The Untold Truth Of Britney Spears' Ex-Husband Sam Asghari

Britney Spears's romantic past has been a roller coaster of rocky relationships. Who could forget her time with Justin Timberlake that ended with cheating allegations, her Las Vegas wedding with Jason Allen Alexander (who also allegedly gate-crashed her June 2022 wedding), or her questionable years with Kevin Federline? Fans believed she found her happily ever after with her longtime partner, Sam Asghari, after they tied the knot.

After six years together, fans rooted for the relationship that seemed to give Spears hope after a 13-year-long conservatorship. Brandon Cohen, Asghari's rep, told the Associated Press, "I am very ecstatic this day has come, and they are married. I know he wanted this for so long. He is so caring and supportive every step of the way." Spears and Asghari were expecting their first child together, but Spears tragically suffered a miscarriage in May 2022.

The couple celebrated their nuptials with a small celebration featuring some star guests including Madonna, Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, and Selena Gomez. But their marriage was short-lived, and the two called it quits just 14 months later. After weathering so many ups and downs together, there's a lot to unpack when it comes to Asghari and Spears's relationship. So who is the pop star's ex-husband who stole — and later broke — Spears's heart?

Relationships that involve significant — and sometimes even uncomfortable — age gaps are nothing new in the entertainment industry, which is perhaps why no one seems to bat an eyelash over the fact that there was a 13-year age difference between Britney Spears (who was born on December 2, 1981) and Sam Asghari (who made his way into the world on March 3, 1994). The age thing apparently didn't bother Spears either, as she once admitted during her "I Am Britney Jean" documentary (via the Daily Mail), "Sometimes I feel like I am 20 and sometimes I feel like I am 50."

But after the two filed for divorce in 2023, fans wondered if maybe a difference in maturity had anything to do with their split. Given all the incessant media attention over Spears' conservatorship legal drama, perhaps being on the arm of one of the world's most famous celebrities took its toll. "It's been very toxic between them for a long time," an insider told People about their relationship before the breakup. "There has been constant drama. It's sad."

While Sam Asghari fell in love and married a woman who was born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana, he was actually born on the other side of the world, in Tehran, Iran. According to Men's Health, Asghari was just 2 years old when his father immigrated to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a truck driver in the hopes of being able to move his family to the United States. The future actor made the big move to the U.S. when he was 12, telling the publication, "I had to leave my friends and family who I was very close with, and I knew I was moving away and never coming back."

Thankfully for Asghari, he eventually found Britney Spears to lean on in his newfound home. During their six-year relationship, the "Everytime" singer referred to him by his given name Hesam, instead of his nickname, Sam.

Britney Spears isn't the only iconic superstar who made a huge impact on Sam Asghari's life. Disney's "Hannah Montana" actually helped Asghari learn English! He told GQ that, in addition to his English courses in school, he watched Miley Cyrus' popular show to get a leg up in his language skills. He told the magazine that he didn't speak English at the time in middle school when his family came to the United States, which was difficult because his family didn't have Persian neighbors.

"I had one friend that spoke Farsi, but we never spoke Farsi to each other," Asghari told GQ. "We were very committed to fitting in, and we did many, many, many things to fit in. We used to drink Gatorade every single morning off the vending machine, because we thought it was an American thing to do." Even with the difficulties of straddling multiple identities growing up as an immigrant, Asghari told Men's Health that he felt grateful for the chance to have such varied cultural experiences. He told the magazine that his family moved to the United States to assimilate, which is why he dove into things like learning the language which led to football, and he even took drama classes and was on his high school's improv team.

Sam Asghari obviously has good genes because he comes from one gorgeous family. The youngest of four children and the only boy, the model occasionally posts photos of his sisters, and, wow, they're just as beautiful as he is. And these adult kids definitely take after their mom, who is just as stunning. 

"She's [not] my sister ... this is my beautiful mother," Asghari wrote on Instagram in 2017, along with an image of himself and his seemingly proud parent. "[The] last time we saw each other was in 2006, my parents worked their a***s off for me to live a better life. Mama your son is a grown-a** man now."

The women in Asghari's family aren't just pretty, they're also pretty friendly, at least where Britney Spears is concerned. "We've hung out a lot of times," Asghari told Entertainment Tonight in 2019 while talking about his family and his then-girlfriend. "We've been together for three years and my sisters love her, my family loves her. My mom lives in another country [but] when she was here, she met her." The Spears family was noticeably absent from their nuptials, but Asghari's family was in attendance.

