‘Dancing With the Stars’: Get to Know Giada De Laurentiis’ Only Daughter
As Giada De Laurentiis continues her Dancing With the Stars journey, her daughter and only child, Jade Thompson, is across the country in New York City. However, the teenager is cheering her mom on from afar and showing her major support on social media.
“I’ve been asked several times over the years [to do the show], and I think that this time I said yes because my daughter basically forced me to say yes,” De Laurentiis previously told People. “And also because I just dropped her off at college, and I think that she felt and I felt that I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone and do something totally different.”
Below, we rounded up more to know about Jade.
Who is Jade Thompson?
Jade is a college student at New York University. De Laurentiis and her boyfriend, Shane Farley, helped move Jade into her dorm in August 2026, along with Jade’s father (more on that below).
Jade is also an aspiring singer who is a member of a band called The Hours with her friends. She often posts videos of herself covering songs on Instagram.
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De Laurentiis previously revealed that her daughter has acting aspirations, as well, and that she attended theater camp.
How old is Giada De Laurentiis’ daughter?
Jade was born on March 29, 2008, and turned 18 years old in 2026.
Who is Jade Thompson’s father?
Jade’s dad is De Laurentiis’ ex-husband Todd Thompson, a fashion designer. He and De Laurentiis tied the knot in 2003 and announced their separation in 2014. Their divorce was finalized in September 2015.
Despite the split, De Laurentiis and Thompson have maintained an amicable relationship, even reuniting to celebrate Jade with a college send-off party in August. They were also both there when she moved into NYU and have posed for photos together at various events for their daughter over the years.
Who had custody of Giada De Laurentiis’ daughter?
In their divorce settlement, De Laurentiis and Thompson agreed to joint physical and legal custody of Jade.
However, TMZ reported in 2015 that De Laurentiis was ordered to pay her ex-husband $9,000 a month in child support. Now, Jade is a legal adult.
Why didn’t Giada De Laurentiis have more kids?
De Laurentiis has been open about the fact that her demanding schedule as a chef is what kept her from having more kids. “Maybe I would have had more if I hadn’t had this career, but it is what it is,” she told Haute Living. “I love it, and hopefully I won’t ever regret it. But for right now, I don’t.”
The celebrity chef has maintained that she is happy with one child, although she added, “Some of my family tells me that when I’m in my 70s or 80s, I’m going to regret not having more kids, but for right now, I love the one I have; she is fabulous. I’ve been able to take her all over the world with me.”
Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+
