Salma Hayek Responds to Allegations She Married François-Henri Pinault for His Money

Salma Hayek has been married to billionaire François-Henri Pinault for 12 years now, and she’s responding to allegations that she only married him for his money.

The 54-year-old actress went on the Armchair Expert podcast and discussed her relationship with the 58-year-old businessman.

“Can I say something about your husband, really quick? What a f—ing nice, fun, generous, nice warm guy. He’s super sexy too,” co-host Dax Shepard said. “I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t know who he was, I just heard or maybe read in a headline that you had married a really rich guy. Maybe that’s why she married him.”

“You know the thing is that in pictures you cannot begin to guess the magic in him. He’s made me become a much better person, and grow in such a good, healthy way,” Salma responded. “And, you know, when I married him, everybody said, ‘Oh, it’s arranged marriage, she married him for the money.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, whatever, bitch. Think what you want.’ 15 years together, and we are strong in love. And I don’t even get offended, I’m like, yeah, whatever.”

“We’re touching on a very interesting conversation. There is a discrimination also to rich men. Immediately you think because somebody’s rich, [they] might not be a good person,” she added. “Might be somebody materialistic, might be somebody that doesn’t have values, might be somebody that is even stupid or that doesn’t deserve it. That in order to have a lot of money, you did it the wrong way, there is all this preconceptions and I heard them, by the way.”

“My guy, finished work, no matter how hard it was — and trust me he has a lot of responsibilities — big smile on his face, happy to be home, happy to see me and the kids, make us laugh,” she continued. “We go on vacation, he completely shuts off, he’s in the moment. It’s not just an insult to me. I’m not the one being judged only. They cannot begin to imagine what a joy that human being is.”

Salma and Francois-Henri just celebrated their anniversary as they wed on Valentine’s Day 2009 in Paris, France. They share one daughter, adorable Valentina!