Lauren Sánchez and ex Tony Gonzalez determined they were better off as friends.
Sánchez and Gonzalez started dating in the early 2000s before welcoming their son, Nikko, in 2001. One year after becoming parents, the pair called it quits.
Sánchez was married to Patrick Whitesell from 2005 to 2019, welcoming son Evan in 2006 and daughter Ella in 2008 before their split. Sánchez then moved on with Jeff Bezos, whom she got engaged to in May 2023. (Bezos was previously married to MacKenzie Scott from 1993 to 2019.)
As Sánchez and the former football player focused on coparenting Nikko, the twosome remained close and formed a friendship. Sánchez also grew close to October and included her in her star-studded bachelorette party in May 2025. Sánchez and Bezos also extended an invite to Tony and October for their 2025 nuptials in Venice, Italy.
Keep scrolling to take a look back on Sánchez and Tony’s relationship as it evolved from a romance to a friendship:
2001
Tony and Sánchez became parents to Nikko in 2001.
2002
One year after welcoming their son, the pair split.
January 2023
Janet Mayer/Startraksphoto.com
More than two decades after their breakup, Sánchez gushed about how she, Tony and October worked on building a friendship despite an admittedly rocky start.
“Tony and his wife are my best friends,” the Black Ops Aviation founder said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “It wasn’t always that way. There was friction [at the beginning]. But Tony and Tobie were at Thanksgiving with us [this year], and we’re really good friends.”
Sánchez added it took “about five years” for the group to get where they are now, but credited their success to their consistent, open communication.
“I’m not saying that being best friends with your ex is the end-all be-all. But you do need to be able to communicate,” she continued. “I’m so proud of it. My son looks at me, and he’s like, “I’m the luckiest boy in the world because I can have Thanksgiving with both my parents and they don’t have to be married.”
June 2024
Tony and Sánchez reunited alongside their respective partners to celebrate Nikko’s graduation.
“Nikko I am so proud of you! Congratulations class of 2024 ,” she captioned an Instagram slideshow of photos from the party. “I couldn’t help but get emotional. We love you!”
June 2025
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October and Tony were invited to Bezos and Sánchez nuptials in Europe. Ahead of the wedding, Tony, October and their children took a road trip around Italy. Bezos and Sánchez’s ceremony is set to take place in Venice.
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,” she captioned an Instagram slideshow of photos from the party. “I couldn’t help but get emotional. We love you!”
