Ina Garten And Jeffrey Just Revealed The Secret To Their 55-Year Marriage (2024)

Ina Garten And Jeffrey Just Revealed The Secret To Their 55-Year Marriage (1)Ina Garten And Jeffrey Just Revealed The Secret To Their 55-Year Marriage (2)

Ina Garten and husband Jeffrey celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on Friday by playing the "Not the Newlyweds" game to see how well they know each other.

"When Jeffrey and I were first married I asked him, 'What do you want for your life?' He replied, 'I want to be a good husband.' I’d say you nailed that," the Barefoot Contessa wrote on Instagram, before the couple launched into their twist on the iconic newlyweds game.

The couple, who tied the knot back in 1968, effortlessly matched each answer when asked who noticed the other one first (Jeffrey spotted Ina) and what they ate on their first date (coffee. Just coffee).

"I wasn’t old enough to have a drink!" Ina joked. Jeffrey added, "We tried but you didn’t have an ID!"

While the pair wasn't in sync on every answer—like Jeffrey's least favorite food, which he revealed as Ina's "really bad" fish stew—nearly everything else was a match. Jeffrey correctly guessed Ina's "basic life philosophy" as having "fun" while Ina almost hit the nail on the head with Jeffrey's basic life philosophy. She answered "happy wife happy life" and he said "Love Ina." *Cue the awwwwws*

Now, as for their secret to a "long marriage" (55 years!), Ina answered "marry Jeffrey." And he said "love [Ina] to death."

"I'd say that's a pretty good secret," she said before sweetly kissing her hubby on the cheek.

According to PEOPLE, the pair first met when Jeffrey spotted Ina out the library windows and told his roommate at the time, "Look at that girl, isn't she beautiful?" Serendipitously, the roommate just so happened to know Ina's brother.

"He saw me on the street and then sent me a letter with a photograph of himself in it," Ina told the outlet of their introduction. "I just remember running through the house and going, ‘Mom, Mom, you’ve got to see this picture of this guy. He’s so cute!'"

Six months after he first spotted Ina, the couple went on their first date.

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Ina Garten And Jeffrey Just Revealed The Secret To Their 55-Year Marriage (2024)

FAQs

Why did Ina and Jeffrey Garten not have children? ›

"I just had a terrible childhood, and it was nothing I wanted to recreate," she explained, saying her decision "wasn't a struggle at all." "I think Jeffrey would have been a great parent," she continued. "He would have really loved having children. But, he wanted me to be happy, and it was OK with him."

What does Ina Garten's husband Jeffrey do? ›

Currently, Jeffrey serves as the Dean Emeritus at the Yale School of Management and teaches courses on the global economy. According to his faculty page, prior to joining Yale, he worked for multiple White House administrations, served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and was a managing director on Wall Street.

Did Jeffrey Garten retire? ›

Garten. Jeffrey E. Garten was dean of the school from November 1995 to June 2005 and has been teaching at the school since he stepped down.

How much is Ina Garten's husband worth? ›

Ina husband, Jeffrey, is also a financial powerhouse. According to Celebritynetworth.com, Jeffrey is worth $100 million, mostly thanks to his former jobs as managing director of Lehman Brothers and Blackstone Group.

Did Ina and Jeffrey get divorced? ›

The Food Network star and her husband have been married for over 50 years. Ina Garten, 76, has called her husband Jeffrey Garten the "love of my life" — and he seems to feel the exact same way.

Did Ina Garten have an unhappy childhood? ›

"I had a terrible childhood, and it was nothing I wanted to recreate. I think now looking back, I see my friends with their children and I understand what it could be, but when I was 20, I didn't want anything to do with it ... Maybe because when I was a kid, I didn't have any choices.

Is Ina Garten Catholic? ›

Garten is Jewish by birth and heritage, as is her husband, but rarely refers to her religion and ethnicity, though they are showcased through the inclusion of classic Jewish cooking in her television show and cookbooks, when she makes such dishes as rugelach, challah, and brisket.

What ethnicity is Jeffrey Garten? ›

Garten was born to a Jewish family. He is the son of Ruth (née Engelman) and Melvin Garten. His father fought in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam; and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1953 for his heroism in Korea's Battle of Pork Chop Hill.

How rich is Ina Garten? ›

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ina Garten's net worth in 2024 is estimated at $60 million. When combined with that of her husband Jeffrey, that amount is estimated at a whopping $120 million.

Is Ina Garten a chef or a cook? ›

Her fame may be relatively quiet — she doesn't have a line of cookware, there isn't a namesake restaurant — but make no mistake: Ina Garten is a powerhouse celeb chef. Fans know her story well: From a White House budget analyst to specialty food-store owner, her path to stardom has been slow and steady.

Is Ina Garten leaving Food Network? ›

Barefoot Contessa hasn't produced new episodes since 2021, and anyone who still has cable knows that Food Network doesn't show Garten's TV shows as often as we'd like. However, Garten recently announced that she's working on new episodes for the cooking network.

Does Ina Garten still own Barefoot Contessa? ›

Garten. Barefoot Contessa, her famous store, was located where Rag & Bone now operates. Barefoot Contessa closed permanently in 2004, but Ms. Garten still owns the building.

Does Ina Garten cook in her own home? ›

Several years ago, Garten built a second kitchen in a barn on her property so she could have somewhere to film episodes of Barefoot Contessa (she told Oprah Daily all about it in 2021). But Garten's home kitchen, where she still cooks meals for friends and family, has remained untouched for 25 years—at least until now.

What ethnicity is Ina Garten? ›

Born Ina Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, Garten was one of two children born to Charles H. Rosenberg, a surgeon specializing in otolaryngology, and his wife, Florence (née Rich), a dietitian.

Why is Ina Garten's show called Barefoot Contessa? ›

The show's title, which comes from the Italian word for countess, was originally used by Garten in her best-selling cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (1999). The cookbook was in turn named after Garten's specialty food store, which she bought already named in 1978.

Is Ina Garten rich? ›

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ina Garten's net worth in 2024 is estimated at $60 million. When combined with that of her husband Jeffrey, that amount is estimated at a whopping $120 million.

Did Jeffrey Garten go to Vietnam? ›

He also served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1972, during the Vietnam War, holding the rank of Lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division and Captain and aide-de camp to the commanding general of the US Special Forces.

Does Ina Garten have a family? ›

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