Why Drake Has Never Married Despite High-Profile Romances as Rapper Turns 40

For music fans who came of age during the releases of Take Care and Nothing Was The Same, Aubrey “Drake” Graham hitting the age of 40 marks an unexpected temporal milestone. After surpassing pop icon Michael Jackson by securing 15 number-one albums on the Billboard charts earlier this year, Drake’s commercial dominance over hip-hop remains steady despite external competition. Yet, according to the Canadian superstar, the non-stop dedication to work that yielded his chart records is the primary obstacle preventing him from finding lasting domestic partnership.

The Career Demands Behind Drake’s Unmarried Status

The tension between career achievements and relationship sustainability has been a recurring theme for the Toronto artist. Speaking to host Bobbi Althoff on a now-deleted July 2023 installment of the Really Good podcast, the rapper candidly explained his dynamic with romance: I don’t think I can offer somebody what they’d be looking for right now. He expanded on the personal constraint, remarking, I think my work is my priority, so I wouldn’t want to not be able to contribute as a partner.

This dynamic was visually manifested in late 2022 through a custom luxury necklace composed of 42 diamonds, which reportedly marked the specific instances in his life where he considered proposing but did not proceed. His fixation on career endurance surfaced years earlier; during a 2012 interview with i-D, he reflected on the future: I don’t even know if I will still be making rap music, suggesting at the time that he might stop past age 35 to pursue acting. Despite those early reservations, music remained his central focus, leaving a string of celebrity romances across his discography.

A Complete Timeline of Drake’s High-Profile Relationships

SZA (2009)

Drake made their past connection public on the 2020 track “Mr. Right Now” alongside 21 Savage, initially suggesting the relationship occurred in 2008. SZA quickly clarified the timeline via social media, pointing out that their courtship actually took place in 2009. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she reflected on their past as childish and driven by youth vibes. The two retained their professional ties, later collaborating on the 2023 singles “Slime You Out” and “Rich Baby Daddy”.

Rihanna (2009–2016)

Beginning with a rendezvous at a New York bowling venue in 2009, Drake and Rihanna formed one of modern pop music’s most closely monitored dynamics. The partnership produced massive hit tracks like “What’s My Name?”, “Take Care”, and “Work”. However, the personal relationship suffered friction. In a 2010 profile with The New York Times, Drake opened up about the emotional fallout from their beginnings, admitting: I was a pawn.

The drama peaked at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards when Drake publicly announced on stage that he had loved Rihanna since he was 22 years old. By 2018, Rihanna disclosed to Vogue that the onstage declaration caused discomfort, acknowledging they were no longer friends. The dynamic subsequently shifted on Drake’s track “Burning Bridges” from Iceman, where he criticized A$AP Rocky and Rihanna, rapping: Your baby mama ain’t even post a single damn where she at?—taking aim at her initial lack of promotion for A$AP Rocky’s album Don’t Be Dumb.

Serena Williams (2011–2015)

Speculation surrounding Drake and tennis legend Serena Williams developed after the two were repeatedly seen together on and off the court. Drake voiced his feelings during a 2011 Complex interview, stating: I really, really love and care for Serena Williams. The pair later made headlines in 2015 when photographs surfaced of them kissing at a restaurant in Cincinnati. Archival footage revealed by Drake in 2024 showed that his 2016 track “Too Good” was inspired by Williams, with the rapper expecting her to register the personal references embedded in the track.

Tyra Banks (2012–2013) & Kat Dennings (circa 2013)

During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2013, Drake confirmed that he had shared a discreet date with supermodel Tyra Banks at Disneyland. On the same talk show, Drake recalled his brief connection with actress Kat Dennings, following his public admiration of her on X: I just always had a huge crush on Kat Dennings. Though the actress agreed to a dinner date, the connection did not evolve into a formal partnership.

Jennifer Lopez (2016–2017)

In late December 2016, Drake and Jennifer Lopez ignited widespread media chatter by publishing a photograph of themselves embracing on Instagram. Lopez subsequently accompanied the rapper at his New Year’s Eve performance in Las Vegas, while Drake joined her at private events. The pairing ended within months, after which Lopez reconnected with former New York Yankees athlete Alex Rodriguez.

Sophie Brussaux (2017)

Drake’s relationship with French artist Sophie Brussaux in early 2017 resulted in the birth of their son, Adonis, in October of that year. The child’s existence was initially brought into public focus during Drake’s high-stakes 2018 rap feud with Pusha T. Drake directly addressed becoming a father on his 2018 studio album Scorpion, and has since shared public glimpses of co-parenting Adonis.

Julia Fox (2020) & Johanna Leia (2021)

Before her brief romance with Kanye West, actress Julia Fox spent time with Drake. Addressing the rumors on her Forbidden Fruits podcast in 2022, Fox said: He’s a great guy and a gentleman. She clarified: I wouldn’t say that we were dating, although she later teased a high-profile date featuring private aviation and luxury Chanel handbags. In 2021, Drake made headlines for renting out the entirety of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for an intimate private dinner with model Johanna Leia, though Leia confirmed her single status by March 2022.

Why This Matters

Drake’s open self-critique regarding his personal life highlights the grueling lifestyle demands placed on modern commercial music juggernauts. Since his breakthrough with Young Money Entertainment, the rapper’s brand has been constructed around emotional availability within his lyrics alongside an uncompromising release schedule that yielded 15 chart-topping albums. The artist’s acknowledgment that his devotion to high-volume studio work directly impedes conventional domestic stability offers rare insight into the creative compromises required to sustain a multi-decade run at the pinnacle of global streaming charts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has Drake stated he has not settled down in a relationship?

Drake explained on the Really Good podcast that his demanding music career consumes most of his time and focus, making it unfair to any romantic partner because he cannot offer the commitment typically required in a long-term relationship.

Does Drake have any children?

Yes. Drake has a son named Adonis, born in October 2017 to French artist Sophie Brussaux, a development he formally addressed on his 2018 record Scorpion.

What was the meaning behind Drake’s 42-diamond necklace?

Unveiled in 2022, the custom piece of jewelry features 42 distinct diamonds, which reportedly symbolize the number of times the rapper considered proposing to previous romantic partners throughout his adult life.