Who Is Britney Spears' On-Again Boyfriend? What to Know About Paul Soliz

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Abby Tegnelia is a Newsweek writer based in New York. Her focus is reporting on the fast-paced world of celebrity, and she has in-depth knowledge of all things arts & entertainment, including Hollywood, reality TV and the performing arts. She joined Newsweek in 2024, having served as News Director at In Touch, reporter/writer at Us Weekly, reporter at New York magazine, and editor in chief of Vegas magazine; she has written for national and international magazines including Robb Report, Maxim, Marie Claire, Glamour, Women's Wear Daily, Grazia, and Voici. She is a graduate of University of Miami and has a masters in journalism from Columbia University. You can get in touch with Abby by emailing a.tegnelia@newsweek.com. You can find her on X and Instagram at @abbytegnelia. Languages: English and conversational Spanish

Abby Tegnelia

Contributing Entertainment Writer

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From high-profile relationships that include a fling with A-lister Colin Ferrell and two years with young love Justin Timberlake, to marrying backup dancer Kevin Federline with whom she has two sons, pop star Britney Spears never stays single for long. Now, after divorcing personal trainer Sam Asghari — her third husband — Spears, 43, romance rumors are flaring back up with her newest man: contractor Paul Richard Soliz.

At first, Soliz, 38, looked like a rebound following her divorce from Asghari. But now that the on-again, off-again couple look like they're getting serious — they spent Valentine's Day together on Friday, February 14. But how much do you know about the most recent suitor to catch the eye of the "Toxic" hitmaker?

Britney Spears is the subject of the documentary "I Am Britney Jean" which details her personal and professional life. Britney Spears is the subject of the documentary "I Am Britney Jean" which details her personal and professional life. Michelangelo Di Battista/Sony/RCA via Getty Images

Soliz Has a Criminal Past

Soliz is a felon whose most recent arrest was in December 2020 for possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to documents obtained by Us Weekly, which also reported that Soliz pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years probation and served 90 days in jail. This is in addition to various misdemeanors, including child endangerment and driving without a license.

Still, Spears hired him to do some maintenance work on her house, although according to Us Weekly, she fired him after learning of his long criminal history.

He is the Father of Nine Kids

Soliz has a total of nine children, three of whom (Trystan, 10, Dylan, 8, and Nicholas "Sonny," 6) have reportedly spent time with Spears. The three boys' mom, Nicole Mancilla, filed for divorce in October, 2024, and the two are embroiled in a messy custody battle over the boys, their sister Violet, 2, and one other child, according to Page Six.

The couple was spotted with two of them at an indoor playground in the L.A. area in early February, and with three of them at the Thousand Oaks Sky Zone trampoline park near Spears' home. Spears even had a solo outing with one of her boyfriend's daughters back in September 2023. (Spears is mom to sons Sean Preston, 19, and Jayden James, 18, with Federline.)

Even the couple's Valentine's Day was a family affair. Spears and Soliz took two of his children through a Jack-in-the-Box drive-thru for dinner — although they did stop to buy Spears flowers, according to Page Six.

How He Met Spears

Soliz and Spears began their on-again, off-again relationship in August 2023. The rollercoaster romance made headlines after a night of partying at the Chateau Marmont — during which an ambulance was called to the scene — in May 2024, according to multiple reports. Afterwards, Spears declared herself single.

But Soliz appears to have since won over the performer — again. It is not clear when they started back up, but Spears appears to have met the licensed contractor when he was hired to do some maintenance and housekeeping work on her Thousand Oaks home. However, he is reportedly no longer working for the pop star.