The Three Wives And Seven Children Of Quincy Jones: Inside The Legendary Producer’s Complex Love Life

The legendary Quincy Jones, Jr., who passed away in November 2024, left behind a monumental legacy in music, film, and culture, but his personal life was just as complex and influential as his career. This article, updated for December 2025, delves into the lives of the three women he married and the seven children who carry on his formidable artistic and personal heritage. Jones was famously candid about his unconventional approach to relationships, once claiming to have had 22 girlfriends at one time, yet his three marriages to Jerri Caldwell, Ulla Andersson, and Peggy Lipton formed the core of his family life and spanned three pivotal decades of his career. His enduring impact as a producer, composer, and cultural titan is undeniable, but it is through his family that his story truly continues. From his high school sweetheart to a Swedish supermodel and a Hollywood actress, Jones’s wives were powerful women in their own right, each leaving an indelible mark on his life and contributing to his extraordinary family tree.

Quincy Jones: A Biographical Snapshot and Family Tree

Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, and died on November 3, 2024, at the age of 91. His career was a relentless pursuit of musical excellence, from arranging for Count Basie and Frank Sinatra to producing Michael Jackson’s biggest albums, including Thriller. His personal life was equally dynamic, resulting in three marriages and seven children with five different women.

Quincy Jones's Wives and Children:

• First Wife: Jerri Caldwell
  • Marriage: 1957–1966 (9 Years)
  • Child: Jolie Jones Levine (b. 1959)
• Second Wife: Ulla Andersson (Ulla Jones)
  • Marriage: 1967–1974 (7 Years)
  • Children: Martina Jones (b. 1967) and Quincy Jones III (b. 1968)
• Third Wife: Peggy Lipton
  • Marriage: 1974–1990 (16 Years)
  • Children: Kidada Jones (b. 1974) and Rashida Jones (b. 1976)
• Significant Partner (Not Married): Nastassja Kinski
  • Relationship: 1992–1995
  • Child: Kenya Kinski-Jones (b. 1993)

Jones also had two other daughters, Rachel Jones (b. 1963) and Della Jones, from relationships that did not lead to marriage, bringing his total number of children to seven. The family today includes numerous grandchildren, such as Isaiah Jones Koenig, Quincy Renzo Delight Jones IV, and Nea Jones, who continue the family's creative lineage.

The First Chapter: Jerri Caldwell and the Seattle Years

Jerri Caldwell was Quincy Jones’s high school sweetheart, a relationship that began in Seattle, Washington, where Jones spent his formative years. Their connection was rooted in the shared experiences of their youth before Jones’s career exploded onto the international stage. They married in 1957, a time when Jones was just beginning to establish himself as a serious jazz arranger and bandleader.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

The marriage produced his eldest daughter, Jolie Jones Levine. Jolie, born in 1959, has gone on to have a successful career as a model, actress, and singer, often citing her father's influence on her artistic path. The demands of Jones's rapidly ascending career—constant touring, long hours in the studio, and the pressures of the jazz world—ultimately took their toll on the young couple. They divorced in 1966, a common narrative for musicians struggling to balance a burgeoning global career with a stable family life. Caldwell, who has one acting credit to her name, has largely maintained a private life since their split, but her daughter Jolie remains an active figure in the arts.

The European Connection: Ulla Andersson and the Rise of a Global Star

Just a year after his divorce from Caldwell, Jones married his second wife, Ulla Andersson, in 1967. Andersson, a striking Swedish model, actress, photographer, and singer-songwriter, brought a new, international dimension to Jones’s personal life. She was a prominent figure in the European fashion and arts scene, meeting Jones at a party for Frank Sinatra, a frequent collaborator of Jones's.

Their seven-year marriage, which lasted from 1967 to 1974, produced two children: Martina Jones and Quincy Jones III, affectionately known as 'QD3'. Quincy Jones III has followed directly in his father's footsteps, becoming a highly successful music producer, composer, and documentary filmmaker, particularly in the hip-hop genre. Ulla retired from modeling shortly after their marriage to focus on raising their children, though she later returned to her own creative pursuits as a photographer and artist.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

Like his first marriage, this union was challenged by Jones's intense work schedule and the temptations that came with his growing fame and influence. The divorce in 1974 paved the way for the next, and arguably most public, chapter of his romantic life.

The Hollywood Power Couple: Peggy Lipton and the Jones Sisters

Quincy Jones’s third marriage to actress Peggy Lipton was perhaps his most high-profile. Lipton was a cultural icon in her own right, best known for her role as Julie Barnes on the groundbreaking 1960s TV series, The Mod Squad, and later for her role as Norma Jennings in the cult classic Twin Peaks. They married in 1974, the same year his divorce from Andersson was finalized, and their marriage lasted 16 years, ending in divorce in 1990.

The couple had two daughters who have become major figures in the entertainment industry: Kidada Jones and Rashida Jones. Kidada is a successful actress, model, and stylist, known for her work in fashion and film. Rashida Jones is a critically acclaimed actress, writer, and producer, starring in popular shows like Parks and Recreation and films such as The Social Network. Their mixed-race marriage was a significant cultural milestone in Hollywood at the time, particularly in the 1970s.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

Lipton took a hiatus from acting to focus on raising her daughters, a decision she later reflected on as necessary for her family. The divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, marked the end of Jones’s marriages. Peggy Lipton passed away on May 11, 2019, from colon cancer, a loss deeply felt by Jones and their daughters, who were by her side.

The Unconventional Legacy: Relationships Beyond Marriage

Following his divorce from Peggy Lipton, Quincy Jones never remarried. However, his love life remained a subject of intense public fascination. His most notable relationship after Lipton was with German actress Nastassja Kinski, with whom he had his youngest daughter, Kenya Kinski-Jones, in 1993. Kenya is a successful fashion model, further cementing the family's presence in the creative world.

In his later years, Jones became known for his candid and often surprising comments about his romantic life. He famously told a magazine in 2018 that he had 22 girlfriends around the world, all of whom were aware of each other, reflecting his belief that love should not be confined by traditional monogamous structures. This philosophy, which he attributed to his workaholic nature and desire for freedom, perhaps offers the most profound insight into why his three marriages, despite being full of love and mutual respect, ultimately ended.

The women Quincy Jones married were more than just his wives; they were foundational partners during key periods of his career, and mothers to a new generation of artists, producers, and creative professionals. The Jones family legacy is a testament to the complex, creative, and enduring bonds forged through music, love, and the pursuit of a truly extraordinary life.