Annette Roque: The Real Story of Matt Lauer’s Ex-Wife

Annette Roque is a Dutch-born former model and equestrian who became widely known through her marriage to former NBC television host Matt Lauer. She later built a quieter life focused on family and horses.

She gained major public attention because of her long marriage to Lauer and their highly publicised separation. Their divorce was finalised in 2019, with Roque reportedly receiving a settlement worth around $20 million.

Her story includes a successful modelling background, marriage, motherhood, an earlier divorce filing, reconciliation, and eventual separation. This article explores Annette Roque’s personal life, children, divorce timeline, settlement, and life afterward.

Quick Bio

Who Is Annette Roque?

Annette Roque is a Dutch-born former model who became a familiar name after marrying television personality Matt Lauer. Before her marriage attracted widespread attention, she had already established herself in the modelling industry.

Roque also developed a strong interest in horses and equestrian life. This interest became an important part of her lifestyle, particularly through the family’s horse farm located in Water Mill.

Despite spending many years connected to a famous television personality, Annette generally preferred privacy. She concentrated much of her attention on her children, family responsibilities, and life away from constant media exposure.

Annette Roque’s Modelling and Equestrian Life

Before becoming widely associated with Matt Lauer, Annette worked as a model. Her modelling background formed an important part of her identity before marriage and family life became her primary focus.

She is also known for her connection with equestrian activities. Horses became an important part of her private lifestyle, and the Water Mill horse farm eventually became one of the notable assets connected with her divorce.

After stepping away from the highly public side of her former marriage, Annette continued living a relatively private lifestyle. Her connection with horses and the Hamptons remained important parts of her life.

How Annette Roque Meet Matt Lauer

Annette Roque and Matt Lauer first met in July 1997. Their introduction happened through a blind date when Roque was working as a model and Lauer was building his career at NBC.

The relationship progressed quickly after their first meeting. The pair developed a strong connection, and after dating for approximately five months, Lauer decided to take their relationship to the next stage.

Matt proposed in early 1998. Their relatively short courtship soon led to wedding preparations, beginning a marriage that would ultimately continue for more than two decades despite several difficult periods.

Annette Roque and Matt Lauer’s Wedding

Annette Roque married Matt Lauer on 3 October 1998. Their wedding took place at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church in New York, around a year after the couple first met.

The ceremony marked the beginning of a long marriage that unfolded alongside Lauer’s increasingly prominent television career. As his professional profile grew, the couple also began creating their own family life.

Annette largely maintained a quieter presence while her husband worked in national television. She concentrated heavily on their household and children instead of pursuing the same level of public recognition as Lauer.

Annette Roque’s Children

Annette Roque and Matt Lauer welcomed three children during their marriage. Their first child, a son named Jack, was born in June 2001, several years after their wedding.

Their second child, daughter Romy, arrived in October 2003. Three years later, the family grew again when Annette gave birth to their youngest son, Thijs, in November 2006.

Parenthood became an important part of Annette’s life. Even after her marriage ended, maintaining stability for Jack, Romy, and Thijs remained an important part of the relationship between Annette and her former husband.

Annette Roque’s First Divorce Filing

The marriage experienced a major crisis in September 2006. While pregnant with their youngest child, Annette filed for divorce from Matt, indicating that serious problems had developed within their relationship.

The divorce filing described Matt as extremely controlling and included allegations of cruel and inhumane treatment. It also stated that his behaviour had affected Annette’s mental and physical well-being.

The filing showed that their marriage had encountered significant difficulties years before their eventual separation. However, the proceedings did not continue at that time, and their relationship entered another chapter shortly afterward.

Why Did Annette Roque Withdraw the Divorce?

Around three weeks after submitting her divorce papers in 2006, Annette withdrew the filing. She and Matt reconciled privately and decided to continue their marriage instead of proceeding with the divorce.

Their reconciliation allowed the couple to remain together while continuing to raise their growing family. Their youngest child, Thijs, was born in November that same year.

The marriage continued for approximately another decade following the reconciliation. However, the difficulties experienced during 2006 later became an important part of the broader story surrounding their eventual separation and divorce.

What Happened to Annette Roque and Matt Lauer’s Marriage?

A major turning point arrived in November 2017 when Matt Lauer was fired from NBC following allegations concerning inappropriate workplace behaviour. The controversy created significant changes in both his professional and personal life.

Annette was subsequently seen without her wedding ring, while Matt moved away from the family home. These developments showed that their marriage had entered another serious period of separation.

Unlike their earlier difficulties, the couple did not ultimately reconcile this time. Their relationship had effectively ended, although formal legal and financial arrangements required additional time before their divorce could be completed.

