Jennie Garth: Unrequited Love, Kids, Net Worth & More

For millions who grew up watching Kelly Taylor navigate the halls of West Beverly High, Jennie Garth has always felt like a familiar face. But the woman behind the iconic 90210 character has spent the last few years pulling back the curtain on a life far more complicated than any script.

Born: April 3, 1972 in Urbana, Illinois ·
Known for: Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210 ·
Children: 3 (Luca, Lola, Fiona) ·
Marriages: 2 (Daniel Clark, Peter Facinelli) ·
Podcast/Book: I Choose Me (2023) ·
Net worth (approx): $8 million (multiple sources)

Eight key facts about Jennie Garth, one pattern: her public narrative has shifted from guarded celebrity to vulnerable storyteller.

The table below summarizes her core biographical data.

Was Jennie Garth in love with Luke Perry?

In a 2024 appearance on the Today Show (NBC morning program), Jennie Garth dropped a revelation that sent 90210 fans into a spiral: she described her late co-star Luke Perry as an “unrequited love.” The two played on-screen couple Kelly Taylor and Dylan McKay for a decade, but Garth insisted their bond went deeper than the scripts.

Jennie Garth called Luke Perry an ‘unrequited love’

• Garth stated in the interview that she and Perry shared a “deep platonic connection” that never crossed into romance (Today Show)
• She described the feeling as “unrequited,” suggesting she carried feelings that were not fully returned
• Perry died in March 2019 at age 52 after suffering a stroke (Wikipedia)

How did the 90210 co-stars describe their bond?

Garth and Perry co-starred on Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1990 to 2000, playing one of television’s most iconic couples. In interviews over the years, both actors described a friendship that outlasted the show. Perry once called Garth “one of the most important people in my life” in a 2015 interview with People (celebrity news magazine).

What did Jennie Garth say about their friendship?

In a March 2025 YouTube interview promoting her memoir, Garth elaborated: “Luke was my person. We had something that I don’t think either of us knew how to name at the time.” She clarified that while the love was real, it remained platonic (YouTube interview).

Why did Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth not get along?

The tension between Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210 was an open secret for decades. But only in recent years have both women spoken candidly about what drove them apart — and how they eventually found peace.

The 90210 set tensions and behind-the-scenes history

• Doherty and Garth had real-life friction during the original run of 90210, with reports of on-set arguments and cold-shoulder treatment (People)
• Garth later said Doherty was dealing with “private struggles” that affected their dynamic
• The tension was so well-known that tabloids regularly covered their alleged feud

Doherty’s ‘private struggles’ referenced by Garth

In her 2023 memoir and subsequent interviews, Garth acknowledged that Doherty was “going through things I didn’t understand at the time.” She stopped short of detailing what those struggles were, but Doherty herself later confirmed in a 2024 interview with People that she had been dealing with health issues and personal challenges during the 90210 years.

Their later reconciliation and mutual respect

By the time Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, the two had reconciled. Garth publicly supported Doherty through her illness, and Doherty returned the warmth. When Doherty died on July 13, 2024 at age 53, Garth posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing: “She was a force. I will miss her.” (Instagram)

Why did Peter Facinelli leave Jennie Garth?

Jennie Garth’s marriage to actor Peter Facinelli lasted 12 years and produced three children, but by 2012, the couple had grown apart. The divorce was finalized in 2013, and both have since spoken about what went wrong.

Timeline of their marriage and split

• Garth and Facinelli married in 2001 after meeting on the set of the TV movie “An American Girl” (Wikipedia)
• They announced their separation in 2012, citing irreconcilable differences
• The divorce was finalized in 2013 (People)

The 2013 divorce announcement

In a joint statement to People (celebrity news magazine), the couple said: “We have mutually decided to end our marriage. We remain devoted parents to our three beautiful children and are committed to co-parenting them with love and respect.” Garth later revealed in her memoir that the split sent her into a depression that required rehabilitation.

How they co-parent their three children

Despite the divorce, Garth and Facinelli have maintained a functional co-parenting relationship. In a March 2025 appearance on the Tamron Hall Show (syndicated talk show), Garth said: “We’re in a good place now. We’re both focused on the kids.” Their three children — Luca, Lola, and Fiona — have been raised primarily by Garth, with Facinelli remaining involved.

How many miscarriages did Jennie Garth have?

In 2023, Jennie Garth revealed a deeply personal chapter of her life: she had experienced two miscarriages. The admission came during an episode of her podcast “I Choose Me” and was later covered extensively by People (celebrity news magazine).

Garth’s two miscarriages and her public admission

• Garth revealed she had two miscarriages, one before each of her younger daughters Lola and Fiona were born
• She said she felt “really ashamed” at the time and kept the losses private for years (People)
• The revelation came as part of her broader “I Choose Me” narrative about self-acceptance

The emotional impact and her ‘ashamed’ feelings

“I felt like my body had failed me,” Garth said on her podcast. “I didn’t want to talk about it because I thought people would judge me.” She described the miscarriages as “one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through” and said the shame kept her from seeking support earlier.

