Madonna is a mom of 6: What to know about her kids
Madonna is a music superstar who is also a mom to six children.
The "Like a Prayer" singer is not shy about sharing the spotlight with her children: Estere, Stella, Lourdes Leon, Rocco Ritchie, Mercy James and David.
On social media and on tour, Madonna is known to celebrate her kids' talents and milestones.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Madonna spent time with all six of her children and her own father, an experience she reflected on in an Instagram post.
"We are born into families and we create our own. As time goes by I am more and more appreciative of these microcosms of life that Dance around me and teach me lessons every day," Madonna captioned a series of family photos. "My Family has experienced many losses this year. My father has endured with Dignity. Watching him cry in the cemetery when we buried my brother Christopher -right after he lost his wife. Was a moment I will never forget."
She continued, "Spending time with him and all my children on Thanksgiving was Medicine for the Soul."
Earlier in November, Madonna shared snapshots on Instagram of her life "soccer momming" in support of Estere and Stella, her twin daughters, whom she also attended a Billie Eilish concert with at Madison Square Garden..
Estere and Stella, along with their siblings Mercy James and David, were part of their mom's "Celebration Tour," which wrapped in May.
Ahead of the tour's 80th show in April, Madonna took to Instagram to praise her kids for all their hard work, which she said included continuing their studies while on tour.
"I think what my children learned the most this year of rehearsing and performing is that if you want to follow your dreams, you have to work hard for them," Madonna captioned a series of photos of her kids on tour. "And if all of them choose something different later in life, they will never forget this year of blood, sweat, and tears. Nor will I."
Get to know Madonna's six children below.
Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon
Madonna welcomed her eldest daughter Lourdes Leon with her then-partner Carlos Leon in October 1996.
Lourdes is now a model and has also followed her mom into the music industry as a singer and dancer. Her single, "Spelling," was released in 2023 under the stage name "Lolahol."
Madonna marked her daughter's 28th birthday on Oct. 14, 2024, on Instagram, writing, "Lourdes, Maria Ciccone Leon!!! Happy Birthday to my first born! My one and only Little Star! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ But there is nothing lLittle about you. Big energy. Big heart. Big light. You were and always will be my first true love.♥️♥️♥️Shine on Lolita Shine on."
Rocco John Ritchie
Rocco Ritchie, Madonna's second child, was born in August 2000.
His father is Madonna's ex-husband Guy Ritchie, the English director behind such movies as 2019's "The Gentlemen" and 1998's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."
Rocco is now a painter, who makes art under the name "Rhed."
In October, Madonna shared photos on Instagram of her visit to Paris to see Rocco's art exhibit.
"Escape to Paris to see my son Rocco’s exhibition “The Tourist” and visit friends. Perfect antidote for sadness!," she captioned the photos.
When Rocco opened an art exhibit in Miami in early April, Madonna again took to social media to praise his talent.
"So Proud !" Madonna wrote, in part, on Instagram alongside photos of herself with her son and his paintings.
In a birthday tribute to Rocco in 2024, Madonna wrote on Instagram, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCCO— the long and Winding Road through all your many moods and incarnations has been tumultuous and full of surprises. But through it all —your curiosity, and Artistic Soul has been the glue that has held us together. Thank God for Art. Thank God for you. We have been together for many lifetimes. Thank you for choosing me again . I Love you -for Eternity."
David Banda
Madonna adopted her third child David Banda from Malawi in 2006.
When David turned 18 in September 2023, Madonna shared that David's tribal name is Senzangakona.
"It is impossible to believe that almost 18 years have gone by since We met you in Mchinji at Home of Hope Orphanage! Your name means “Speak the truth”! I couldn’t think of a better name for an artist!," Madonna wrote on Instagram. "You are growing into a truly remarkable human being! We are all so proud or you! ♥️🇲🇼. You light up like the brightest star!"
Mercy James
Like her brother, Chifundo Mercy James was also adopted from Malawi.
Through her nongovernmental organization Raising Malawi, Madonna opened a children's hospital in Malawi in 2017 called the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care at the Queen Central Hospital, which was named after her daughter.
Estere Mwale and Stella Mwale
Madonna's twin daughters Estere and Stella were similarly adopted from Malawi in 2017.
Madonna celebrated the twins' birthday in an Aug. 27, Instagram post, writing, "Happy Birthday to my Twin Virgos ! Estere and Stella!!! I blinked and you are almost teenagers.. Time is a ferocious Beast!! You are both SO FIERCE -talented-opinionated-and full of LIFE. Can’t wait to read the next chapter.. LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH !!!"
In October 2023, Estere joined her mother onstage at the opening of her Celebration Tour in London.
The pre-teen vogued to a ballroom interlude in front of the audience and alongside her mom.