Long before Sam Asghari was known as Britney Spears's husband, he was a football player. He explained to Men's Health that he quickly pursued sports once he moved to Los Angeles. That's what led him to join his high school football team during his freshman year, which is where "he found community ... the same way he did back in Iran."

Asghari eventually ended up in a football program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, but things didn't go as planned: When he was cut from the team, he lost his chance at a scholarship to the school, which forced him to return to L.A., where he played for Moorpark College. While that could have been a fresh start for the athlete, Asghari decided to leave Moorpark and football too to pursue a very different path that nearly led him to a career that you might not expect.

These days, Sam Asghari finds plenty of work as a model, actor, and fitness buff. But while Asghari attempted to pursue a path in sports while in the United States, he switched his focus when it became clear that he wasn't destined to be a professional athlete. Instead, he returned to his other childhood dream: he wanted to become a cop, according to Men's Health.

Asghari described his past self by saying, "I was a very masculine guy — I played football and was in the police academy." Indeed, when he left Moorpark College, he entered schooling at the Los Angeles Pierce College to study the principle of criminal justice. However, it wasn't long before he switched gears yet again, when he decided that he wanted to put his everything into fitness. Thankfully for Asghari, this was the path that led him to where he is today.

Although Sam Asghari is a super fit specimen, he didn't always lead the kind of healthy lifestyle that results in such a built body. In fact, there was a time in his life after he stopped playing football when Asghari revealed to Men's Health that he had reached 290 pounds. 

During a period of "stress-eating," Asghari told the publication that he "was eating Doritos for breakfast, fast food, sugar, candy, no protein, a lot of carbs, and drinking sugary sodas." He continued, "My nutrition was extremely horrible. The stress and the fear of not going anywhere [in life] combined gave me my depression." That's when he decided to make a change. In a span of six months, Asghari lost almost 100 pounds.

The man who regularly flexes a muscular figure on Instagram these days took to social media in July 2017 to share a side-by-side comparison of himself before and after embracing a healthier lifestyle. "Talk about a life change," he wrote. "Same exact person, same exact work ethic, just a different mindset ... It is not a coincidence, you do not get lucky, also you're never born into it. You got to earn it. I promise you something, it is absolutely worth it."

Sam Asghari seems to have two loves when it comes to sports: football and soccer. While his dreams of a life in football didn't work out, he's used his passion for soccer to pursue an endeavor that will embrace his athletic side and let others do the same. In March 2019, Asghari announced on Instagram, "Having undergone a physical transformation myself, I will be setting up a soccer academy to inspire others to look after themselves both mentally and physically." He added, "This has always been a dream of mine, and now I can share this journey with you all!"

Asghari also talked to Entertainment Tonight about the academy, saying, "Physical training is integrated with my career and long-term goals for health and well-being for longevity in fitness performance as well as my acting career." And when it comes to what it will offer those who enroll, he explained, "You could call it 'sports without borders,' I suppose, in the spirit of the intercultural tradition of the Olympics. It is about inclusiveness, striving, and trying your best whatever that personal best is for you." While the academy isn't up and running quite yet, you can get on the list to find out more about getting in on the action as soon as it launches.

Sam Asghari's athletic nature hasn't just inspired him to open a soccer academy, he's also set up Asghari Fitness, which offers training and meal plans to help clients attempt to (maybe? possibly?) achieve his level of health.

"Who's ready for my very first fitness program? ... Who's ready to take your life to another level?" Asghari wrote on Instagram in January 2020. "My friends and fans have inspired me to [create] a program for everyone that wants to get in the best shape of their lives mentally and physically!" Claiming to have "helped thousands of people transform their bodies and their lives" with his "honest and simple approach," Asghari encouraged those who participate in his program to adopt a "realistic" and "sustainable plan" that will "create lifelong change."

While Asghari's sculpted body is surely enough of an advertisement for what can happen if you follow his example, his social media-worthy workouts with Britney Spears may also help to boost his program's popularity. Although you may not get the chance to bench press the pop star as he does.

Sam Asghari may have met Britney Spears when he appeared in her "Slumber Party" music video in 2016, but that wasn't the first time he'd been cast to play one of the handsome figures that add a little (or a lot of) heat to a pop production. Earlier that same year, he showed up in  Fifth Harmony's "Work From Home" as a sweaty (downright glistening) construction worker.

