A few years ago, not many people had heard of Sam Asghari, but the Iranian fitness trainer made headlines around the globe after marrying pop princess Britney Spears last year.
The couple wed in an intimate ceremony in Los Angeles last June, hours after Spears's ex-husband Jason Alexander attempted to crash the wedding site.
It took place at Spears's 12,464-square-foot Thousand Oaks, California home.
The Toxic singer wore a custom Versace gown and wed in front of celebrity friends such as Madonna, Donatella Versace, Paris Hilton and Drew Barrymore.
A year later, Entertainment Tonight has reported that Asghari has filed for a divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences", listing July 28 as the date of separation.
Who is Sam Asghari?
The personal trainer, who was born in Tehran, Iran, seems to have been a stable force in her life since they met in 2016.
Before her conservatorship ended in November, he said he was "looking forward" to a "normal, amazing future" with Spears, 40.
From standing by the Toxic singer's side as her conservatorship was dissolved, to his childhood in Tehran and Hollywood jobs, here, we tell you everything you need to know about Asghari.
He was born in Tehran
Asghari, 29, was born in Tehran, but moved to the US to be with his father when he was aged 12.
However, his whole family did not move together. He explained to Forbes in a 2021 interview: "I actually left my family behind at the time because my family was still going through the US immigration process.
"I left three of my sisters behind, my mum behind. My dad was out here in America and I hadn’t seen him in about five years or so. It was definitely a culture shock, coming out here with a completely different language to speak."
He told Men's Health magazine in 2018: "I had to leave my friends and family who I was very close with, and I knew I was moving away and never coming back."
He moved to Los Angeles, California, where his father was working as a truck driver.
He could not speak English when he moved to the US
Of the "culture shock" of moving to the US, Asghari explained to Forbes: "I didn't speak a word of English and it was a weird age where I was finally so comfortable with my friends and [I had to] leave them behind to start a new life.
"So when I got out here, it was very different, but I always had a positive mindset. I always knew that I was coming to a country where opportunity was the equivalent to gold. I was brought up by my dad knowing and understanding that we were coming here for a better life."
He is keeping Iranian traditions alive in the US
In March 2021, Asghari shared a video of himself teaching Spears a Nowruz greeting.
In the video, he repeats the phrase "sale no mubarak", with the Oops! ... I Did It Again singer repeating it back to him, without perfecting the pronunciation each time.
In the end, he says, "Alright, just say 'Happy Persian New Year'".
He met Britney Spears on the set of her music video
The couple met in 2016, on the set of Spears' Slumber Party video. Asghari plays the singer's mysterious love interest in the music video, which is set in an old mansion that is being used as a nightclub.
Of getting the gig, he told Forbes: "A good friend of mine was working on a project and they referred me to the team that was picking out the leading role for Slumber Party. My girlfriend now, at the time, personally she picked my picture and she wanted me to be cast in the music video.
"My friend called me and said, ‘I need you to be on it. Trust me, you want to show up.’ I didn’t know who was shooting. It was a secret project. So I showed up because of my friend. I showed up and everything just kicked off from there."
He has also described having "butterflies" before meeting Spears on set, telling Men's Health: "I was excited to meet one of the biggest artists of all time."
He was also in a Fifth Harmony music video
The Slumber Party video is not the first video Asghari starred in, as he had previously featured in Fifth Harmony's music video Work From Home.
"I was already known on a music video, so I didn’t want to do another music video because of that," he told Forbes. "I wanted to do TV, I wanted to do film. My acting strategy was kind of to go away from music videos."
He has Hollywood aspirations
In May 2021, Asghari revealed his ultimate career ambition is to become a superhero.
The actor and Instagram star opened up about his career goals in a Variety interview, saying that Marvel should "give him a call".
Asghari has been slowly making a name for himself in television, starring in HBO Max's Hacks, as well as landing a recurring role in season three of Showtime comedy series Black Monday.
However, comedy is not his ultimate goal, he said in a chat with Variety.
"Action is something that I want to do — action, drama, thriller — that’s a genre that I want to really get into,” he said. “But if you can do comedy, you can do anything."
He also said he gets his inspiration by studying the craft during his intensive cardio sessions at the gym.
“I want to get into blockbusters, I want to get into TV shows that get on Netflix and become fan favourites,” he said.
“My ultimate goal is to really become a well-rounded actor. I’m doing a lot of MMA training, I’m doing a lot of gun and stunt training to be a well-rounded actor such as Tom Cruise, such as Jason Statham.
