Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Reportedly Got Engaged "Years Ago": What We Know

Are Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin engaged? The signs point to yes! Amid a particularly busy season of promo for the actress' recent projects (including the release of Madame Web, a Saturday Night Live hosting gig and the launch of her new book club), The Mirror reported that Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin are set to tie the knot. "They have been besotted with each other from day one so taking this next step was inevitable," an inside source told the British tabloid on March 6. "They are in no rush to plan the wedding but are just enjoying making their commitment official." The outlet also claimed that the couple received a blessing from the Coldplay frontman's former wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he shares two kids.

On March 8, a source told People that the couple "got engaged years ago but were in no rush to get married." News of Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson's engagement comes just days after the 50 Shades of Gray star opened up about being a stepmother to his children in an interview with Bustle, saying, "I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart."

We break down everything we know about the couple's romance—including their six-year relationship timeline—here.

In this article:

• Are Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Engaged?
• How Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson Met
• Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin's Relationship Timeline

Are Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Engaged?

After The Mirror reported that Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin got engaged, a source confirmed the news to People, saying they "got engaged years ago but were in no rush to get married."

The couple has yet to comment on the engagement news themselves, which isn't exactly a surprise. The two have remained tight-lipped about their romance throughout their six-year relationship, only offering up occasional tidbits about their lives together.

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How Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson Met

It's believed that Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson met through mutual friends. The couple's relationship began three years after Martin famously "consciously uncoupled' with his former wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, in 2014. Their divorce was finalized in 2016, and Martin and Johnson began dating in 2017. Paltrow went on to marry director Brad Falchuck in 2018, and the four maintain a close relationship with each other.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin's Relationship Timeline

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have been quietly dating for about six years. Look back on the couple's complete relationship timeline, from their first date to all the times they've sparked engagement rumors.

October 2017: Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson Are Seen on a Date

Whispers of a Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin relationship took off in October 2017, when they were spotted on a sushi dinner date in Los Angeles. The following month, fans were quick to spot Johnson in the crowd at a Coldplay concert in Argentina.

May 2018: Melanie Griffith Gives Chris Martin Her Stamp of Approval

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin continued to enjoy each other's company throughout the beginning of 2018. Cameras captured the couple going on dinner dates, taking long beach walks and attending events together.

In the spring, Johnson's parents—actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith—seemed to confirm her relationship. When asked about her romance in an interview with Digital Spy, Don said, "Yeah, that's... uh troubling, isn't it? No, she's a big girl, she can handle herself!" Then, a few weeks later, Griffith gave her seal of approval during a luncheon event. "I adore him!" she said, adding, "She is very private about her life and I respect that."

August 2019: Dakota Johnson Spends Time with Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow

One big happy family! In August 2019, Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin were photographed enjoying a beach day in the Hamptons with his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow and her new husband Brad Falchuck. It wasn't the first time they met, though. The blended family reportedly celebrated Thanksgiving together in 2018 with Martin and Paltrow's kids Apple and Moses. At the time, a source told People, "They're a total modern family and had a great time celebrating together."

January 2020: Gwyneth Paltrow Says She "Loves" Dakota Johnson

Photo: Michael Buckner/WWD/Penske Media | Getty Images

During a candid interview with Harper's Bazaar in January 2020, Paltrow opened up about her relationship with her former husband's new girlfriend, saying nothing but positive things. "I love her," Paltrow told the outlet. "I can see how it would seem weird because it's sort of unconventional. But I think, in this case, just having passed through it iteratively, I just adore her. I always start to think of the ampersand sign—what else can you bring in, instead of being resistant to or being made insecure by? There's so much juice in leaning into something like that."

February 2020: Dakota Johnson Directs a Coldplay Music Video

The following month, Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin took their relationship to new professional heights when the actress directed Coldplay's music video for "Cry Cry Cry." She later told Marie Claire that she treated it like any other job. "I wrote the story and pitched it to the band like every other director did, and they chose mine—not because they're partial to me at all," she said coyly

December 2020: Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Spark Engagement Rumors

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin sparked engagement rumors for the first time in December 2020 when the actress was spotted wearing an emerald ring on her left hand.

December 2021: Dakota Johnson Opens Up About Her Relationship

After quietly moving in together in Malibu in January 2021, Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson continued to keep a low profile throughout the year. In a rare conversation with Elle, Johnson opened up about what daily life is like for her and her boyfriend. "We've been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes, but we both work so much that it's nice to be at home and be cozy and private," she said. "Most of the partying takes place inside my house."

April 2022: Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson Celebrate Barbara Streisand's Birthday

Photo: @BarbaraStreisand | Instagram

In April 2022, Johnson and Martin helped music legend Barbara Streisand ring in her 80th birthday. The singer shared a snap from her party, which shows the couple with their arms around each other, captioning it, "With friends at my recent tea party."

March 2023: Chris Martin Shares How Dakota Johnson Helped Improve Coldplay Shows

During an appearance on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast, Martin revealed that his girlfriend introduced him to SubPacs, a device that helps hearing-impaired people feel vibrations at a concert. "Dakota, my partner, gave me one as a gift because she saw someone online experiencing whatever they are experiencing with this. It's kind of like body armor that you put on. It connects to the bass," he explained, adding that the technology helped improve his band's shows.

"So, we started using it and it's been so amazing and it should get better and better," he continued. "We have ten or twenty now of those packs. So, if you're hearing impaired we have an area where you put on the pack and you can feel the show."

March 2024: Dakota Johnson Opens Up About Being a Stepmother to Chris Martin's Kids

Considering her tight-knit friendship with Gwyneth Paltrow, it's no surprise that Dakota Johnson takes the role of stepmother seriously. In a March 2024 cover story with Bustle, the Daddio star opened up about her relationship with her boyfriend's children, Apple and Moses. "I love those kids like my life depends on it," she said. "With all my heart."

March 2024: Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Spark Engagement Rumors… Again

Off the heels of her candid conversation with Bustle, The Mirror reported that Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin got engaged "a while ago." An insider confirmed this to People, saying they're "in no rush to get married."