NEED TO KNOW
- Reese Witherspoon has been linked to Oliver Haarmann since 2024
- A source told PEOPLE in October 2024 that the two were “having fun” together
- The Legally Blonde actress was seen packing on the PDA with the German financier in July 2025
Reese Witherspoon looks smitten with boyfriend Oliver Haarmann!
The Morning Show actress has been dating the German financier since 2024, and the two were seen packing on the PDA during a romantic vacation in July 2025. In photos obtained by PEOPLE, the couple were photographed kissing and hugging while taking in the sights on a yacht off the coast of Saint-Tropez, France.
PEOPLE confirmed in September 2024 that Witherspoon and Haarmann were dating after they were seen spending time together in New York City earlier that year in July. At the time, a source told PEOPLE that Witherspoon was “taking things slow when it comes to dating.” Another insider shared that they were “having fun” and that she “often flies between Nashville and N.Y.C. to see him.”
Witherspoon’s relationship with Haarmann marked her first public romance since getting divorced from Jim Toth in August 2023. The former couple share son Tennessee James Toth. Witherspoon also has daughter Ava Phillippe and son Deacon Phillippe with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.
So, who is Reese Witherspoon’s boyfriend, Oliver Haarmann? Here’s everything to know about the financier and their romance.
He is a financier
Haarmann is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard University, the latter of which he earned a master’s in business administration from, per his LinkedIn. The financier started his career at KKR, a global investment firm in London, before leaving to found Searchlight Capital Partners, a private equity firm, in 2010.
He has continued his role as a partner where he works with his two cofounders to oversee the firm’s activities and portfolio, per his bio on their website.
He is a minority owner of the New York Islanders
In December 2023, Sportico reported that Haarmann was in negotiations to buy 10% of the New York Islanders. A couple of months later, The New York Post reported that the Islanders confirmed Haarmann did buy a stake in the team, making him the second person to do so in one year.
He was previously married
Like Witherspoon, Haarmann was previously married. He and his ex-wife, Mala Gaonkar, divorced after welcoming two children together.
Gaonkar is a successful financier herself, starting her own hedge fund, SurgoCap Partners, in 2022. Like her ex-husband, she graduated from Harvard University with a master’s in business administration. Before founding her own fund, Gaonkar worked as a founding partner of investment firm Lone Pine Capital.
She also is a writer, collaborating with musician David Byrne to write an immersive theater performance in 2016. The two attended the Academy Awards together in March 2023.
He has his own charity
Along with his ex-wife Gaonkar and their friend, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation veteran Sema Sgaier, Haarmann founded a charity, Surgo Foundation.
“If you don’t actually listen to people and find out what they really care about, you’re not helping anyone,” Gaonkar told W in May 2017 of the charity’s purpose.
He and Witherspoon were first spotted having dinner in July 2024
Witherspoon and Haarmann dined at L’Artusi in N.Y.C. in July 2024 after flying into the city via helicopter the previous day.
“She enjoys it but doesn’t want it to be a big focus. She’s busy with work and her son,” a source told PEOPLE of Witherspoon’s perspective on dating. “These are her biggest priorities.”
Before her meetup with Haarmann in the city, Witherspoon spent time with pals Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz over the weekend.
Witherspoon has been open about her struggles after her divorce
Witherspoon’s dinner with Haarmann came a year after her divorce with Toth was finalized.
“It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” Witherspoon and Toth said in a statement when announcing their split in March 2023. “We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together.”
She has previously spoken about the difficulties she experienced following her split, telling Harper’s Bazaar in August 2023 that sharing her story herself felt more “authentic” than letting others tell it, as they did during her split with Phillippe.
“To be able to talk to people directly about what’s going on in my life and just share it in the way that I share great professional experiences or personal experiences, it feels much more authentic to be able to say things in my own voice and not let somebody else control what’s happening,” she said.
“Then, of course, there’s speculation, but I can’t control that. All I can do is be my most honest, forthright self and be vulnerable,” she added.
Witherspoon shared that while the divorce was a “vulnerable” time for her, she felt “very connected” with those going through the same thing as her.
Witherspoon and Haarmann were seen kissing in July 2025
One year after they first sparked romance rumors, Witherspoon and Haarmann were seen kissing and hugging while spending time together off the coast of Saint-Tropez. They were photographed swimming in the water while smiling and sharing sweet moments together.
Prior to their yacht outing, a source told PEOPLE in October 2024 that he had been getting to know her two sons.
“He’s spending time with her kids too,” the insider shared. “Reese loves that he’s a businessman and not into Hollywood.”
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