The reason Michelle Yeoh and her wealthy husband waited 19 years to get married

Seoul [South Korea], July 1: Despite getting engaged after knowing each other for just over a month, it wasn't until 19 years later that actress Michelle Yeoh and businessman Jean Todt decided to get married. Recently, the husband of the Chinese-born action star revealed the reason they delayed their wedding. According to HK01 , in a recent interview with the Jin Xing Official YouTube program, French businessman Jean Todt rarely shared details about his marriage to Michelle Yeoh . The famous couple met on June 4, 2004, in Shanghai, China, and quickly fell in love. Their relationship progressed so rapidly that just over a month later (July 26, 2004), the tycoon proposed to the star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and she accepted. For many years afterward, they quietly stayed together without prioritizing marriage. Finally, in July 2023, the couple secretly held a wedding ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.
During the program, businessman Jean Todt revealed that the reason it took him and Michelle Yeoh 19 years to get married was because they were both busy with their own work. "Just a few weeks after meeting, we decided to commit to each other. I proposed to her, but she was busy, and so was I," the 80-year-old tycoon recounted.
Jean Todt revealed that they decided to get married after nearly two decades together to fulfill a promise to Michelle Yeoh's father (who passed away in 2014). The racing mogul shared: "Her father was a wonderful man whom I loved very much. We promised to get married and we did." Jean Todt said that marrying the star of Everything Everywhere All at Once was inevitable, and added that in April, the couple celebrated 8,000 days together since their first meeting in Shanghai.
Over the years, Michelle Yeoh and her husband have enjoyed a peaceful and private life. The 64-year-old star has tried many methods to have children but without success. She once admitted that not having children is her biggest regret in life. The actress maintains a good relationship with her husband's son from a previous marriage, Nicolas Todt, and loves him dearly. The actress once thanked Nicolas and his wife for making her and Jean Todt the happiest and proudest grandparents. In addition, she has six godchildren, including her ex-husband's daughter. The Oscar-winning couple owns many properties in Switzerland, France, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and other places. They frequently travel between these locations for vacations and to spend time with loved ones.
In an interview with People in 2025, Michelle Yeoh shared that her husband is romantic and cherishes every day they spend together. They don't mark their love on a fixed date each year, but rather consider every day together a celebration. The actress said her husband understands her busy schedule and wholeheartedly supports her work. "I love my work because it's my passion. My husband never tells me not to spend enough time with him," the veteran artist shared.
Before Jean Todt, Michelle Yeoh was married to Hong Kong tycoon Dickson Pan , but they divorced in 1992 because they were childless. "We did everything we could to have children. Unfortunately, physically, I couldn't," the veteran actress once confided. After the breakup, they maintained a good relationship, and she even became the godmother to her ex-husband's children with his second wife.
Source: Thain News paper