a serious romantic relationship. Instead of dating for several years before considering marriage, they moved relatively quickly toward making a long-term commitment to each other.
After approximately five months together, Lauer proposed in early 1998. Their fast-moving romance soon became a marriage that would ultimately last for more than twenty years despite several difficult periods along the way.
Annette Roque and Matt Lauer’s Wedding
Annette and Matt married on 3 October 1998. Their wedding ceremony took place at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church in New York, beginning a marriage that would eventually become closely followed by the entertainment media.
At the time, Matt’s television career was continuing to grow. Annette entered a lifestyle that combined family responsibilities with the attention naturally surrounding a husband who was becoming one of American television’s most recognisable personalities.
Despite that visibility, Annette did not attempt to build a comparable media career. She largely remained outside television and concentrated on creating a family life while Matt continued his high-profile professional journey.
Annette Roque’s Children
Annette Roque and Matt Lauer welcomed three children during their marriage. Their first child, son Jack, arrived in June 2001, beginning a new chapter for the couple several years after their wedding.
Their daughter, Romy, was born in October 2003. Three years later, the family expanded again when Annette gave birth to their youngest son, Thijs, in November 2006.
Raising Jack, Romy, and Thijs became an important part of Annette’s life. Even when difficulties emerged within her marriage, protecting the children’s family environment remained an important consideration for both parents.
Annette Roque’s First Divorce Filing
Serious problems within Annette and Matt’s marriage became visible in September 2006. Annette, who was pregnant with their third child at the time, filed for divorce after approximately eight years of marriage.
The divorce filing described significant problems between the couple and included allegations of controlling behaviour and difficult treatment. The situation suggested that their relationship had reached a particularly challenging stage during Annette’s pregnancy.
However, the divorce did not move forward at that time. Approximately three weeks after initiating proceedings, Annette withdrew the papers, allowing the couple to remain married and continue raising their growing family together.
Why Annette Roque Stayed Married After 2006
Following the withdrawal of her divorce filing, Annette and Matt reconciled and continued their marriage. Their youngest son, Thijs, was born in November 2006, shortly after the couple had decided against ending their relationship.
For the following years, they continued appearing together while maintaining their family life. Annette remained relatively private, while Matt continued working in television and became an increasingly prominent figure within American morning broadcasting.
Their reconciliation kept the marriage together for another decade. However, the relationship faced another major crisis in 2017, eventually creating circumstances that led to their permanent separation and later divorce.
What Happened to Annette Roque and Matt Lauer?
The turning point came in November 2017 when NBC dismissed Matt Lauer following allegations concerning inappropriate workplace behaviour. His sudden departure from television created intense public attention around both his professional and personal life.
The controversy also affected his marriage to Annette. During the aftermath, Annette was seen without her wedding ring, while Matt eventually moved away from the family home as their relationship continued deteriorating.
By this stage, their marriage was effectively reaching its end. Although the couple had survived their earlier marital problems, the events surrounding Matt’s departure from television were followed by a permanent breakdown in their relationship.
Their Separation and Division of Assets
By early 2018, Annette and Matt had begun working through the division of their substantial assets. Their property interests included valuable real estate connected to Manhattan and the Hamptons, making their separation financially significant.
The former couple initially remained focused on maintaining stability for their children despite their relationship ending. Their responsibilities as parents continued even as they began establishing independent lives outside their marriage.
Negotiations continued for an extended period before Annette formally moved ahead with divorce proceedings. The process ultimately involved both financial arrangements and decisions concerning valuable property accumulated throughout their lengthy marriage.
Annette Roque’s Divorce
Annette officially filed for divorce from Matt Lauer in Suffolk County, New York, in July 2019. By then, the pair had already spent considerable time separated and working through the practical consequences of ending their marriage.
The divorce was finalised in September 2019, approximately twenty-one years after their October 1998 wedding. Its completion officially closed one of the longest and most complicated chapters of Annette’s public life.
Although their marriage had ended, their shared responsibilities did not disappear. With three children together, Annette and Matt remained connected as parents even while moving forward with separate personal lives.
Annette Roque’s $20 Million Divorce Settlement
One of the most discussed aspects of the divorce was Annette Roque’s reported financial settlement. She reportedly received assets valued at approximately $20 million following the conclusion of her long marriage to Matt Lauer.
The settlement reportedly included the family’s horse farm in Water Mill. The property was particularly relevant to Annette because horses and equestrian life had become an important part of her interests and lifestyle.
