Teresa Giudice is reflecting on her first marriage to Joe Giudice, offering an honest take on whether the two would still be together had they not endured their highly-publicized, long-running legal and financial troubles, which ultimately led to both serving prison time and Joe being deported.
In addition, “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star had shared that enduring those deeply personal struggles led her to finding her “happy ending” with her husband, Luis Ruelas, crediting her relationship for bringing her peace and renewed happiness.
Teresa Giudice Reveals She & Joe Giudice Weren’t ‘Meant to Be Together’
On Feb. 10, Teresa Giudice appeared on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York,” where she opened up about her marriage to Joe Giudice. Fans who watched their relationship unfold on RHONJ know the two were childhood sweethearts who were married for 20 years and shared four daughters.
After years of turbulence following their federal fraud indictments, which resulted in both Teresa and Joe serving prison sentences, Teresa ultimately made the difficult decision to end their marriage. The couple separated in 2019, with their divorce finalized in September 2020.
When asked if she would have still been with Joe if the former couple did not go through their mounting legal troubles, Teresa shared, “I don’t know. I think Joe and I weren’t meant to be together because we’re not together.”
Getty“I think things happen the way they are supposed to happen,” she added. When further asked if she reflected deeply on their marriage as Joe was away in prison, Teresa said, “After that, it was totally done. Oh, yeah. There were no questions asked.”
“Joe and I kind of got ripped apart,” Teresa shared, reflecting on his deportation to Italy following his three-year prison sentence. “After the legal stuff, I was done with him because that should have never happened.”
Teresa Hopes Joe Comes Home to Help With Their Daughters
GettyAlthough Teresa and Joe ended their marriage, they have been on good terms, maintaining a friendly relationship for the sake of their daughters. In her interview with Fox 5, Teresa even revealed that she would love to see her ex-husband, who has since been living in the Bahamas, back in the U.S. to help with the family.
“I wish he would come back because I have four daughters and they need their dad,” Teresa shared. “I do it all by myself, everything, like, financially, everything. If he was here, he would be able to provide and help me. So I wish he comes back.”
Ever since Joe’s deportation in 2019, the former couple’s oldest daughter, Gia Giudice, has been actively petitioning for her father to return to the United States. In July 2025, she shared a video on Instagram, writing a letter to President Donald Trump to allow her dad to come back home.
Teresa Believes Her Past Challenges Paved the Way to Finding Love With Luis Ruelas
GettyDespite all of her past challenges, Teresa shared in the same interview that she believes she was meant to go through everything she did to eventually meet her now-husband, Luis Ruelas.
In fact, Teresa revealed that fans will get to know more about her relationship with Ruelas in an upcoming memoir, her third to be exact. “It’s my third chapter,” she shared, adding, “After I came home [from prison], then I met Louie. You know, when sometimes you don’t understand why you have to go through things in life? And then you get your answer? It talks about that.”
When asked if Teresa ever wondered why she had to go through those turbulent years that saw her serving over 11 months of a 15-month prison sentence, she shared, “To meet Louie. I finally got my answer. My happy ending.”
Joe never became a citizen when he had many chances to do so. He was a tax evader. Federal crimes are serious in this country. Joe knew this. There are people being deported for lesser crimes. Why should Joe be an exception?.