Jane Schindelheim Biography: Gus Wenner’s Mother and Jann Wenner’s Ex-Wife

Jane Schindelheim is best known as the former wife of Jann Wenner, the co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine. She is also the mother of his three sons, Alexander, Theo, and Gus Wenner. Jane studied painting and worked at Sunday Ramparts before marrying Jann in the late 1960s. The couple separated around 1995 but remained legally married for years before divorcing in 2011.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Education

Little information is publicly available about Jane Schindelheim’s childhood. Her exact date of birth, age, and birthplace have not been confirmed.

Jane has a sister named Linda Schindelheim. Information about her other siblings, if any, is not widely available.

Before meeting Jann Wenner, Jane Schindelheimlived in New York and studied painting. The school or college she attended has not been clearly identified.

Her Early Career

Jane moved from New York and worked as a receptionist at Sunday Ramparts.

Jann Wenner also worked for the publication. It was during this period that Jane and Jann met.

Detailed information about Jane’s later career is limited. She did not build the same type of public media career as her former husband.

How Jane Schindelheim Met Jann Wenner

Jane met Jann when they were both connected with Sunday Ramparts. According to Jann’s later account, both were recovering from previous relationships at the time.

Jann quickly became interested in Jane and reportedly told her that he believed they would eventually marry. Jane initially disagreed.

The two later started a relationship and married in the late 1960s.

Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner’s Marriage

Jane and Jann had a traditional Jewish wedding at a synagogue.

Their parents reportedly did not attend the ceremony. Jane’s sister Linda Schindelheim and Jann’s sister Merlyn Wenner were among those present, along with friends.

Some reports place their marriage in 1967, although the exact wedding date is not clearly established in the available information.

The couple went on to have three sons.

Who Is Jann Wenner?

Jann Wenner is an American media businessman best known as the co-founder of Rolling Stone.

He started the magazine in San Francisco in 1967. Rolling Stone became an important publication covering music, entertainment, politics, and popular culture.

Through the magazine, Jann developed professional and personal connections with major artists and public figures, including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, David Bowie, and others.

He later wrote about his career and personal life in his 2022 memoir, Like a Rolling Stone.

Jane’s Family and the Start of Rolling Stone

Jane Schindelheim also had a connection to the early history of Rolling Stone.

Reports say Jann launched the magazine with financial help from his own parents and Jane’s parents.

The exact amount contributed by Jane’s family is not given in the available sources.

Jane Schindelheim and Jann also hosted parties and gatherings at their San Francisco home. Their social circle included musicians, writers, photographers, and other people connected with the magazine.

Her Connection to John Lennon

Jane was present during some of Jann Wenner’s meetings with major musicians.

One reported example involved John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1970.

Jane and Jann went with Lennon and Ono to see Let It Be, the film about the Beatles. Jann later recalled that Lennon became emotional after watching the film and that the four shared a personal moment outside the cinema.

Jane Schindelheim and Annie Leibovitz

Photographer Annie Leibovitz became closely connected with Rolling Stone during Jann Wenner’s time at the magazine.

In his memoir, Jann claimed that Leibovitz had romantic feelings for Jane. He said he was not aware of those feelings at the time.

There is no clear evidence in the supplied information that Jane and Leibovitz had a romantic relationship. The claim only describes Leibovitz’s reported feelings.

Jane Schindelheim’s Children

Jane Schindelheim and Jann Wenner had three sons:

• Alexander Wenner
• Theo Wenner
• Gus Wenner

Their children remained an important connection between Jane and Jann even after the couple separated.

Jann later had three more children, India, Jude, and Noah, with his longtime partner Matt Nye through surrogacy. They are not Jane’s children.

Who Is Gus Wenner?

Gus Wenner is one of Jane’s three sons and has followed his father into the publishing business.

He reportedly completed an internship at Rolling Stone in 2007 and began working for the publication in 2012.

Gus was also involved in the media company’s sale to Penske Media Corporation in 2017. He later became CEO of Rolling Stone.

Outside publishing, Gus has received attention for his personal life, including his relationship with actress Elle Fanning.

Theo and Alexander Wenner

Jane’s son Theo Wenner has also received some media attention. He was reportedly linked to singer and actress Miley Cyrus in 2013.

Less information is publicly available about Alexander Wenner. He is known as one of Jane and Jann’s three sons but generally keeps a lower public profile.

Why Did Jane and Jann Wenner Separate?

Jane and Jann’s marriage changed after Jann developed a relationship with Matt Nye, a former model and fashion designer.

Jann told Jane about the relationship after they had been married for around 25 years. According to his own account, Jane asked him to leave their home.

Jann moved out and began living with Nye. He also spoke with his sons about the new family arrangement and continued spending time with them.

Jane and Jann are generally reported to have separated around 1995.

They Remained Married for Years After Separating

Jane and Jann did not immediately divorce.

They reportedly remained legally married for around 16 years after their separation. Jann later said their continued legal marriage helped maintain their family connection.

Jane also continued to appear with Jann at some public events after their separation.

She attended the New York premiere of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with him in 1998. They were also photographed together at Amnesty International’s Fourth Annual Media Spotlight Awards in New York in 2000.

Jane reportedly filed for divorce in June 2011, and the divorce was finalized in October 2011.

Some sources describe their marriage as lasting from 1967 to 1995, but 1995 appears to refer to their separation rather than their legal divorce.

Jann Wenner and Matt Nye

After separating from Jane, Jann continued his relationship with Matt Nye.

Jann and Matt later became parents to three children through surrogacy: India, Jude, and Noah.

Matt reportedly accepted that Jann continued to have a family connection with Jane and their three sons.

Jane Schindelheim’s Life After Divorce

Jane has generally stayed away from the public spotlight.

There is little reliable information about her current career, where she lives, or her recent activities.

Most public information about her comes from her former husband’s memoir, media reports about the Wenner family, and photographs from events they attended together.

Jane Schindelheim’s Net Worth

Jane Schindelheim’s personal net worth is not reliably known.

Jann Wenner became wealthy through his media career, but his wealth should not be treated as Jane’s personal net worth. Reliable information about Jane’s assets, income, or current finances is not publicly available.

Social Media

Jane does not appear to maintain a widely known public social media presence.

No verified Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, or LinkedIn account belonging to her is clearly identified in the available information.

Interesting Facts

• Jane Schindelheim is Jann Wenner’s former wife.
• She studied painting in New York.
• She worked as a receptionist at Sunday Ramparts.
• She met Jann through their work at the publication.
• They married in the late 1960s.
• Her sister Linda attended their wedding.
• Jane’s parents reportedly helped finance the early launch of Rolling Stone.
• Jane and Jann had three sons: Alexander, Theo, and Gus.
• Gus Wenner later became CEO of Rolling Stone.
• Jane and Jann separated around 1995.
• They remained legally married for many years after separating.
• Their divorce was reportedly finalized in October 2011.
• Jane continued making occasional public appearances with Jann after their separation.
• Her exact age and birthday are not publicly confirmed.
• Her personal net worth is not reliably known.

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