Matt Damon Gave Grandma's Ring to Bartender after She Turned Him Down — He's Never Left Her for More than 2 Weeks

Matt Damon once believed marriage wasn't for him. However, after fate brought him and his wife, Luciana Barroso, together, his mind changed. Two decades after the couple first crossed paths, Damon and Barroso are still happily married and are parents to four lovely children. Here are the details of their love story.

American Actor and Film Producer Matt Damon is undoubtedly one of Hollywood's A-listers that has reached heights many did not think were possible. His time in the entertainment industry, spanning over three decades, has been rewarded with several roles and awards.

But the actor's blessings do not end with his thriving Hollywood career, as away from the big screen, he boasts a beautiful love story. Damon has been married to his Argentine wife, Luciana Barroso, for 17 years.

However, unknown to many, there was a time when the Golden Globes award winner thought he would never get married. Damon once recalled when he attended his brother's wedding in his early 30s and thought he would never find his soul mate.

According to the actor, his brother, Kyle, had found the love of his life at a very young age and walked down the aisle with her when he was only 26.

Damon made it known that in the years that followed, he looked at Kyle and how beautiful his marriage was and thought to himself, "I guess that's not going to happen for me." However, everything changed when he met a certain bartender in Miami, who eventually became his wife.

How Did Matt Damon and His Wife Meet?

Damon and Barroso first crossed paths in one of the most unexpected ways in 2003. During a 2011 chat on "The Ellen Show," the "The Last Duel" star opened up about the circumstances surrounding him and Barroso's first encounter.

As a result, the film producer once made it known that there is a two-week rule in the family, which states that family members are not allowed to be apart for more than two weeks.

According to Damon, in 2002, he met up with the Farrelly brothers to discuss filming the comedy "Stuck On You." After the meeting, they decided that the shooting would take place in Hawaii, but later on, the movie was moved to Miami.

So, one fateful night in April 2003, in the middle of the shoot, some guys on set decided to go for a drink and invited Damon. The actor revealed that initially, he was not interested but later agreed after much persuasion. Coincidentally, the group went to the bar where Barroso worked as a bartender. Damon told Ellen DeGeneres:

"I literally saw her across a crowded room."

However, the actor made no move until the people in the bar recognized him and began asking for pictures and autographs. At some point, things became aggressive, and Damon needed to get away from the fans.

So, he hid behind Barroso's bar, but the Argentine bartender did not let him hide idly. The actor had trained to be a bartender for one of his movies, so Barroso put his skills to good use. Damon began making drinks, and from there, he and the bartender developed a connection.

At the end of the fun night, Damon invited Barroso to hang out with his friends, but she declined because she had a four-year-old daughter, Alexia, to look after. Rather than consider having a child as a complication, Damon liked that Barroso was a mom who prioritized her daughter. Eventually, the pair started dating, and in September 2005, the Hollywood star popped the big question.

Details of Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso's Wedding

On December 9, 2005, Damon and Barroso exchanged wedding vows at a private civil ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau.

There were many beautiful things about the ceremony, but one of the most significant was the wedding rings. During a chat with Parade, Damon noted that the piece of jewelry was something that meant a great deal to him.

According to the actor, his grandmother had passed her wedding ring to his mother in her will. Due to Damon's grandfather's small finances, the jewelry had little diamonds that were of low quality.

But even though the ring was not the most luxurious piece, the actor's parents stayed married for about 60 years. Eventually, the ring got to Damon's mother, who gave it to the actor when he told her he was marrying Barroso.

According to the icon, the jewelry had six little diamonds, which he split with Barroso — the pair put three diamonds inside Damon's band, and the other three went inside Barroso's. Overall, the couple was thrilled about carrying the best part of Damon's grandparents' marriage with them.

Following the lovebirds' marriage, Damon adopted Barroso's daughter, Alexia, and since then, he has treated her like his own. In the words of the former bartender, who feels lucky to have her husband in her life (via Closer weekly):

"I couldn't have asked for a better stepfather for my daughter than Matt. Matt has been an absolute blessing for my daughter."

Inside Matt Damon's Life as a Family Man

Besides Alexia, Damon and Barroso are doting parents to three girls. Their first daughter, Isabella, was born on June 11, 2006; the second, Gia, arrived in 2008; and the third, Stella, joined the brood in 2010.

Since the arrival of his kids, Damon has been candid about what it feels like to be a girl dad. In a 2012 interview with Today, the actor explained:

"I never expected to be surrounded by girls, but it's great… You never know which way life's going to take you. I'm learning so much, not the least of which is how much smarter girls are."

Besides gushing about them in public, Damon loves spending time with his girls, including his wife. As a result, the film producer once made it known that there is a two-week rule in the family, which states that family members are not allowed to be apart for more than two weeks.

Despite his busy career, Damon said he could not break the rule, as it was firmly established. The family of six is closely knit, and the actor could not have wished for anything less. After 17 years of marriage with his wife, he remains an inspiration to many young men.