"I got a lot of attention from Fifth Harmony, so I knew what I was stepping into," Asghari told Entertainment Tonight in 2019, while discussing his path from starring in the short-lived girl group's video to being selected by Spears herself to appear alongside her. "Fifth Harmony was just coming out as a little group, and then now Britney Spears, the Princess of Pop, is calling me, wanting me to play the love interest ... I said, 'Why not? Let me give it a shot.'" That's one shot we can guarantee he's glad he took.

Sam Asghari may have started out in music videos, but his ambition goes beyond silent bit parts. He has gotten into acting, which he first tried out in high school and continued to pursue during college. Although he's only been at it for a couple of years, he has scored roles in "Can You Keep a Secret?," which costars "Orange Is the New Black" actor Laverne Cox, and he even landed a spot on "NCIS."

In December 2019, Asghari took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes photo of himself on the set of the long-running crime show. "Such a pleasure to do my first co-star role on a bada** show like @ncis_cbs on @cbstv .. AKA one of the biggest shows on the planet," he wrote. "So far one of the best sets I've been on!" That was followed by a post in January 2020, which featured an image of Asghari that gives off a classy (and dangerous!) vibe: "Introducing the [newest cast] member on the @familybusinessbet."

As of 2023, Asghari has a little more than one dozen IMDb credits to his name. That includes his 2022 summer big screen performance alongside Mel Gibson in "Hot Seat."

Sam Asghari apparently loves — and loves to pose with — expensive cars. Whether they're flashy and yellow like the sun, a sleek black ride, or a bright blue Lamborghini, he seems perfectly pleased to be with each one. Asghari even posted an animated version of himself with a Ferrari.

Britney Spears and Asghari even took off after their wedding in a white Rolls-Royce, according to Page Six. That was an exciting adventure for Spears in particular who told her Instagram followers all about it per the outlet. "All right, so this is my second time to ever be in a Rolls-Royce," Spears revealed to her followers. "I'm really excited. There's stars on the ceiling. There's also very, very tiny champagne glasses, which I've never had. Very cold already with champagne."

Despite being a car guy, Asghari has said he doesn't have a car collection. Auto Evolution reported that Asghari said he sold some cryptocurrency to afford his vintage 1965 Ford Mustang in 2021. The outlet also reported that Asghari loves his Jeep Wrangler. So even if he's an expensive car guy, he also appreciates the hardworking classics too.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari's mutual love for animals may have been what bonded the pair throughout their six-year relationship. Asghari previously posted a photo of himself and the singer riding horses together with the caption, "Giddy up with my cowgirl." But Asghari doesn't just have a love for big animals. If you follow him on Instagram, you may have noticed his fluffy pup named Penny, who pops up in posts where she's getting a kiss or receiving new food after gaining some weight.

While they were living together, the couple even welcomed a new furry friend to their household in October 2021. Asghari and Spears adopted a Doberman Pinscher puppy named Porsha! According to Asghari's Instagram post, Porsha was a surprise for Spears. Asghari's video explains that the little pup is meant to both love as well as protect Spears from anyone who would mess with her. People points out that the arrival came less than two months after an alleged incident between Spears and a housekeeper around her dog's vet care.

Sam Asghari may have been with one of Hollywood's biggest stars, but he admitted that behind the scenes, their relationship was much different. "What I love the most about my relationship is the fact that it's so normal," he told Entertainment Tonight in 2019. "It's not glamorous or anything."

Asghari went on to explain how their relationship feeds each of their needs, saying, "She inspires me in my work and I can give so much to her by going to the gym, by going to work, by having a balanced life." He even opened up to GQ ahead of his wedding with Spears and told the magazine about his nickname for her: Lioness.

"It came to me because I always figured the lion is lazy," he told the magazine. "The male lion has always been the symbol of the king of the jungle. But it's not true, it's really the female and she's very strong and she was very independent. And lioness was a beautiful name that just came to me out of nowhere. So it's kind of a nickname, but I don't call her that everyday. It was kind of like a symbol."

Sam Asghari is responsible for his own career, though he isn't being stingy with giving credit where it's due. He told Variety that his then-fiancée Britney Spears really helped elevate his pivot to acting. "I'm just living my life and having a great moment," Asghari said. "And I just want to thank [Spears] so much for putting me on the map as far as, you know, everything else that's going on in my career. She helped me so much with that. Let's be real. Let's be real now, right?"

