Millie Bobby Brown, known for her roles in popular TV shows and movies, has recently announced her engagement to her partner Jake Bongiovi. And as the 20-year-old, who comes from a family with a notable legacy in the entertainment industry as the son of 80s icon Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea Hurley, steps further into the limelight, it’s worth noting that even the Bon Jovi family has faced their own challenges despite their close-knit reputation in show business.
Jon Bon Jovi, the father of Jake Bongiovi, has openly shared his struggles with mental health. Also, his daughter Stephanie has experienced being hospitalized due to a drug overdose.
As Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi are embarking on their journey, it’s interesting to reflect on the struggles that Jake’s famous family has faced. Despite being seen as one of Hollywood’s enduring couples, with a marriage that has spanned 34 years, Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea have had their share of struggles. The couple, who were high school sweethearts, tied the knot in Las Vegas in 1989 after being together for nine years. They have four children, Stephanie, 30, Jesse, 28, Jake, 20, and Romeo, 19.
Dorothea has previously shared that she and Jon made efforts to protect their children from the spotlight that comes with their fame, telling PEOPLE: “We never really drag the kids to things.”
She added: “I never pointed at the TV and said, ‘There’s Daddy!’ “We try hard just to give our kids a normal life.”In 2012, Stephanie, the eldest child of Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea, was hospitalized at the age of 19 due to opioid use. It was a challenging time for the family, and Jon later spoke about the ordeal in a 2013 interview. He told The Mirror: “It was horrible, a horrible moment.” It was my worst moment as a father. She was by no means sticking needles in her arms.”
Jon added: “There’s a lot of synthetic stuff in the world, and a lot of temptation, access, and pressures that just a generation ago you and I didn’t know about.”
“I feel it was a terrible, tragic lesson of life, but I thank God every day because she is whole. It happened, and it has gone. I know personally of people whose sons and daughters, where it was a lot, lot worse. That could have been Stephanie.” In 2016, Jon Bon Jovi revealed his own profound battle with mental health, acknowledging that the preceding three years were some of the most difficult in his life. It emerged following the departure of his longtime guitarist Richie Sambora from the band after 30 years
He told The Mirror: “It was a very, very difficult time that I haven’t fully rebounded from yet, but my wife has been phenomenal. “Without her, I am not sure how I would have coped.”
Jon Bon Jovi has previously disclosed that he experienced a breakdown in 1991 following the release of Bon Jovi’s third album, Slippery When Wet, and grueling back-to-back touring, which left him utterly exhausted. During this time, he sought help from a psychologist and admitted to contemplating suicide by considering jumping out of a moving car. He added: “I am not ready to share it in full, but it was not pretty. But I am working towards it. It was similar to that period in retrospect.”
Jon continued: “I found acting at that time, which gave me a release. There was no release this time around, but there were just as many difficulties.”
John Francis Bongiovi Jr., widely known as Jon Bon Jovi, has indeed made a name for himself as a rock star, actor, and the founder and frontman of the renowned band Bon Jovi. He formed the band in 1983, along with David Bryan, Tico Torres, Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald, and together they have released an impressive 15 studio albums. In addition to his work with the band, Jon has also ventured into solo music, debuting with his album Blaze of Glory in 1990. Over the years, he has produced numerous chart-topping hits, including iconic tracks like “It’s My Life” and “Livin’ On A Prayer.”
Dorothea, Jon Bon Jovi’s wife, is a karate instructor. The couple met during their school years, and their love story has endured the ups and downs of fame.
Jon has spoken openly about his enduring romance with his high school sweetheart in a 2020 interview, highlighting the strong bond and unwavering support that he and Dorothea share. “Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. “We want to hang out,” he told The People, adding: “I was immediately drawn to her from the minute I saw her – and that’s never changed – 40 years ago.”
Jon further stated: “We enjoy each other and we never fell for the trappings of what celebrity can do. We’ve witnessed that happen over the years to people that were close to us and people that we knew from afar.”
After residing in New Jersey for an extended period, the Bon Jovi family relocated to a luxurious mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. However, in August 2020, they sold the property for $20 million and simultaneously purchased a new seaside mansion in Palm Beach for a reported $43 million. Jon has since expressed his fondness for the South Florida region and is often spotted spending leisurely moments at the coastal resort with friends, as mentioned by the Palm Beach Daily News.
In addition to his successful music career, Jon and his wife Dorothea are also known for their philanthropic efforts. They are the founders of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
On April 11, Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi announced their engagement with sweet messages on Instagram. Millie wrote, “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want ’em all,” while Jake simply wrote “forever” alongside two photos of the couple on his own page. To commemorate the joyous occasion, the couple had a beach-themed photoshoot, with Millie donning a crochet dress and Jake wearing a cream polo shirt
Rumors about Millie Bobby Brown’s engagement had been circulating on social media in recent weeks, and the announcement confirmed the suspicions.