"Like I said, I want to do action, but I want to be able to do drama as well. This is my craft, and I want to accomplish it 100 per cent.
“Marvel or anybody – they should give me a call.”
He was outspoken about ending Spears's father's conservatorship
Spears was under her father Jamie's guardianship for 13 years, however, that was formally ended in November.
Since the 2021 release of the Framing Britney Spears documentary, Asghari was vocal in his support for his partner.
"I have always wanted nothing but the best for my better half, and will continue to support her following her dreams and creating the future she wants and deserves," he told People magazine. "I am thankful for all of the love and support she is receiving from her fans all over the world, and I am looking forward to a normal, amazing future together."
He also took to Instagram to voice his opinion about the pop star's father.
“Now it's important for people to understand that I have no respect for someone trying to control our relationship and constantly throwing obstacles our way,” he wrote. "I won't be going into details because I've always respected our privacy, but at the same time I didn't come to this country to not be able to express my opinion and freedom."
He was open with his plans to have children with Spears
The singer is mum to Sean Preston Federline, 17, and Jayden James Federline, 16, and in April announced she was expecting her first child with Asghari.
Taking to Instagram, he spoke about his joy as he prepares to become a father.
"Fatherhood is something I have always looked forward to and I don’t take lightly. It is the most important job I will ever do," he said.
Sadly, the couple later announced a miscarriage.
“It is with deepest sadness we have to announce that we have lost our miracle baby early in the pregnancy," the pair said in a joint statement posted to Instagram. "This is a devastating time for any parent.
“Perhaps we should have waited to announce until we were further along however we were overly excited to share the good news. Our love for each other is our strength. We will continue trying to expand our beautiful family.”
He has spoken about plans to have a family with the singer in the past.
"My priorities in life are to remain humble and understand where I came from and where I'm going," he said during his 2021 Forbes interview.
“I want to take my career to the next step when it comes to acting. I want to take my relationship to the next step as well. I don’t mind becoming a father. I want to be a young dad.”
He proposed with a personalised $70,000 engagement ring
Spears announced her engagement to Asghari in September, 2021.
Showing off her sparkling new ring, the singer captioned an Instagram video, "I can't believe it," with a series of diamond ring emojis.
Details about the bespoke piece of jewellery were revealed by the designer, Roman Malayev, at Forever Diamonds NY. The ring is estimated to have cost $70,000 and has the word "lioness" engraved inside, which is Asghari's nickname for his new fiancee.
"The thought and detail Sam put into this ring made the design process so special for Roman [Malayev] and our team. In honour of the lioness herself, we are naming this gorgeous setting The Britney. Sam and Britney, we wish you a lifetime of happiness together," a post on the Forever Diamonds NY Instagram account reads.
The Britney ring is now a permanent part of the Forever Diamonds NY collection. It features a four-carat round brilliant stone in a platinum cathedral setting, with pavé detailing on the bridge and flush-set diamonds on the prongs and basket.
He is a personal trainer and social media influencer
Asghari regularly posts fitness videos online with Spears, which he says are her idea. He has 3.1 million followers on Instagram, who he shares the videos with.
"The exercises, I come up with them, but the videos are because of my better half. She's the video director," he told Men's Health. "She motivates me more than anyone. It's crazy how I can be humbled by a person like her. If I could be that humble when I'm that high in life, that would be the best thing. She is another blessing that happened to me."
He was not always super-fit
Asghari has been honest about his past battle with his weight, saying he weighed 132 kilograms at one stage. However, in 2013 he decided to focus on getting into shape, losing 45kg.
In a 2020 Instagram post, he opened up about being bigger and getting into shape, writing: "As a former member of the 'chunky boy friend-zoned club' the love for cheesecakes was real. The anticipation for taco Tuesday on Monday nights, the butterflies, the sense of nervousness felt like a professional athlete before game days, so I decided to make taco Tuesday every day and naturally I gained massive weight."
He added: "After high school, I became very close to obese, but I was fortunate to stop and realise that I came to this country as an immigrant to achieve phenomenal success, and be the best version of myself. I understood that I was a victim of self-sabotage, so I decided to change my lifestyle all around."
A previous version of this article was first published in September 2021
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The%20specs
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
THE%20FLASH
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The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
FIXTURES
Nov 04-05: v Western Australia XI, Perth
Nov 08-11: v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide
Nov 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville (d/n)
Nov 23-27: 1ST TEST v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane
Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney
Note: d/n = day/night
Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request