Despite recent engagement rumors, Joe Manganiello hasn’t popped the question to Caitlin O’Connor — but wedding bells are likely to be in their future.
“They are not engaged … yet,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “But it’s heading in that direction soon. It’s not really a question.”
The insider adds that Manganiello, 48, and O’Connor, 34, are “very strong together and serious about a future.”
“They want to have a family,” the source concludes. “She wants to be a mom, and he’s open to being a father.”
A second source also told Us that the couple is not yet engaged.
Us reached out to reps for Manganiello and O’Connor.
Fans began to speculate that Manganiello and O’Connor took their romance to the next step when the model was spotted wearing what appeared to be a diamond ring on her left hand during a dinner date at Le Naumachie in Taormina, Italy, on June 25, as seen in photos published by Page Six.
The pair met at a post-premiere party for O’Connor’s HBO show, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, in September 2023. Manganiello and O’Connor made their red carpet debut a few months later at the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) gala in New York in December 2023.
A source exclusively told Us at the time that Manganiello and O’Connor were a perfect match because they “are both so easygoing that they work really well together.”
More than one year later, an insider exclusively shared in February that O’Connor also meshes well with Manganiello’s elderly chihuahua.
Caitlin O’Connor and Joe Manganiello Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
“We definitely have seen that Joe’s beloved rescue chihuahua, Bubbles, loves Caitlin,” the source said. “Bubbles loves kissing Caitlin on the face and allowing Caitlin to hold her, which is pretty rare since she is protective of Joe. Seems like she has Bubbles’ approval — which is all Joe really needed to see to seal the deal.”
Manganiello adopted the dog in 2019 and helped her recover from mammary cancer.
Bubbles was even part of O’Connor’s surprise birthday party that Manganiello threw for her in January while filming Deal or No Deal Island.
“This man flew in a custom Princess Jasmine tiramisu cake (?!) and opened up our favorite restaurant (while it was closed to the public) to celebrate – flying in the owner to cook and party with us,” she wrote via Instagram, sharing photos from the birthday bash. “Just amazing. … You really surprised me.”
Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images Joe Manganiello has found a new workout buddy in Caitlin O’Connor. Manganiello, 46, and Connor, 33, were spotted leaving Gold’s Gym in Venice, California on Thursday, September 14, according to photos obtained by Page Six. The pair were seen walking side by side and chatting before hopping in a Cadillac SUV and […]
According to the insider, Manganiello and O’Connor “love traveling together.”
“Caitlin is very supportive of Joe and traveled with him to the Banker’s Private Island for both seasons of Deal or No Deal Island. They always seem genuinely happy, in love and holding hands,” the source concluded. “Their close friends say that Joe really loves her.”
Prior to his relationship with O’Connor, Manganiello was married to Sofia Vergara from 2015 to 2024. They announced their separation in July 2023.
“We have made the difficult decision to divorce,” Manganiello and Vergara, 52, wrote in a joint statement via Instagram at the time. “As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.”
The former couple finalized their divorce in April 2024.