Jennifer Siebel Newsom isn’t just the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom—she’s a force of nature in her own right. Born on June 19, 1974, in San Francisco, Jennifer grew up in the affluent suburb of Ross, Marin County, alongside her three younger sisters. But her early life wasn’t all privilege and ease. At just six years old, she experienced a tragedy that shaped her forever. Her older sister, Stacey, died in a freak accident involving a golf cart while the family was on vacation in Hawaii. Jennifer, who was present at the time, carried guilt for years, later saying, “I tried to be two people, be perfect, because I didn’t feel like I was enough.”
Determined to make something of herself, she threw herself into academics and sports, excelling at the prestigious Branson School. She played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis, eventually earning a spot on the junior national soccer team. But fate had other plans. A serious leg injury during a match against France ended her soccer career before she even started college.
Instead, she pivoted toward academics, graduating with honors from Stanford University in 1996 with a degree in Latin American studies and a minor in human biology. She later earned an MBA from Stanford Business School in 2001, partly to please her family but also because she envisioned leading a global environmental organization.
Who Is Gavin Newsom’s Wife, Jennifer Siebel?
Before she became a filmmaker and advocate, Jennifer spent years traveling the world. At 12, a family trip to Kenya and Tanzania exposed her to the stark realities of poverty, igniting a passion for social justice. She later worked in the rainforests of Costa Rica as a teenager, volunteered in Ecuadorian hospitals, and collaborated with Conservation International in Washington, D.C., Africa, Latin America, and Europe. She helped women start environmentally sustainable businesses and even worked on transnational conservation projects in Africa.
But Hollywood called. While working toward her MBA, Jennifer took acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater to improve her public speaking skills. She got hooked. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go into the entertainment industry because the media has so much power to effect cultural change and to move hearts and minds,’” she later recalled. After finishing her MBA, she packed her bags and moved to Los Angeles, landing small roles in shows like Mad Men, Numbers, and Life, as well as the film Rent. In the mid-2000s, she even dated George Clooney briefly—yes, that George Clooney.
Then came Gavin Newsom. In October 2006, Jennifer was set up on a blind date with the then-Mayor of San Francisco (who had recently divorced Kimberly Guilfoyle) by mutual friend Kathy Wilsey. At the time, she knew little about him beyond his high-profile position. Their first date was at the annual Artists Ball at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and sparks flew. “We had so much in common, we were blown away—from our love for Africa to our interests in political issues to art and the wine business and college sports,” Jennifer later said.
But their relationship wasn’t smooth sailing. Just days after their first date, Newsom was in the headlines for allegedly dating a 20-year-old woman—an accusation he denied. A few months later, in early 2007, news broke that he had previously had an affair with his appointment secretary, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the wife of his campaign manager. It was a scandal. Jennifer, however, stood by him.
How Many Kids Do Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Have?
By late 2007, things had settled down, and during a vacation in Hawaii, Newsom proposed. On July 26, 2008, they married at Jennifer’s parents’ ranch in Stevensville, Montana. Over the years, they built a family, welcoming four children: Montana (2009), Hunter (2011), Brooklynn (2013), and Dutch (2016). As Newsom’s political career soared—from Mayor of San Francisco to Lieutenant Governor of California to Governor—Jennifer carved her own path.
She founded Girls Club Entertainment, a production company focused on films about social change. In 2011, she released Miss Representation, a documentary that examined sexism in media. It premiered at Sundance, received widespread acclaim, and led to the launch of The Representation Project, a nonprofit that works to challenge gender stereotypes. Her follow-up films—The Mask You Live In (2015), The Great American Lie (2019), and Fair Play (2022)—all tackled themes of gender inequality.
In 2017, as the #MeToo movement gained traction, Jennifer revealed she was one of Harvey Weinstein’s victims. She later testified against him in court, describing the experience as “horrific.” Despite the grueling cross-examination, she stood firm, advocating for survivors and calling out misogyny in Hollywood and beyond.
When Gavin Newsom became Governor in 2018, Jennifer rejected the title of First Lady, instead calling herself the “First Partner” to emphasize equality in relationships. She has used her platform to push for policy changes supporting women, survivors of violence, and gender equity. She’s championed initiatives on family-friendly workplace policies, closing the wage gap, and funding for women’s health. As she put it, “I want California to be that shining light on the hill… a place where we’ve achieved equity.”
Jennifer Siebel Newsom is much more than the governor’s wife. She’s a filmmaker, activist, entrepreneur, and survivor who has spent her life fighting for change. And, as she’s proven time and again, she’s just getting started.
