Sofía Vergara is closing out the year with clarity. The Colombian-born actor has officially confirmed she is in a new relationship, ending nearly 12 months of speculation with one succinct Instagram post. ‘The Modern Family’ star, followed by more than 35 million people online, shared her first public photograph with American businessman Douglas Chabbott, signalling the first time she has openly acknowledged a partner since her high-profile divorce from Joe Manganiello.

The soft launch arrived in the form of a casual selfie from New York – a favourite staging ground for discreet celebrity reveals – accompanied by a short declaration. “Te amo (I love you) @dougchabbott.” In a matter of hours, the post was flooded with well over 150,000 likes along with a wave of congratulatory messages from fans and fellow actors.

A social media confirmation ends months of speculation

Vergara, best known to global audiences as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in ‘Modern Family’, had been photographed repeatedly with Chabbott over the past year, igniting rumours about a new romance following her separation from Manganiello in 2023 and their divorce in early 2024. Until this week, neither party had confirmed anything publicly, despite sightings at industry events, concerts and dinners.

Instagram, rather than a magazine interview or red-carpet appearance, became the final word – a deliberate, well-timed announcement coinciding with new professional commitments and a renewed public presence.

Who is Douglas Chabbott?

Chabbott has maintained a low public profile. His social media accounts are private, and he has rarely addressed his personal life. He is vice president of Dasan Inc., an international luxury jewellery company with ties to high-end design and fashion. His work often intersects with the entertainment sector, even if he is not a visible participant in it.

Reports suggest his social circle includes Tom Holland, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Manu Ríos, Anitta, Vanessa Hudgens and Sydney Sweeney. In December 2024, he attended a dinner with Vergara and a number of these figures – the kind of quiet, high-profile setting that fuelled speculation long before any confirmation.

More public sightings followed in 2025. The pair attended an Oasis concert in Pasadena in September, where fans posted photographs online. They were also spotted at events earlier in the year, including a birthday celebration in Cerdeña. Neither Vergara nor Chabbott commented at the time.

A new chapter at 53

At 53, Vergara remains one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors and continues to reshape expectations regarding age, celebrity and reinvention. Her recent work includes ‘Griselda’, ‘Hot Pursuit’, ‘Despicable Me 4’ and her judging role on ‘America’s Got Talent‘.

The actor had been linked to several figures following her split from Manganiello. She reportedly dated Beverly Hills orthopaedic surgeon Dr Justin Saliman, with photographs appearing on Instagram, before that relationship ended in early 2025. Tabloid reports later connected her to NFL quarterback Tom Brady, though those rumours were quickly dismissed by entertainment outlets.

The age gap and public conversation

Coverage of Vergara’s new relationship has highlighted that she is 53 while Chabbott is reportedly 39 – a 12-year age difference. The gap has generated its own media curiosity, though sources close to the actor note that Vergara has managed scrutiny of her personal life for decades.

Chabbott, 39, continues to work in luxury design and philanthropy, rarely appearing except for business obligations.

Vergara has long understood the scrutiny surrounding her private life. She was married previously to Joe Gonzalez, shares a 34-year-old son with him, and divorced in 1993 – all before entering mainstream American television.

The Manganiello chapter formally ends

Vergara’s personal life has remained intertwined with public reporting because of the long-running relationship that preceded it. She married actor Joe Manganiello in 2015 and spent nearly a decade with him before their separation in 2023. Manganiello filed for divorce in July of that year, citing irreconcilable differences, and the pair settled the matter in early 2024 with a court-approved prenuptial agreement.

In January 2024, Vergara discussed the split with El País, saying differences about children contributed to the breakdown. “My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn't want to be an old mom,” she said. “I feel it's not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that's not for me anymore.”

Manganiello later disputed that interpretation in a July 2024 Men’s Journal interview. “That’s simply not true,” he said, arguing the breakup came because “two people grew apart, and sometimes that happens.” He rejected any implication that he issued ultimatums regarding pregnancy or motherhood, saying, “That’s never who I was.”

Manganiello, now 48, has since moved on.

In October 2025, he announced his engagement to TV host Caitlin O’Connor, 36, posting a photograph of the couple with their Chihuahua and writing, “June 24th, 2025,” marking the date of his proposal.