Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been a power couple for over two decades, beginning their relationship when Beyoncé was a member of Destiny’s Child and Jay-Z was one of hip-hop’s hottest new rappers. The two married in 2008 and became one of the most bankable couples in the world with a combined net worth of nearly $2 billion.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z started dating when Beyoncé was 18
When Beyoncé and Jay-Z first met in 2000, Beyoncé was 18. They started dating a year later, but Bey was in no rush to settle down. “I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we started dating,” she revealed in a 2008 interview with Seventeen magazine, according to Today. “There was no rush – no one expected me to run away and get married.”
“I really don’t think you’re going to like the same thing at 20 as you did at 30. So that was my rule: before 25, I would never get married,” she continued. “I feel like you have to get to know yourself, know what you want, have some alone time and be proud of who you are before you can share that with anyone else.”
Jay-Z explained why they kept the wedding a secret
Beyoncé and Jay-Z ended up getting married on April 4, 2008. Beyoncé confirmed that they married in an intimate ceremony in an October 2008 interview with Essence magazine.
“What Jay and I have is real. It’s not about interviews or getting the right photo shoot. It’s real,” Beyoncé said, as reported by Today. For her, having a massive marriage wasn’t a big priority because “It’s already been my day for so many days.”
She also chose to buck the tradition of wearing an engagement ring. “People put too much emphasis on that,” she said. “It’s just material and it’s just silly to me.”
Instead of having rings, the couple got a tattoo of the Roman numeral IV on their ring fingers, according to People. Beyoncé has a love for number four: she was born on September 4, Jay-Z was born on December 4, they were married on April 4, her fourth studio album was named 4and her daughter’s name Blue Ivy is believed by some to be a reference to the Roman numeral IV.
Jay-Z explained why the couple kept their marriage a secret for months after the fact in a September 2008 interview with Vibe. “I just think it’s really a part of your life that you have to keep to yourself,” Jay-Z said, as reported by NBC. “You must have something sacred for yourself and the people around you. I’ve shared so much of my life…I should have something to hold on to.
Their marriage had its ups and downs
In the years since their marriage, Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s marriage has sometimes come under scrutiny. In 2014, Beyoncé’s sister Solange infamously punched Jay-Z while she was in an elevator with the couple, leading many to wonder why she would do such a thing.
In 2016, fans apparently got their answer with Beyoncé’s seminal sixth studio album. Lemonade. The album chronicles Beyoncé’s journey from her betrayal and infidelity to finding peace and reuniting with her lover who wronged her. The following year, Jay-Z confessed his infidelity and released his own emotional album, 4:44. The album is often considered his most honest and personal record to date.
The year after, Beyoncé and Jay-Z celebrated their union – now stronger than ever – with the aptly titled joint album, all is love.
