Jane Schindelheim Remained Married to Jann Wenner for Years While He Lived with His Partner Matt Nye
Jann Wenner lived a decent married life with his ex-wife, Jane Schindelheim. The businessman was happy with the family they'd built, but things turned around for better and worse when he fell in love with former model Matt Nye.
In September 2022, media mogul Jann Wenner published his memoir, "Like a Rolling Stone," chronicling pivotal moments in his work and personal life. As one would imagine, he spoke in great detail about his decades-long marriage with Jane Schindelheim.
The pair were legally married for over 40 years but separated for 16. Although their marriage fell apart, they remained in each other's lives for the sake of their sons before finally divorcing in 2011. Notably, this was after the legalization of gay marriage in New York.
Jann Wenner and Jane Schindelheim attend Amnesty International's Fourth Annual Media Spotlight Awards at Chelsae Piers on September 25, 2000, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner's Romance in Its Earlier Days
Schindelheim met Wenner when he first started working for Sunday Ramparts. She was a receptionist for the newspaper and had recently moved from New York, where she studied painting.
Wenner was smitten when he first saw her. Coincidentally, they were both getting over difficult breakups at the time, which led Wenner to predict that it was a sign they would get married. When he told Schindelheim, she said there was "no possible chance."
They tied the knot in the late 1960s in a traditional Jewish wedding at a synagogue. The couple didn't invite either of their parents, but their sisters, Linda Schindelheim and Merlyn Wenner, and friends were present. They then expanded their family and had three sons.
Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner attend a party on July 12,1976, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner's Marriage Breakdown
Schindelheim and Wenner had been married for 25 years when Wenner confessed he had fallen for someone else. During a Christmas dinner, he had slipped out to have a call with his lover, Matt Nye.
When he returned, Wenner was overwhelmed with guilt and close to tears. He hadn't planned how he would break the news to Schindelheim, but he knew, "If my world was about to open up, hers was about to collapse."
Jann Wenner and Jane Schindelheim at the Dinner Party Honoring Richard Avedon Hosted by Random House and The New Yorker on September 27, 1993, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Upon his return, he told her everything, and she was devastated. Schindelheim cooped herself in her room for a few days before telling Wenner to move out. He drove into the city and checked into a hotel, where he stayed with Nye.
Wenner shared that their room had an extra suite for his kids on the weekends. He held a family meeting to inform the boys of his and Schindelheim's new living arrangement and to assure them that their separation wasn't their fault.
Jann Wenner and his kids during the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 7, 2000, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
The Aftermath of Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner's Separation and Eventual Divorce
Wenner wrote that Schindelheim "stabilized" at first, but she struggled to let go of him. "She phoned every day, either acting as if nothing had happened or, if she was stoned, doubling down on her humiliation and rejection," he recalled.
Schindelheim would pour out her anguish while Wenner listened, "silenced with guilt." He took accountability for all the pain he caused, but after coming out with his relationship with Nye, Wenner felt free and "unburdened by the compromises and fears of discovery."
Eventually, Schindelheim overcame her pain, too. She filed for divorce in June 2011, and it was finalized that October. Speaking of why they waited, Wenner said it was "an emotional crutch" for them both.
Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner during the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" New York City Premiere at Sony Theater on May 19, 1998, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
He didn't want to lose the threads that bound him to his children, and he still wanted Schindelheim in his life. Nye was entirely understanding throughout. He and Wenner had three more kids via surrogate.
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