Whitney Wolfe Herd’s husband is Michael Herd, a Texas oil and gas executive and restaurateur. The Bumble founder and the Herd Producing Company president have been married since 2017 and share two sons.
Who Is Michael Herd?
Michael Herd is an American entrepreneur and energy executive based in Texas. He serves as president of Herd Producing Company, an oil and gas firm founded by his late grandfather, Bob L. Herd. The company operates out of Tyler, Texas, where Michael also owns and runs The Grove Kitchen & Gardens, a farm-to-table restaurant.
Born in 1989 in Tyler, Michael grew up on a ranch and spent his formative years working alongside a cowboy named Hollis, who taught him to rope and ride horses. He competed in rodeos during his college years and, according to reports, still participates in the sport today. His upbringing gave him a grounded, outdoors-oriented lifestyle that contrasts sharply with the fast-paced tech world his wife inhabits.
How Whitney Wolfe Herd Met Her Husband
The couple’s origin story is one of the most charming in tech. They met in December 2013 in Aspen, Colorado, while both were on family ski vacations. A mutual friend introduced them one afternoon, and the following day, Whitney spotted Michael having a long, leisurely lunch while the skiing conditions were ideal.
Whitney, who grew up skiing in Utah, sat down next to him and teased him about wasting such a perfect day. Michael admitted he did not know how to ski, which puzzled her since he was on a ski vacation. He asked her to teach him. What followed became the defining moment of their relationship.
As Whitney later told Vogue, she spent the gondola ride boasting about her expertise. Michael claimed he was nervous and asked her to go slow. When they reached the bottom of the slope, he picked up her skis, clicked her in, and then skied past her backward before handing her skis back and saying, “Y’all have a good day!”. She has said her life was never the same after that moment.
Their Relationship Timeline and Wedding
After leaving Colorado, Whitney and Michael spent hours on the phone, though they did not see each other again until the end of January. They officially began dating on Valentine’s Day 2014.
Michael proposed in June 2016 in a characteristically understated way. According to Whitney’s account in Vogue, he told her that morning he was not sure marriage was in the near future, then announced they were going to his family’s ranch that weekend. The four-hour drive in a truck without air conditioning, complete with stops for greasy french fries, preceded a trail ride where Michael got down on one knee at sunset with the ring in his pocket the entire time.
The couple married in September 2017 in Positano, Italy, a picturesque town on the Amalfi Coast. Their wedding was a four-day celebration that began in Capri with a welcome dinner, followed by a rehearsal dinner on the Amalfi Coast and the reception in Positano. The event was covered extensively by Vogue, which documented everything from Whitney’s wardrobe to the couple’s hashtag, #homeiswheretheherdis.Quick Bio: Michael Herd
Michael Herd’s Life as a Husband and Father
Whitney and Michael have kept much of their family life private, but confirmed details reveal a close-knit household. They welcomed their first son, Bobby Lee “Bo” Herd II, in December 2019. Their second son, Henry, arrived in 2022. The family resides primarily in Austin, Texas, though they maintain ties to Tyler and Michael’s ranch property.
In a rare glimpse into their dynamic, Whitney has described their relationship as a balance of opposites. Her career is deeply rooted in technology and digital connection, while Michael’s world revolves around land, livestock, and in-person hospitality. This contrast has been a source of strength rather than friction. A source close to the couple noted that Michael’s grounded nature helps keep Whitney centered amid the demands of running a publicly traded company.
Michael Herd’s Career Beyond Oil
While oil and gas form the backbone of Michael’s professional life, his hospitality venture, The Grove Kitchen & Gardens, reflects a different passion. The restaurant emphasizes farm-to-table dining, sourcing ingredients from local producers and aligning with the Texas tradition of land stewardship. For Michael, this venture connects his agricultural roots with a modern dining experience.
His role at Herd Producing Company carries significant responsibility. The firm, established in 1964 by his grandfather, remains a family-operated enterprise with interests across Texas and beyond. As president, Michael oversees operations that range from exploration to production, continuing a legacy that spans more than six decades.
The Public’s Fascination with the Herd Family
Interest in Whitney Wolfe Herd’s husband spiked recently with the release of Swiped, a Hulu film inspired by Whitney’s journey founding Bumble. The movie depicts a fictionalized version of how she met her husband, showing a meeting in a bar rather than the ski slopes of Aspen. This creative liberty prompted many viewers to search for the real story, leading to renewed curiosity about Michael Herd.
The couple’s enduring marriage stands out in the tech world, where high-profile relationships often face intense scrutiny. Whitney stepped down as Bumble’s CEO in 2024 but returned to the role in 2025 after Lidiane Jones resigned citing personal reasons. Through the company’s evolution, including its 2021 IPO that made Whitney the youngest female CEO to take an American company public, Michael has remained a steady, private presence.
Their story resonates because it defies the typical tech-founder narrative. Whitney built a company centered on empowering women to make the first move, and she applied that same philosophy to her own love life. She saw someone she was interested in, initiated a conversation, and ended up marrying him. As she told The Daily Telegraph, “He has the kind of face you remember”. That face, it turns out, belonged to a cowboy who could ski backward.1. Who is Michael Herd?
Michael Herd is a Texas-born entrepreneur and oil heir. He serves as president of Herd Producing Company, an oil and gas firm founded by his grandfather, Bob L. Herd, in 1965 . He also owns The Grove Kitchen & Gardens, a farm-to-table restaurant in his hometown of Tyler, Texas .
2. How did Whitney Wolfe Herd meet her husband?
They met in December 2013 during separate family ski trips in Aspen, Colorado, introduced by a mutual friend . Whitney later told Vogue that Michael claimed he could not ski, but after she offered to teach him, he skied past her backward. They began dating officially on Valentine’s Day 2014 .
3. When did Whitney Wolfe Herd and Michael Herd get married?
They got engaged in June 2016 and married in September 2017 in Positano, Italy, on the Amalfi Coast . The wedding was a multiday celebration covered by Vogue, with the couple’s hashtag #homeiswheretheherdis .
4. Do Whitney Wolfe Herd and Michael Herd have children?
Yes, they have two sons. Their first child, Bobby Lee “Bo” Herd II, was born in December 2019 . Their second son, Henry, arrived in 2022 . The couple keeps most details about their children private.
5. Does Michael Herd work in the tech industry like Whitney?
No, his career is in oil and gas and hospitality, not technology . He runs the family energy business and owns a restaurant. Whitney has described their relationship as a balance of opposites, with her technology-focused career contrasting with his offline lifestyle .