In another piece from Variety, Asghari gushed that he would like to be a superhero in a Marvel film, to which the internet had a lot to say. FandomWire collected some of the responses with one user saying the new actor should take some classes first, while another pointed out an incorrect fact Asghari had told the magazine. Asghari said his acting dream is to be the first Middle Easterner to play a superhero. Even though the interview was from 2021, that "first" has already been taken. Depending on what parameters Asghari was using, there are several actors already in that identity. Gal Gadot is an Israeli actor who played Wonder Woman in 2017, Iman Vellani is a Pakistani-Canadian actor and the first Muslim character in the MCU, and Bahranian May El Calamawy was Layla in "Moon Knight" to name a few.

Britney Spears' more than decade-long conservatorship was a heavy weight for the singer to bear. But in her corner for the last several years was beau Sam Asghari, who wholeheartedly believed she would triumph in the case. "It's amazing for me to feel the love for her and for her to see how many people love her because of the love that she gave other people," he told Variety. "They're just giving it back to her." Asghari added that Spears inspired him through all of it and he was beyond thrilled for her.

On the day that Spears' conservatorship was terminated, Asghari took to Instagram with a bright pink image reading "FREEDOM." In his caption he wrote: "History was made today. Britney is Free!" with a heart emoji at the end. A source told People in June 2021 that Asghari had been a huge support for Spears throughout the legal battle -– even down to making sure she keeps her routines like eating right and exercising. Earlier in 2021, Asghari told the magazine that he was looking forward to having a regular life with Spears after the conservatorship ended.

After getting engaged in September 2021, Sam Asghari and Britney Spears got a lot of questions — specifically about a prenup. You can't really blame folks for being nosey. After watching Spears fight so hard to break free from her 13-year conservatorship, which also had control of her $70 million net worth, a prenup only made sense. Asghari is worth about $1 million in comparison, yet he was maintaining his composure about the line of questioning.

According to People, Asghari took to his Instagram stories to alleviate concerns about prenups. ​​"Thank you to everyone who is concerned about the prenup," he wrote on his story. "Of course, we're getting an ironclad prenup to protect my Jeep and shoe collection in case she dumps me one day." His post ended with a pair of laugh-crying emojis as well. People also confirmed that the prenup states that Asghari would have no access to any of the money Spears made before their wedding.

A source confirmed to Page Six that the prenup would ultimately protect Spears if anything were to happen to the marriage. "Britney and Sam signed a prenup in her favor," the source told the outlet. "Any money she made before the wedding is protected."

The third time wasn't the charm when it came to Britney Spears and marriage. Sam Asghari and the pop star's love story came to an abrupt end in 2023 after just over one year of marriage. After tying the knot in the "Baby One More Time" singer's Los Angeles mansion in front of their closest family and friends the year prior, the pair announced their divorce. Spears took to Instagram to deliver the news, writing: "As everyone knows, Hesam and I are no longer together ... 6 years is a long time to be with someone so, I'm a little shocked but ... I'm not here to explain why because its honestly nobody's business !!! But, I couldn't take the pain anymore honestly !!!"

As for Asghari, a source told Us Weekly that the pressure of fame may have caused the strain in their relationship. The model "tried to make it work," said the insider, adding, "It's been draining, yet his love never wavered. He just wishes people understood the depth of what they're going through." The source declined that infidelity played any role in the split, but alluded to a different story playing out in their private lives. "Although things seemed okay on the surface, there was a lot going on behind the scenes," the insider explained. Asghari cited "irreconcilable differences" in his filing, petitioning for spousal support as well as his legal fees to be paid by his former wife.

Britney Spears had plenty of shocking revelations in her 2023 memoir "The Woman In Me," released just two years after her highly contested conservatorship was terminated. Amidst dropping shocking bombs, like having an abortion with Justin Timberlake, and reliving the painful years she says her father caused her, the "Womanizer" singer had many positive excerpts about her former husband, Sam Asghari. 

Spears wrote the tell-all book before her split, raving about her then-husband and how he added a grounding presence to her life. "I have an appreciation for how stable he is," she wrote (via People). "I love that he doesn't drink. He's a gift from God." While she didn't speak on their marriage in the memoir, she did touch on how the pair met and the instant spark they shared. That was back in 2016 when Asghari starred as the singer's love interest in her music video for "Slumber Party." After filming, the two exchanged numbers after connecting on set.

Despite their looming divorce, the Iranian-American actor reacted positively to hearing about what his former wife wrote about him. TMZ caught up with Asghari to get his reaction, and he admitted: "That made me smile, I'm freakin' proud of her, and I hope she takes over the world."