Kristin Cavallari’s Split With Boyfriend Mark Estes Had Everything to Do with Their 13-Year Age Gap

When Kristin Cavallari debuted her relationship with Mark Estes in February of this year, fans weren’t afraid to criticize. After all, with a 13-year age gap between them, many claimed Cavallari was simply too old to be dating 24-year-old Estes, who’s a model and content creator. But now, months since their debut, Cavallari is confirming the two have gone their separate ways. And, as fans might be vindicated to know, their breakup had everything to do with their age difference. “I started to feel the age a little bit just with life experience,” Cavallari admitted in her Let’s Be Honest podcast, per Us Weekly. “I look back [to] when I was 24 and how much life has happened for me in between. Those are crucial years. Those are formative years. This is when you find yourself. He needs to be able to do that.” As a reminder, while Estes has never been married and doesn’t have children, Cavallari was married to ex Jay Cutler from 2013 to 2022. The former couple share sons Camden, 11, and Jaxon, 10, and daughter Saylor, 8. “Mark has been nothing but so sweet and so supportive,” she continued of her ex. “He’s always been there. He’s been the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. I just know long-term he needs to experience life.” Kade “Cutter” Wilcox, Mark Estes and Kaleb Campbell Winterburn of The Montana Boyz at the 2024 CMT Music Awards held at the Moody Center on April 7, 2024, in Austin, Texas. In other words, Cavallari and Estes might be the age-old story of the right person, wrong time. “If Mark were 45 and had two of his own older kids, he would be perfect. I mean that,” she said. “He is such a good guy, but to me, it just means I’m one step closer to ultimately finding The One.” Cavallari then continued reassuring her listeners that nothing else was a factor in their split. “It’s hard because I broke up with Mark because I just know long-term it’s not right,” she said. “It’s not because of love lost or something bad happened. No one cheated. No one was mean. No one did anything.” “Those breakups are always the hardest I think because it’s almost easier if the guy does something that makes you hate him,” she added. Prior to their split, Cavallari had been protective and defensive over their relationship. “I understand what it looks like to the outside world, I really do. He’s not a typical 24-year-old in the same way that I don’t think I was a typical 24-year-old,” she said on her podcast back in March. “I really think age is just a number. It’s what you’ve been through in your life, how you were raised, there are just so many factors that go into maturity.” And while that may true, it seems even Cavallari couldn’t stand behind her relationship any longer.

Before you go, click here to see famous men who routinely date women half their age.

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