A Comprehensive Guide to Madonna’s Family: Meet Her 6 Children

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A Comprehensive Guide to Madonna's Family: Meet Her 6 Children

While Madonna is best known for being the Queen of Pop, she considers motherhood to be one of her greatest achievements. Madonna became a mom in October 1996 when she welcomed daughter Lourdes Leon with her then-partner, Carlos Leon. The couple split the following year. In 1998, the “Material Girl” performer started dating Guy Ritchie. Two years later, the pair welcomed son Rocco in August 2000, tying the knot the day after their little one’s christening in December 2000. During her marriage to Ritchie, Madonna founded her charity, Raising Malawi, which supports orphans in the African country with educational and medical resources. While on a humanitarian trip to Malawi in October 2006, she and the director decided to adopt son David Banda, who was 13 months old at the time. However, Madonna and Ritchie had to wait two more years for the Malawi High Court to approve the adoption. David Banda was 3 when they officially became his parents. In October 2008, the “Like A Prayer” singer and Ritchie split, citing “irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their breakup. After settling their divorce in December 2008, Madonna went on to adopt Mercy, who was also born in Malawi, in 2009. Madonna completed her family when she adopted her twin daughters, Stella and Estere, in 2017. Keep scrolling to get to know Madonna’s six children:

Credit: AP/Shutterstock

A Comprehensive Guide to Madonna's Family: Meet Her 6 Children

While Madonna is best known for being the Queen of Pop, she considers motherhood to be one of her greatest achievements. Madonna became a mom in October 1996 when she welcomed daughter Lourdes Leon with her then-partner, Carlos Leon. The couple split the following year. In 1998, the “Material Girl” performer started dating Guy Ritchie. Two years later, the pair welcomed son Rocco in August 2000, tying the knot the day after their little one’s christening in December 2000. During her marriage to Ritchie, Madonna founded her charity, Raising Malawi, which supports orphans in the African country with educational and medical resources. While on a humanitarian trip to Malawi in October 2006, she and the director decided to adopt son David Banda, who was 13 months old at the time. However, Madonna and Ritchie had to wait two more years for the Malawi High Court to approve the adoption. David Banda was 3 when they officially became his parents. In October 2008, the “Like A Prayer” singer and Ritchie split, citing “irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their breakup. After settling their divorce in December 2008, Madonna went on to adopt Mercy, who was also born in Malawi, in 2009. Madonna completed her family when she adopted her twin daughters, Stella and Estere, in 2017. Keep scrolling to get to know Madonna’s six children:

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Lourdes

Madonna first found out she and then-boyfriend Carlos Leon were expecting while the pop icon was filming Evita in1996. The singer’s first-born was the inspiration behind the musician’s song, “Little Star." 

In 2021, Lourdes opened up to Interview magazine about how strict her mother was with her throughout her childhood. “My mom is such a control freak, and she has controlled me my whole life,” she confessed. “I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school.”

She attended the University of Michigan’s School of Music Theatre & Dance, the same school her mom briefly attended before making it big in the music industry. Lourdes revealed in October 2021 she paid her way through college by using the funds from the Material Girl clothing line she and her mother founded.

Since graduating, Lourdes has focused on her modeling career. She has worked with Rihanna's Savage x Fenty line, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Swarovski and Mugler. Lourdes has also been featured in spreads for Vogue and Vanity Fair. In August 2022, Lourdes followed in her mother’s footsteps in the music industry and released her debut single, "Lock & Key."

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Rocco

After Madonna and Ritchie split, the two had a heated custody battle over Rocco. Madonna’s eldest son chose to live with his dad in London during his teenage years. "She's a good mother … She's very strict but in a good way," Rocco told Ellen DeGeneres of his mom in 2012.

Rocco is now a model and actor. He appeared in his mom’s 2015 video for her hit song "Bitch I'm Madonna." He also creates arts under the moniker, Rhed. In an interview with Vogue Hong Kong, the artist shared how his parents inspired his artistic passions.  

“It certainly helped growing up in a house that was passionate about art and culture,” he said at the time. “Neither of my parents are painters, but both are artists in their own right and they taught me to appreciate and respect it.”

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David Banda

David Banda was adopted by the pop star as a baby in 2006. More than a decade later, Madonna moved her family to Portugal in 2017 so her younger son could accomplish his dreams of being a soccer player.

In addition to his athletic goals, David Banda also has a passion for performing. In June 2022, he joined his mom at her New York City Pride variety show to display his dance skills and comedic prowess. Like his mom, David also has an interest in fashion.  

In 2019, Madonna opened up about her special connection with her middle to British Vogue. "[He's] the one I have the most in common with," she said at the time. "I feel like he gets me; he has more of my DNA than any of my children so far."

Madonna, who frequently shares footage of her children via social media, has shared several clips of David Banda dancing on her profile. In an upload of his own, David Banda revealed in July 2024 that he moved out of his mother’s New York City home in favor of an apartment in the Bronx with girlfriend Maria Atuesta. At the time, he made headlines after joking on an Instagram Live that he was “scavenging” for food.

“To all of those concerned. My mother is very supportive of me,” David Banda later clarified. “She has always been supportive of me. I am very happy in my life and I am not living on the streets, starving!”

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Mercy

Madonna adopted Mercy in 2009 when the little girl was 2 years old. In July 2017, the "Frozen" artist opened the first pediatric surgery and intensive care center in Malawi and named it after her daughter.

In January 2023, the “Music” songstress went all out for her daughter’s 17th birthday party and showed off the special occasion on her social media. “Happy birthday Chifundo! We Love You!!” she wrote via her Instagram Story.

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Stella and Estere

The twin girls were adopted by the musician in 2017 when they were 5 years old. Madonna has shown off Stella’s piano skills via her Instagram account. the sisters aldo have a joint account where they post pictures of their friends and family.