If he first built his reputation thanks to an international career for more than 50 years, Julio Iglesias is today talked about for darker reasons. He has been at the heart of the news recently with cases of illegal transport of food but also accusations of harassment and of course concerning the disputed parentage for many years of his alleged son. A look back at his life and his career.
Julio Iglesias, whose full name is José Iglesias de la Cueva, was born on September 23, 1943 in Madrid. Now aged 82, he is recognized as the best-selling Spanish singer in the worldwith more than 300 million records sold in 14 languages. The Spanish singer divides his time between Miami, the Bahamas and Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), where he resides with his wife Miranda Rijnsburger. In April 2025, he would also have acquired a vast estate in Galicia (Spain), his region of origin.
Regarding his professional life, Julio Iglesias has acquired the status of “living legend” for his entire career. Although he never officially retired, he gradually withdrew from the scene and no longer offers tours. If some pointed to his state of health as being the cause of his withdrawal, the singer denied the rumors and assured to be doing very well despite rare appearances in public in recent years.
Who are the two women in his life with whom he had 8 children?
Julio Iglesias therefore seems to be enjoying his life quietly, after a busy career and descendants provided by his 8 children that he had with two women. The Spanish icon had a busy love life, shared between two great loves. He marries first Isabel Preysler in 1971 before a divorce in 1979. From this union were born three childrenÂ: Chabeli in 1971 who became a journalist, Julio Junior born in 1973 and who pursued a career as a singer and model and finally Enriqueborn in 1975. The latter is the best known of his children and has succeeded in forging himself on his own.
In the 90s, Julio found love again in his arms from a former Dutch model prénommée Miranda Rijnburger and 22 years his junior. Together they had 5 children who grew up far from the cameras: Miguel Alejandro born in 1997, Rodrigo born in 1999, twins named Cristina and Victoria in 2001 and Guillermo born in 2007. After more than twenty years spent together, the two lovebirds decided to get married during a small ceremony in Marbella, Spain, on August 24, 2010 when they were 66 and 44 years old respectively. Today, the couple is still together.
Illegitimate son of Julio Iglesias: why was this man recognized before the decision was overturned?
In the Iglesias dynasty, his third child, Enrique Iglesias knew how to make people talk about him. He also made a career in the music industry with over 100 million albums sold. In terms of his private life, the Spanish singer also seems very fulfilled alongside Anna Kourkinova with whom he had 4 children, the last of whom was born on December 17, 2025.
Career, love, children… if everything seems idyllic in the life of Julio Iglesias, there is nevertheless a shadow on the board. Since the end of the 90s, the singer has been at the heart of a case of illegitimate filiation. Javier Sanchez-Santos, born in 1976, claims to be the son of the singer, the result of an affair with his mother, a Portuguese dancer. But Julio Iglesias has always refused to carry out a DNA test. After ruling in favor of parentage in 1999, the courts ruled in this direction again in 2019. Particularly because of his refusal of a paternity test, the court of Valencia in Spain ruled in favor of his alleged son. Since then, Julio Iglesias has appealed and in 2020 and 2021, the court decision was overturned. Javier Santos is therefore not officially recognized as his son at present.