Annette Roque and Matt Lauer’s Separation

By January 2018, Annette and Matt had started separating important assets. Their properties in Manhattan and the Hamptons became part of the financial arrangements surrounding the end of their marriage.

During the early stages of their separation, they reportedly continued prioritising their children. Managing their changing relationship while maintaining stability within the family became an important concern for both parents.

The separation continued for nearly two years before Annette formally filed for divorce. During this period, financial and property matters were addressed before the marriage was legally dissolved.

When Did Annette Roque Divorce Matt Lauer?

Annette officially filed for divorce in Suffolk County, New York, in July 2019. The filing followed a lengthy separation and negotiations concerning the end of their marriage.

By the time the divorce paperwork was submitted, the major issues surrounding their separation had largely been settled. This allowed the remaining legal process to move toward completion relatively quickly.

Their divorce was finalised in September 2019. It officially ended a marriage that had begun in October 1998 and lasted for more than 20 years.

Annette Roque’s $20 Million Divorce Settlement

One of the most discussed parts of Annette Roque’s divorce was the financial settlement. She reportedly received assets estimated to be worth approximately $20 million when the marriage officially ended.

The agreement also included valuable property. Among the significant assets associated with the settlement was the family’s horse farm located in Water Mill, an area of the Hamptons.

The settlement attracted considerable attention because of its estimated value and the couple’s extensive property holdings. It provided Annette with substantial assets as she moved forward independently after more than two decades of marriage.

Where Does Annette Roque Live Now?

Following her divorce, Annette continued living a private life in the Hamptons. Her lifestyle remained closely connected with the equestrian property in Water Mill included in the divorce arrangements.

The horse farm fits naturally with Annette’s longstanding interest in equestrian activities. It also provides considerably more privacy than the public lifestyle surrounding her former husband’s television career.

Annette has generally remained away from major public attention since the divorce. Her life has instead centred around personal interests, her children, and maintaining a quieter environment away from constant media exposure.

Annette Roque and Matt Lauer’s Co-Parenting Relationship

Although their marriage ended, Annette Roque and Matt Lauer remained connected through their three children. Their relationship gradually developed into a functional co-parenting arrangement following the divorce.

Matt has remained involved in the lives of Jack, Romy, and Thijs. Both parents have focused on maintaining stability for their children despite the circumstances surrounding their separation.

By early 2026, Annette and Matt had found an arrangement that allowed them to co-parent while living separate lives. Their children remained the central connection between them years after their marriage officially ended.

Did Annette Roque Remarry?

Annette Roque has maintained a particularly private personal life since ending her marriage to Matt Lauer. Her romantic life has attracted far less attention than the circumstances surrounding her divorce.

No remarriage was reported in the information available through early 2026. Instead, Annette appeared to continue concentrating on her family, equestrian interests, and private life in the Hamptons.

This privacy is consistent with how Annette approached public attention during much of her marriage. Although connected to a major television personality for decades, she generally avoided making herself a constant public figure.

Final Thoughts

Annette Roque’s life became closely connected with television fame after she married Matt Lauer in 1998. Together, they raised three children while navigating the pressures surrounding his prominent broadcasting career.

Their relationship experienced serious difficulties, including Annette’s 2006 divorce filing and later reconciliation. Following Lauer’s NBC departure in 2017, however, their marriage eventually reached its permanent conclusion.

Their divorce was finalised in September 2019, with Annette reportedly receiving around $20 million and significant property assets. She has since maintained a quieter lifestyle while continuing to co-parent their three children.

(FAQs)

Who is Annette Roque?

Annette Roque is a Dutch-born former model and equestrian. She is best known as the former wife of television personality Matt Lauer, whom she married in 1998 and divorced in 2019.

How much did Annette Roque receive from Matt Lauer?

Annette Roque reportedly received a divorce settlement estimated at around $20 million. The settlement also included important property assets, including the family’s horse farm located in Water Mill.

How many children does Annette Roque have?

Annette Roque has three children with Matt Lauer. Their eldest son, Jack, was born in 2001, daughter Romy arrived in 2003, and their youngest son, Thijs, was born in 2006.

When did Annette Roque and Matt Lauer divorce?

Annette filed for divorce in July 2019 after the couple had been separated for an extended period. Their divorce was officially finalised in September 2019 after more than 20 years of marriage.

Where is Annette Roque now?

Annette Roque lives a largely private life in the Hamptons. She has remained connected to her equestrian interests and the Water Mill horse property while continuing to co-parent her children with Matt Lauer.

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