The substantial settlement reflected the considerable assets involved in the marriage. It also gave Annette greater independence as she began building a new chapter following more than two decades as Matt Lauer’s wife.
Annette Roque’s Equestrian Life
Horses have played an important role in Annette’s life outside modelling and celebrity attention. Her equestrian interests became especially notable through the family’s horse property located in Water Mill in the Hamptons.
The horse farm reportedly became part of Annette’s divorce settlement. This allowed her to maintain a lifestyle connected to an interest that had become personally meaningful beyond her former husband’s television career.
Her association with equestrian life also reflects her preference for a more private environment. Instead of pursuing television appearances or constant celebrity exposure, she has generally maintained a lifestyle centred around family and personal interests.
Annette Roque and Matt Lauer’s Relationship After Divorce
Divorce formally ended their marriage, but Annette and Matt remained connected through their three children. Their relationship after separation developed around parenting rather than attempting to rebuild their former romantic partnership.
They have maintained a functional co-parenting arrangement while continuing their separate lives. Matt has remained involved with Jack, Romy, and Thijs, while Annette has continued prioritising family stability and privacy.
Years after their divorce, their shared children remain the strongest connection between them. Their ability to maintain a workable parenting relationship has allowed the family to move beyond the intense attention surrounding their separation.
Did Annette Roque Remarry?
Annette Roque has maintained a particularly private personal life following her divorce. There has been no widely reported remarriage since her marriage to Matt Lauer officially ended in September 2019.
Instead, Annette appears to have concentrated on family, her equestrian interests, and life outside celebrity culture. This quieter approach is consistent with the privacy she maintained during much of her marriage.
Her relationship status continues to attract curiosity because of Matt Lauer’s fame. However, Annette has not transformed her post-divorce life into a public story or pursued regular attention through entertainment media.
Where Is Annette Roque Now?
Annette Roque continues to live a largely private life associated with the Hamptons. Her connection to the Water Mill equestrian property has remained one of the most notable details concerning her life following the divorce.
She has also continued sharing parental responsibilities with Matt for their three children. Rather than regularly discussing their former marriage, Annette has generally remained outside the public conversation surrounding her ex-husband.
Her present lifestyle represents a significant contrast with the attention that surrounded the final years of her marriage. She now appears focused primarily on family, privacy, and the personal interests she developed over the years.
Annette Roque’s Net Worth and Financial Life
Annette’s exact personal net worth is difficult to separate from the assets associated with her divorce. The most prominent financial figure connected with her is the approximately $20 million settlement reportedly reached when the marriage ended.
That arrangement also reportedly involved valuable real estate, including the Water Mill horse farm. These assets provided Annette with substantial financial resources following the end of her twenty-one-year marriage to Matt Lauer.
Her earlier modelling work also formed part of her independent professional background. However, the divorce settlement remains the financial detail most strongly associated with Annette when discussing her wealth and post-marriage lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
Annette Roque’s story extends beyond being Matt Lauer’s former wife. She began her professional life as a Dutch-born model and later devoted much of her attention to family and equestrian interests.
Her marriage experienced reconciliation, public controversy, separation, and eventually divorce after more than two decades. The reported $20 million settlement and Water Mill horse farm became significant parts of her post-marriage financial life.
Today, Annette continues to maintain the privacy she has preferred for many years. Her three children, equestrian lifestyle, and quiet life in the Hamptons remain central parts of her story after divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Annette Roque?
Annette Roque is a Dutch-born former model and equestrian. She became widely known through her long marriage to former NBC television host Matt Lauer, with whom she shares three children.
Why did Annette Roque and Matt Lauer divorce?
Their marriage faced difficulties for many years, including Annette’s earlier divorce filing in 2006. Their relationship eventually broke down permanently following the controversy surrounding Matt Lauer’s dismissal from NBC in November 2017.
How much did Annette Roque receive from Matt Lauer?
Annette reportedly received a divorce settlement valued at approximately $20 million. The arrangement also reportedly included significant assets, including the former couple’s horse farm located in Water Mill.
How many children do Annette Roque and Matt Lauer have?
Annette and Matt have three children together. Their son Jack was born in 2001, their daughter Romy arrived in 2003, and their youngest son, Thijs, was born in 2006.
Where is Annette Roque now
Annette maintains a private lifestyle connected with the Hamptons and her equestrian interests. She also continues sharing parenting responsibilities with Matt while largely remaining outside the entertainment spotlight.
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