Janet Jackson, Wissam Al Mana Are Engaged (UPDATE: They're Married)

After almost two years of dating, Janet Jackson and her billionaire boyfriend, 36-year-old Qatar-born businessman Wissam Al Mana, are engaged -- and they're planning on having a baby, according to the National Enquirer. Wissam reportedly gave Janet a 15-carat diamond engagement ring last fall, but he's "shopping for an even bigger diamond ring to celebrate their official engagement" which will come by summer's end. The wedding is supposedly going to happen by the end of the year. Janet and Wissam met in December 2009, months after she official announced the end of her 8-year-old relationship with Jermaine Dupri. If this report is true -- and we have no reason to believe it isn't -- this will be Janet's third marriage. In 1984, she and singer James DeBarge tied the knot. That marriage was annulled a few months later. Then, in 1991 she married long-term friend—dancer, songwriter and director René Elizondo, Jr. They divorced in 2000. Wait! The report goes on to say that the couple is "anxious" to start a family, but because of Janet's age (she's 45), the prospects of her having a natural pregnancy are small, so they're considering adoption.

Sidebar: Wissam is a giant step up from Jermaine, who's thisclose to being in the poor house. Wissam and his two brothers oversee Al Mana Group, a company that works with more than 50 companies in the Gulf region and has interests in real estate, automobile distribution, engineering, construction, retail, food services and media. Hence, the billions in his bank accounts. Ka-ching!!!


source: National Enquirer, Aug. 8, print edition.


UPDATE, Feb. 25, 2013: Almost two years after this original report, Janet and Wissam Al Mana confirmed today they are married. They were married in 2012 in "in a quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony." The Enquirer wins. Again. In lieu of wedding gifts, they donated monies to their favorite children's charities.