Keith Richards’ wife is Patti Hansen, an American model and actress born Patricia Alvine Hansen on March 17, 1956, in Staten Island, New York City. Richards is the legendary guitarist and co-founder of The Rolling Stones, known worldwide for his songwriting and raw guitar style over more than six decades.
This article covers everything worth knowing about Patti Hansen — her modeling career, how she and Keith Richards met, their wedding, their family life, and answers to the most common questions people ask about Keith Richards’ wife.
Who Is Patti Hansen?
Patti Hansen was born on March 17, 1956, in Staten Island, New York, the youngest of six children in a working-class family of Norwegian descent. She grew up in the Tottenville neighborhood of Staten Island. Her path into modeling started early: a photographer discovered her at just 14 years old and brought her to a party hosted by Wilhelmina Cooper, founder of the Wilhelmina Models agency.
Cooper signed the teenage Hansen on the spot, launching a career that would soon put her among the top faces in fashion. Hansen came up during the golden age of American supermodels in the 1970s, appearing in campaigns and editorials that defined the era’s look. She later settled in Weston, Connecticut, where she has lived for decades. Long before she became known as Keith Richards’ wife, Hansen had already built a name for herself as one of the most recognizable models of her generation.
Patti Hansen’s Career & Professional Life
Hansen’s modeling career took off in the 1970s, when she became one of the most in-demand faces in the industry, appearing on numerous magazine covers and in major ad campaigns of the era. She expanded into acting, taking roles in films including Rich Kids (1979), They All Laughed (1981) alongside Audrey Hepburn, and Hard to Hold (1984).
Later in her career, Hansen continued to appear in fashion in a different capacity — in 2019, decades after her modeling debut, she walked the runway for designer Michael Kors in a show inspired by Studio 54, the very club where she met her future husband. She also appeared in ad campaigns alongside her two daughters, Alexandra and Theodora, including a 2004 Guerlain perfume campaign. While Hansen stepped back from the pace of her early career once she started a family, she has remained connected to the fashion world she helped shape. Her exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed, though decades at the top of modeling and acting suggest a comfortable, self-made fortune independent of her husband’s.
How Did Keith Richards and Patti Hansen Meet?
Keith Richards and Patti Hansen met in 1979 at Studio 54, the famous New York nightclub, on the night of Hansen’s 23rd birthday. The two crossed paths again several months later when Jerry Hall, who was dating Mick Jagger at the time, invited Hansen to Richards’ 36th birthday celebration. That second meeting is widely considered the real start of their relationship.
Richards later wrote about falling for her in his 2010 memoir Life, describing an entry from his journal around that time in which he called meeting her nothing short of a miracle and said it was her spirit and outlook on life, not just her looks, that won him over. The couple then built their relationship over the following years, staying together through the ups and downs that came with Richards’ rock-and-roll lifestyle. By her own account in later interviews, Hansen credited their shared working-class backgrounds and similar values for helping the relationship survive its rocky periods. After four years together, the couple decided to make it official.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Keith Richards and Patti Hansen married on December 18, 1983 — Richards’ 40th birthday — at the Finisterra Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a second marriage for Hansen, who had previously been married to actor James DePaiva from 1981 to 1983, and it marked the beginning of what has become one of the most enduring marriages in rock and roll.
The wedding has stayed meaningful to the couple over the decades; on their anniversary in December 2022, which also marked Richards’ 79th birthday, the pair recreated a kiss from their wedding day, with Hansen wearing her original wedding dress for the photo. Richards marked the occasion publicly, thanking his wife and expressing his love for her after nearly four decades of marriage. As of 2026, Keith Richards and Patti Hansen have been married for over 40 years.
Children & Family Life
Keith Richards and Patti Hansen have two daughters together: Theodora Richards, born March 18, 1985, and Alexandra Richards, born July 28, 1986. Both daughters followed their mother into modeling, and Alexandra has also worked as a DJ and artist. Richards has three other children (two living) from his earlier relationship with Anita Pallenberg. Despite Keith Richards’ famously chaotic public image as a rock star, the family has often described their home life as close-knit and grounded.
Their daughters have spoken publicly about their parents’ bond, describing a household built on loyalty and support even through difficult years. The family largely keeps their day-to-day life private, with Hansen and Richards splitting time between homes and staying out of the spotlight except for occasional public appearances and family milestones shared by their daughters on social media.
Patti Hansen on Social Media
Patti Hansen keeps a low profile online and posts only occasionally, rather than maintaining an active daily presence. When she does share updates, they tend to be personal — birthday tributes to her husband and daughters, the occasional throwback photo from her modeling days, or a rare lifestyle post. Her infrequent posts often draw warm comments from fans who remember her from her supermodel years. Most public glimpses into the couple’s life actually come through their daughter Theodora, who shares family moments, including anniversary and birthday tributes to her parents, more regularly than Hansen herself does.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Patricia Alvine Hansen |
| Date of Birth | March 17, 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Model, Actress |
| Married to | Keith Richards |
| Marriage Year | 1983 |
| Children | Theodora Richards, Alexandra Richards |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Keith Richards’ wife’s name? A: Keith Richards’ wife is Patti Hansen, an American model and actress. They have been married since December 18, 1983.
Q: How old is Patti Hansen? A: Patti Hansen was born on March 17, 1956, in Staten Island, New York, making her 70 years old as of 2026.
Q: What does Patti Hansen do for a living? A: Patti Hansen is a model and actress. She rose to fame in the 1970s as one of the top fashion models of her generation and later appeared in several films.
Q: When did Keith Richards and Patti Hansen get married? A: Keith Richards and Patti Hansen got married on December 18, 1983, at the Finisterra Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Richards’ 40th birthday.
Q: How many kids do Keith Richards and Patti Hansen have? A: Keith Richards and Patti Hansen have two daughters together, Theodora Richards and Alexandra Richards, both of whom became models like their mother.
Conclusion
Patti Hansen is far more than just Keith Richards’ wife — she’s a former top model, an actress, and the steady partner who has stood by one of rock’s most famous guitarists for over four decades. From their chance meeting at Studio 54 to their 1983 wedding in Cabo San Lucas and the family they built together, their relationship has become one of the most lasting love stories in the music world. As Keith Richards’ wife, Patti Hansen continues to be admired both for her own career and for the quiet strength she has brought to their long marriage.