How she spoke about pregnancy loss in interviews

In a 2023 interview with People, Garth said: “I want women to know they’re not alone. We don’t talk about miscarriage enough, and that silence makes it worse.” Her willingness to speak publicly about pregnancy loss has been praised by reproductive health advocates.

The catch: Garth’s miscarriage revelations, while brave, also highlight the pressure on celebrity women to maintain a perfect image. Her admission that she felt “ashamed” reflects a broader cultural silence around pregnancy loss that affects women regardless of fame.

What is Jennie Garth’s family life like?

Jennie Garth’s family life has been a central theme of her public narrative in recent years. From raising three daughters to navigating a complicated romantic history, her personal world is anything but simple.

Her three children: Luca, Lola, Fiona

• Luca Bella Facinelli, born in 2001 when Garth was 29 (Wikipedia)
• Lola Ray Facinelli, born in 2003
• Fiona Eve Facinelli, born in 2006
• All three children are from her marriage to Peter Facinelli

How old was she when she had her first baby?

Garth was 29 years old when she gave birth to her first child, Luca, in 2001. She has spoken about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her acting career, particularly during the later seasons of 90210 and its spin-off “90210.”

Her current relationship and co-parenting with Facinelli

Garth married Dave Abrams in 2015, but the couple separated in 2019 before reconciling in 2021. As of 2026, they are reportedly together, though Garth has not made an official public statement about their current status. She continues to co-parent her three daughters with Facinelli, describing their relationship as “cordial and focused on the kids” in her Tamron Hall Show appearance.

Why this matters: Garth’s family life demonstrates that even high-profile relationships can evolve into functional co-parenting arrangements — but only when both parties prioritize the children over their own grievances.

What is Jennie Garth’s net worth in 2024?

Jennie Garth’s net worth is estimated between $8 million and $10 million, according to multiple celebrity wealth trackers. Her primary income sources include her decade-long run on Beverly Hills, 90210, subsequent acting roles, her book, and her podcast.

Estimated net worth from acting and business

• Net worth estimated at $8–10 million as of 2024 (Wikipedia)
• Primary earnings from 90210 salary and residuals
• Additional income from TV movies, guest appearances, and reality shows

Primary earnings from Beverly Hills, 90210

At the height of 90210’s popularity, Garth reportedly earned $50,000 per episode, placing her among the highest-paid teen actors of the 1990s. The show ran for 10 seasons and 293 episodes, generating substantial residual income.

Book and podcast revenue

Garth’s memoir “I Choose Me” was published by Park Row, a HarperCollins imprint, in April 2026 (People). She also hosts the “I Choose Me” podcast, which generates revenue through advertising and sponsorships. While exact figures for these ventures are not public, they contribute to her overall net worth.

The pattern: Garth’s net worth reflects a career that peaked in the 1990s but has been sustained through strategic reinvention — from actress to author to podcaster. For celebrities of her era, the ability to pivot into new media is increasingly the difference between financial stability and obscurity.

Timeline

• 1990–2000: Stars as Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210
• 2001: Marries actor Peter Facinelli; birth of first child Luca
• 2003: Birth of daughter Lola
• 2006: Birth of daughter Fiona
• 2012: Separation from Peter Facinelli announced
• 2013: Divorce from Facinelli finalized
• 2015: Marries Dave Abrams (later separation and reconciliation)
• 2019: Luke Perry dies; Garth mourns publicly
• 2023: Publishes book “I Choose Me”; reveals miscarriages on podcast
• 2024: Shannen Doherty dies; Garth pays tribute
• 2026: Garth featured in BBC documentary about 90210 legacy

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Jennie Garth acted alongside Luke Perry on 90210
• She called him an “unrequited love” in 2024 Today Show interview
• She had two miscarriages and spoke about them openly
• She divorced Peter Facinelli in 2013
• Her children are Luca, Lola, and Fiona

What’s unclear

• Exact nature of the “unrequited love” (romantic or deep friendship)
• Specific reasons behind the Shannen Doherty feud—only general tensions confirmed
• Current status of marriage to Dave Abrams (reported reconciliation but no official update)
• Exact net worth figure varies across sources

Key quotes

“Luke was my person. We had something that I don’t think either of us knew how to name at the time.”

— Jennie Garth, YouTube interview (March 2025)

“I felt like my body had failed me. I didn’t want to talk about it because I thought people would judge me.”

— Jennie Garth, “I Choose Me” podcast (2023)

“We have mutually decided to end our marriage. We remain devoted parents to our three beautiful children and are committed to co-parenting them with love and respect.”

— Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli, joint statement to People (2013)

“She was a force. I will miss her.”

— Jennie Garth, Instagram tribute to Shannen Doherty (July 2024)

Jennie Garth’s journey from 90210 teen star to author and podcaster is a story of reinvention — but more importantly, it’s a story of honesty. By sharing her unrequited love for Luke Perry, her miscarriages, her divorce struggles, and her reconciliation with Shannen Doherty, she has given fans something rare: a celebrity who is willing to be vulnerable. For anyone who grew up watching Kelly Taylor navigate the dramas of West Beverly High, the real Jennie Garth is proving that the most compelling stories are the ones we tell about ourselves.

Frequently asked questions