Ricky Martin's then-and-now photos display phenomenal transformation over the years

Ricky was born Enrique Martín Morales on December 24, 1971 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he was just two-years-old, Ricky's parents divorced. He was raised by both his parents and often moved from his dad's house in the suburbs of San Juan to his mom's house.

When Ricky was six, he started singing, using a wooden kitchen spoon as a microphone. A few years later, he appeared in his first television commercials for Orange Crush and Burger King. At 12-years-old, Ricky auditioned for and subsequently joined Menudo – a Puerto Rican boy band.

As a member of Menudo, Ricky and the band released 11 albums, including their Grammy-nominated Evolución. The singer went on to become a fan favorite of the group, which helped him launch his solo career.

In 1990, a year after Ricky left Menudo, he was accepted into New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. But before he attended the prestigious school, he was offered a role in the musical comedy, Mama Ama el Rock in Mexico City and decided to defer his admission.

Ricky soon after starred in several telenovelas and debuted his solo album, Ricky Martin. It hit number five on the US Billboard Latin Pop Album charts and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, although Ricky only received one cent for each album sold, so about $5,000.

In 1994, the singer was encouraged to move to Los Angeles where he landed a role on General Hospital. Ricky was on the show for two years, portraying Miguel Morez.

After refocusing on his music career, Ricky released his first English language album – Ricky Martin. The lead single "Livin' la Vida Loca" is Ricky's best performing song of his career.

Within three months, it became the best-selling album ever by a Latin artist. The album has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Ricky later went on a worldwide Livin' la Vida Loca Tour, which was the highest-grossing tour of the year 2000 by a Latin artist.

As Ricky's career kept rising, interest in his personal life did too. In August 2008, he became a dad to twin boys – Matteo and Valentino – via surrogacy. Two years later, he came out as gay through a statement to his website.

Ricky said: "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am." When he opened up about becoming a father as a gay man, he told Out magazine: "Many years I dreamt of being a father, and many, many, many times I went through this grieving process of 'I am gay, I am a closeted gay man, and I'm not going to be able to be a daddy.'"

While navigating the early years of his sons' lives, Ricky started dating Puerto Rican economist Carlos González Abella. The two were together for four years, breaking up in 2014.

In 2016, Ricky started dating Syrian-Swedish painter Jwan Yosef. The two married in 2018, the same year they welcomed their daughter Lucia. At the time, Ricky posted to Instagram, writing: "Both her brothers and Jwan and I are completely in love with our baby and grateful to be able to start this 2019 with the best gift we could receive, the gift of life."

Nine months later, Ricky's fourth child, Renn, was born via surrogacy. In 2023, after six years of marriage, Jwan and Ricky divorced.

As a busy dad of four, Ricky returned to television with his role in the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale. Ricky stars as a closeted bartender at the Palm Royale beach club. Of his decision to start acting again, the singer told The Hollywood Reporter: "Let's just be honest, to be in front of the camera with Kristen Wiig, Carol Burnett and Laura Dern? It doesn't get better."

The next height in his five decade career came on Sunday, February 8 when he performed alongside Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl Halftime show. Fans stormed the internet to share their excitement for Ricky's performance and his appearance. One person wrote to X: "The most offensive thing to me about the halftime show is that Ricky Martin looks like that at age 54. HOW?!?"