Despite a handful of dinner outings and one steamy Saint Tropez getaway, Reese Witherspoon has kept her romance with German financier Oliver Haarmann out of the Hollywood spotlight.
Indeed, keeping her personal life away from public view, according to insiders, is part of the reason she initially fell for the 58-year-old businessman.
‘She loves what she does but not the fame side of things and wants to keep her private life private,’ one source told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s a huge reason for why she didn’t want to date someone famous.’
A second source agreed that Witherspoon, 50, ‘needed someone who wasn’t in the film industry.’
‘Reese is also very difficult to deal with as it is, since it’s either her way or the highway. That’s in Hollywood, that’s with friendships and especially that is what happens in her relationships,’ they said.
‘Oliver not being in the film industry was a major plus because he could never outstage her when they are out and about during any Hollywood events or meetups.’
Keeping her personal life away from the public’s prying eyes, according to insiders, is part of the reason Witherspoon, 50, initially fell for the 58-year-old businessman
The pair were spotted soaking up the sun on a yacht during a Saint Tropez getaway last summer
In fact, a third insider said that Witherspoon wishes to keep her relationship more private ‘than her pal Jennifer Aniston,’ who is notoriously tight-lipped about her romance with hypnotist Jim Curtis. And, they added, Witherspoon ‘knows that Oliver is a private man, so she respects him wanting to stay out of the spotlight.’
Haarmann, a former partner at global investment giant KKR, co-founded Searchlight Capital Partners and has built a staggering fortune. Also a minority co-owner of the NHL’s New York Islanders, he is estimated to be worth around $440 million, with $10 billion in assets under management.
He was initially linked to Witherspoon two years ago after the actress’ shock 2023 split from talent agent Jim Toth, with whom she shares son Tennessee, 13. She also had two older children – daughter Ava, 26, and son Deacon, 23 – with actor Ryan Phillippe, whom she divorced in 2006 after seven years of marriage.
After first being spotted together July 2024, arriving via helicopter to New York City where they enjoyed a cozy dinner at L’Artusi, Witherspoon and Haarmann’s romance has quickly heated up. The following summer the couple was spotting packing on the PDA aboard a sun-soaked yacht in Saint Tropez.
‘It also doesn’t hurt that he is worth hundreds of millions of dollars,’ the second source added. ‘She likes that he is a Hollywood outsider but also very successful in his own right. That made things a lot easier for her to fall in love.’
But don’t expect wedding bells anytime soon.
‘Reese has told those close to her that she does not want to get married again, but of course that could change,’ our first source said. ‘She didn’t try to meet anyone after Jim as she had a hard time after her divorce from him. She tried everything to make that marriage work.’
Witherspoon and Toth announced their split in 2023
Witherspoon filed for divorce from Phillippe in 2006. It was finalized two years later
Haarmann was previously married to Mala Goankar
Witherspoon filed for divorce from Toth in April 2023, just days after marking her 12th wedding anniversary.
‘It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,’ the pair said in a joint statement at the time.
‘We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together,’ it continued.
‘Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter.’
It marked Witherspoon’s second divorce, having already been married once before to actor Phillippe. Their seven-year marriage came to an end in October 2006 amid rumors of infidelity on Phillippe’s part, which he has denied. The actress filed for divorce a month after announcing their split, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’
At the time that they wed, she was still an up-and-coming actress, while Phillippe had already earned Hollywood heartthrob status after starring in the 1997 blockbuster slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer. By 2006, Witherspoon’s star power had eclipsed Phillippe’s, thanks to Legally Blonde (2001) and her Oscar-winning role in Walk the Line (2005).
With no prenup and both residing in California, her fortune likely took a hit, as state law requires earnings made during the marriage to be split 50/50.
The divorce was finalized in June 2008, with joint custody of their children.
Haarmann, too, is no stranger to the difficulties of divorce. He was previously married to financier Mala Gaonkar, with whom he shares two sons.
‘It’s been talked about, but it is not a necessity for them to get married. They’ve done it, so they don’t want to ruin a good thing that they have by getting married just to get married,’ our second source said.
‘They are adults, committed to each other; they don’t need a piece of paper to show their bond. It could happen down the line; it has been talked about, but it is not imminent. But that shouldn’t be looked at as a negative.’
Witherspoon is, however, embracing a new chapter in her life – one that could see her uprooted from Nashville.
A third insider said that Witherspoon wishes to keep her relationship more private ‘than her pal Jennifer Aniston,’ who is dating hypnotist Jim Curtis
‘They are adults, committed to each other; they don’t need a piece of paper to show their bond. It could happen down the line; it has been talked about, but it is not imminent,’ our second source said
‘Reese is definitely a changed woman,’ the third source told the Daily Mail. ‘And it’s not just because of her boyfriend Oliver. She used to just want this nice, peaceful life in Nashville, but now, it’s like everything’s changed, and the rumor in town is that she wants to have a place in New York City.’
Since her divorce, the source continued, Witherspoon has been taking on different projects, traveling more and trying new experiences, giving her a fresh perspective on life.
Though, the insider added, Witherspoon typically won’t be seen out on the town.’She’s more a homebody and enjoys staying in with her man. She’s not normally out and about in Nashville,’ the source said. ‘She seems to value date nights at home, which can be just as romantic, and really treasures any quiet and alone time she can get with Oliver since she does have a busy schedule.’
But with her son Deacon studying in the Big Apple and Haarmann also based there, moving would make perfect sense.
‘She’s expressed wanting to be close to her son and also close to her boyfriend who lives and works there,’ the insider added. ‘It’s a new chapter of her life – especially having just turned the big 50 – and she’s in a good place, very happy and excited about what the future holds.’
And her inner circle is firmly in her corner.
‘Friends are happy for her, she seems to be having a good time with him, they do their own thing on their own time and Oliver has never shown himself to be a problem,’ our second source said.
‘She doesn’t complain about him, so far so good.’
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