Heartthrob Bon Jovi Faced A Lot Of Criticism When He Eloped With His Highschool Sweetheart At The Peak of His Career

Jon Bon Jovi is an undisputed rock star. He is best known as the vocalist, composer, and guitarist for the 1983 rock band Bon Jovi. Since then, he has released 15 studio albums with his band as well as some solo material. In addition, he has appeared in a number of television episodes and films, establishing himself as an actor.

While Jon clearly has many abilities in the arts, he also has a heart of gold. In 2006, he established The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which focuses on hunger and homelessness in the United States. Jon has also demonstrated a true passion for sports, serving as the previous majority owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul. He also almost had a stake in the Buffalo Bills, an NFL franchise.

However, Jon's romantic life is still another reason to appreciate him. During a stop in Los Angeles on Bon Jovi's The New Jersey Syndicate Tour in 1989, Jon sneaked away to Las Vegas with his high school love Dorothea Hurley. They eloped there and haven't looked back since.

This celebrity couple made in heaven was harshly condemned when they originally exchanged vows over 30 years ago. Fortunately, they've remained together throughout. Jon has never regretted eloping with his lovely wife, with whom he has been married for over 33 years.

From eloping in Las Vegas on April 29, 1989, to co-founding a philanthropic organization, Jon and his wife Dorothea have defied the odds. According to Men's Health, Jon and Dorothea met in high school and subsequently married on the spur of the moment after Bon Jovi's career took off.

The pair, who were married at the Graceland Wedding Chapel by an Elvis lookalike, are still going strong and more in love than ever 32 years later. "We make it work," Dorothea said to PEOPLE.

Not everyone, though, was as enthusiastic about their lifelong commitment. Jon was having a lot of success in his work, but being married made people feel less connected to him because the popular artist was suddenly inaccessible. "When I got back from Vegas, my manager was enraged," Jon explained. "'America's boy is now married... that's not a good career move,' he said." The record label was also disappointed.'"

Nonetheless, Jon has never regretted marrying his high school girlfriend. "In retrospect, the marriage was the best deal I ever made," he remarked.

Fortunately, Bon Jovi continued to have great success together, and Jon made a name for himself in his solo pursuits. Dorothea doesn't seem to mind that Jon has a lot of female followers who adore him.

"I think it's great that they love the music," she remarked. "They adore the band and are devoted followers. Dorothea usually goes to Bon Jovi concerts. "I usually stand off to the side (during his concerts and watch," she told PEOPLE. "The songs all sound great, but then you hear them live!"

The pair lives a lovely life together. They have four children: a girl, Stephanie, and three sons, Jesse, Jacob, and Romeo. Jon and his wife also operate a number of philanthropic organizations. The pair collaborates at their two Soul Kitchen restaurants, which assist give hot meals to people in need, and The Jon Bon Jovi Foundation, which focuses on affordable housing, according to TODAY.

So, how can Jon and Dorothea balance Jon's demanding work, their exemplary foundation, and having four children? According to TODAY, Dorothea is the reason their marriage is so good in Jon's perspective.

"She's the glue," he described her. "I'm the crazy visionary with everything flying around and the seams splitting." She's the one who keeps everything together with glue, thread, and needle." Dorothea was also cited by Jon as the brains behind the Soul Kitchen and the organizations' success. "My wife does all the work, and I get all the credit," he jokingly stated.

Jon and Dorothea have dutifully stood by one other's side through all of life's ups and downs. "I don't have a mistress on the side of another family across town," Jon said. "You'll never read that story about me." "I have no regard for that entire way of life."

The pair is now the perfect example of what a happy and successful marriage in Hollywood looks like, and they are still going strong. "Somehow, I became the poster boy for a long-married rock star," Jon said. "But I'll gladly accept the mantle because I'm so happy."