Ricky Martin

His was in a relationship with Mexican TV presenter Rebecca de Alba but this on-off relationship ended in 2005 after 15 years.

In 2008, he became the father of twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, borne by a gestational surrogate.

In 2010, he accepted his homosexuality status and declared his relationship with economist, Carlos Gonzalez Abella, in 2011. However, the two separated in 2014.

Martin was born as Enrique Martin Morales on December 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to psychologist Enrique Martin Negroni and accountant Nereida Morales.

His parents divorced when he was just two, after which he shuffled between his father’s home and paternal grandparents’ house during childhood.

At six, he took up singing and acting lessons and started performing in school plays and choir soon after. By eight, he was appearing in TV commercials for soft drinks, fast-food restaurants and toothpaste.

He was selected in the Latin boy-band Menudo in 1984 after three auditions and gave his first performance a month later at the Luis A. Ferre Performing Arts Center, San Juan.

He traveled around the world as the band’s lead singer for the next five years, performing in various languages.

In 1989, he left the group at the age of 17 after recording 11 albums and returned to Puerto Rico to complete his high school. He, then, enrolled at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, New York City, to study acting and singing.

He dropped out of college and moved to Mexico to perform onstage in ‘Mama Ama el Rock’ and act in Mexican telenovela ‘Alcanzar una estrella’.

He released his debut solo Spanish-language album ‘Ricky Martin’ in 1991, under Sony Discos, which became a hit on the Latin charts. This was followed by his second solo album ‘Me Amaras’ in 1993.

His single ‘Maria’, included in the 1995 album ‘A Medio Vivir’, became his first international hit single with over 5 million copies sold worldwide, reaching No. 1 in France, Belgium Wallonia and Australia.

In 1998, he composed the smash hit single ‘La Copa de la Vida’ (The Cup of Life) as the official theme for the FIFA World Cup which he performed at the tournament’s final at the Stade de France.

His single ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’ from his debut English album ‘Ricky Martin’ created history on Columbia Records by becoming the No. 1 selling single and is regarded as his biggest hit till date.

His 2000 album ‘Sound Loaded’ sizzled the music charts with its two singles ‘She Bangs’ and ‘Nobody Wants to Be Lonely’, both reaching No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs.