If you were online in 2014, you remember the "List." It was everywhere. A handwritten scrawl on a piece of hotel stationery, allegedly penned by Lindsay Lohan, detailing 36 of her past sexual partners. For a few weeks, the internet didn't talk about anything else. It wasn't just the sheer number of names—it was the caliber of them.
We’re talking Academy Award winners. Pop icons. A-list action stars.
But here is the thing: Most people still think it was some drunken boast left behind at a bar. That is actually not what happened at all. The real story is much more personal, a little bit sad, and way more complicated than the tabloids made it out to be. Honestly, looking back from 2026, the way the world treated that list feels like a fever dream.
The Mystery Behind the Lindsay Lohan List of Lovers
The list first surfaced in In Touch Weekly back in March 2014. At the time, the narrative was that Lindsay had written the names down to impress her friends during a "drunken kickback" at the Beverly Hills Hotel. People imagined her giggling, crossing names out, and passing it around like a high school burn book.
The reality was far heavier.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Lindsay finally came clean. She confirmed the list was hers, but she didn't write it to brag. She wrote it while she was at the Betty Ford Center. It was part of her Fifth Step in Alcoholics Anonymous.
For those who don't know the program, the Fifth Step involves admitting "to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." It’s a moment of deep, painful honesty intended for recovery, not for public consumption.
"That was actually my fifth step in AA," she told Cohen. "And someone, when I was moving during the OWN show, must have taken a photo of it. It’s a really personal thing and it’s really unfortunate."
Imagine your most private inventory, written during your lowest point in rehab, being sold to a magazine. It’s kinda brutal when you think about it that way.
Who Was Actually on the List?
The original published image had several names blurred out for legal reasons (mostly because some of the men were not single at the time). But over the years, the "un-blurred" versions and follow-up reports filled in the blanks. The Lindsay Lohan list of lovers read like a VIP invite to the Oscars.
Some of the most notable names included:
- Heath Ledger: This one was particularly heavy. Rumors had swirled for years that the two were close before his passing in 2008.
- Justin Timberlake: One of the biggest "holy grail" names on the list.
- Zac Efron: At the time, he was transitioning from Disney heartthrob to serious actor.
- Joaquin Phoenix: A name that surprised many, given his private nature.
- Adam Levine: The Maroon 5 frontman who has had his own share of tabloid headlines since.
- James Franco: Interestingly, Franco later denied it in his book Actors Anonymous, though he admitted they had "hooked up" in a non-sexual way.
- Colin Farrell: The ultimate Hollywood "bad boy" of the mid-2000s.
There were others too. Jamie Dornan, Evan Peters, Wilmer Valderrama, and Max George from The Wanted. It was a snapshot of a very specific era of Hollywood excess.
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Beyond the List: The Meaningful Relationships
It’s easy to get bogged down in the 36 names, but Lindsay had several long-term relationships that defined her years in the spotlight. These weren't just names on a scrap of paper; they were genuine chapters of her life.
Wilmer Valderrama (2004) This was her first major public relationship. She was 18, he was 24 and starring in That '70s Show. They were the "it" couple for a hot minute. Lindsay even guest-starred on his show. It was during this time she recorded her album Speak, and many believe the song "Over" was about their breakup.
Samantha Ronson (2008–2009) This was groundbreaking for the time. Lindsay and DJ Samantha Ronson were inseparable. They were photographed everywhere, often in heated arguments, but the love was clearly there. Lindsay later described it as her first time being with a woman, calling it "scary" but "bold" to be so public about it in that era of paparazzi culture.
Egor Tarabasov (2015–2016) This was a darker chapter. She was engaged to the Russian millionaire, but the relationship ended after footage surfaced of a violent physical altercation on a beach in Greece. It was a wake-up call that led her to step away from the London social scene and eventually move to Dubai.
Where She Is Now: The Bader Shammas Era
If you’ve seen her recent movies like Falling for Christmas or Irish Wish, you’ve noticed a different Lindsay. She looks healthy. She looks happy. Most of that seems to stem from her life in Dubai, far away from the prying eyes of Los Angeles.
In 2019, she met Bader Shammas, a financier. Unlike almost every other man in her past, Bader isn't a celebrity. He doesn't have a public Instagram with millions of followers. He’s just a guy who works in finance.
They married in April 2022. By July 2023, they welcomed their first son, Luai.
Seeing her go from a "leaked sex list" in 2014 to a quiet, stable marriage in 2026 is one of the most impressive celebrity turnarounds in recent history. She’s no longer a "conquest" or a "tabloid target." She’s a mom living in a city where it’s actually illegal for paparazzi to harass her.
Lessons from the "List" Culture
The obsession with the Lindsay Lohan list of lovers says more about us than it does about her. In 2014, we treated her like a character in a movie rather than a person in recovery.
If you're looking into this history, remember these few things:
- Context is everything: The list wasn't a brag sheet; it was a recovery tool.
- Privacy is a luxury: Most of these names were "revealed" without her consent.
- Growth is possible: You can be the "messy" girl of the 2000s and still find a peaceful, "boring" (in a good way!) life later on.
Instead of focusing on the names on a decade-old piece of paper, look at the career resurgence she's having now. She survived the most intense era of celebrity scrutiny and came out the other side. That’s the real story worth following.
If you want to support her current journey, checking out her recent Netflix projects or her podcast is a much better way to engage than digging through the archives of 2014. She’s moved on, and honestly, we probably should too.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Verify before you share: Many "expanded" versions of the list online include names that were never actually on the paper. Stick to confirmed sources like the Watch What Happens Live interview.
- Respect the boundaries: Lindsay has been vocal about why she moved to Dubai (privacy laws). Respecting her current privacy is the best way to be a fan in 2026.
- Support the comeback: Her recent films have been massive hits for a reason—she's a talented actress who finally has the stability to work again.