You probably know him as the guy who gets roasted every Saturday night on "Weekend Update." Or maybe you just know him as the lucky dude on the arm of a Marvel superstar. Honestly, for a long time, the world mostly referred to him as "that SNL guy." But the story of Scarlett Johansson husband is actually way more interesting than just a punchline on a late-night sketch show.
Colin Jost isn't just some random comedian who happened to bag a movie star. He’s a Harvard-educated writer who has been the backbone of Saturday Night Live for nearly two decades. People often assume they had some whirlwind Hollywood romance, but the truth is they knew each other for over ten years before they even went on a proper date. It’s one of those slow-burn situations that actually worked out.
Who Exactly is Colin Jost?
Let’s get the basics out of the way. Colin Jost is 43, born and raised in Staten Island. He’s very "Staten Island"—he even bought a decommissioned ferry with Pete Davidson, which is about as New York as it gets. He’s been a writer at SNL since 2005. That’s a lifetime in TV years.
You’ve likely seen him co-anchoring "Weekend Update" with Michael Che. Their chemistry is basically built on Che making Colin say the most offensive things possible while Colin dies a little bit inside. It’s a bit, sure, but it has made him one of the most recognizable faces in comedy.
Beyond the desk, he’s a massive overachiever. We're talking about a guy who was president of the Harvard Lampoon. He’s written for The New Yorker. He’s published a memoir called A Very Punchable Face—which, let’s be real, is a pretty self-aware title for a guy who knows he looks like a varsity swim captain.
The Meet-Cute That Took a Decade
Most people think they met and fell in love instantly. Nope. Not even close.
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The first time they met was back in 2006. Scarlett was hosting SNL for the first time; she was only 20. Colin was 23 and in his very first year as a writer. Imagine being a total newbie writer and having to pitch sketches to one of the biggest actresses on the planet. Jost has said he remembered her being "beautiful, smart, sweet, and intimidatingly sophisticated."
Scarlett’s memory of him is a bit different. She remembers him from a 2010 sketch he wrote—a parody of 16 and Pregnant. She recalled him being very confident, maybe even a little bit cocky, in the writer’s room.
They stayed in each other's orbits for years. Scarlett went through marriages with Ryan Reynolds and Romain Dauriac. Colin dated Rashida Jones for a while. It wasn't until her fifth time hosting in 2017—after her split from Dauriac—that things finally clicked.
The Secret Wedding and "Jost Married"
By 2019, they were engaged. He gave her an 11-carat light brown diamond that reportedly cost around $450,000. It’s a unique, egg-shaped stone—very much not your typical "mall jeweler" engagement ring.
They got married in October 2020. This was peak pandemic time, so they didn't do the big, bloated celebrity gala. They had an intimate ceremony at their home in Palisades, New York.
What’s really cool is how they announced it. They didn't sell the photos to a tabloid. Instead, they had the charity Meals on Wheels break the news on Instagram. They used their wedding buzz to drive donations for seniors struggling during the lockdowns. The post featured a cheesy (but cute) graphic of the Staten Island Ferry with "Jost Married" written across it.
Life as a Family in 2026
Fast forward to now, and they seem like one of the stablest couples in the industry. They have a son together named Cosmo, born in 2021. Colin is also a stepdad to Scarlett’s daughter, Rose, from her previous marriage.
You don't see them in the tabloids much. Scarlett famously stays off social media. She’s mentioned in interviews (like on the Goop podcast) that her relationship with Colin works because he’s "compassionate." After two high-profile divorces, she realized that kindness and emotional groundedness were more important than the typical "Hollywood spark."
They even work together occasionally. Just recently, in 2025, they were all over the Cannes Red Carpet together for her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. Colin was right there, playing the supportive husband role perfectly. They also appeared together in the movie Fly Me to the Moon.
Why This Marriage Works (The Expert Take)
If you look at the track record of celebrity marriages, they usually fail when there's too much ego or too much distance. Jost and Johansson seem to have bypassed that by:
- Shared Humor: Being able to laugh at yourself is a prerequisite for being married to a professional comedian.
- Privacy: They keep their kids out of the spotlight and don't "perform" their relationship for likes.
- Career Support: Colin has his own established career that doesn't rely on her fame, which balances the power dynamic.
Common Misconceptions About the Couple
One big mistake people make is thinking Colin is just "the SNL guy." In reality, he’s a prolific screenwriter and recently started hosting Pop Culture Jeopardy!. He’s built a net worth of roughly $10 million on his own merit. While that’s small compared to Scarlett’s estimated $165 million, he’s hardly a "trophy husband."
Another myth is that they are always together. Because of their schedules—her filming all over the world and him being tied to New York for SNL 30 weeks a year—they’ve had to master the art of the long-distance juggle.
What You Can Learn from Their Relationship
If you're looking for "relationship goals," there are a few practical takeaways here:
- Timing is Everything: Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time. Don't force it. If it’s meant to happen, it might take ten years.
- Values Over Vibes: Scarlett prioritized finding a "compassionate" partner over a "famous" or "intense" one after learning from her past.
- Support the Hustle: Whether it's a red carpet in France or a late-night set in NYC, showing up for your partner’s wins is non-negotiable.
To keep up with what they're doing next, you're better off watching the credits of their upcoming films than checking Instagram. Look for Colin's name in writing credits and Scarlett's move into directing—it’s clear they’re entering a new phase of their careers together.