Jennifer Garner may be one of Hollywood’s most familiar faces, but when it comes to her personal life, she prefers to keep things as private as possible. Since her divorce from Ben Affleck, the actress has been in a relationship with businessman John Miller, and unlike many celebrity couples, they’ve managed to keep much of their romance away from the public eye. That decision has only made fans more interested in the man Jennifer has been dating for years.
Unlike Garner, John Miller isn’t part of the entertainment industry. He has built his career in business and has largely stayed out of the spotlight, rarely speaking publicly about his relationship or personal life. Even so, his romance with the actress has sparked plenty of curiosity, with many people wanting to know more about his background, career, first marriage, and the life he shares with Jennifer Garner. Here are seven facts about John Miller.
1. John Miller Is a Los Angeles Native With an Ivy-Caliber Legal Education
John Miller was born in 1978 in Los Angeles, California, making him a few years younger than Garner, who was born in 1972. He grew up in the city where he would eventually build both his business career and his relationship with Garner decades later, giving him a hometown familiarity with the entertainment industry world Garner has spent her career in, even though Miller himself has built his career entirely outside of Hollywood.
For his undergraduate education, Miller attended the University of Redlands in Redlands, California, where he studied economics. He then went on to pursue a law degree at Stanford Law School, one of the most competitive law programs in the country. While there, he was recognized as a member of the Order of the Coif Honor Society, an academic distinction reserved for top-performing law students. After completing his legal education, Miller joined the California Bar in the Northern District of California, giving him formal legal credentials that would later support his work in business and intellectual property.
2. He Built His Early Career in Biotech Law
Miller’s early career combined his legal training with an interest in emerging technology and science. In 2004, he joined Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on developing medicines for genetic-based diseases, reportedly as the company’s second employee. He went on to serve as vice president of intellectual property at Arrowhead from 2004 to 2010, a role that placed him at the intersection of scientific research and legal strategy during a formative period for the biotech industry.
During this same period, Miller co-authored a book titled The Handbook of Nanotechnology: Business, Policy, and Intellectual Property Law, published in 2008 alongside co-authors Ruben Serrato, Jose Miguel Represas-Cardenas, and Griffith Kundahl. The book was described by its publisher as one of the first works to fully explore the complex legal and policy issues tied to commercializing nanotechnology, an emerging field at the time with significant legal ambiguity. Miller also served as managing editor of the academic journal Nanotechnology Law & Business, further establishing his expertise at the intersection of science, law, and business strategy.
3. He Founded Cali Group, the Company Behind CaliBurger and a Burger-Flipping Robot
After his time at Arrowhead, Miller shifted his focus toward building his own ventures, eventually founding Cali Group, an investment and technology company with a portfolio spanning the restaurant and retail technology industries. As chairman of Cali Group, Miller has overseen investments in companies including CaliBurger, a fast-food chain often positioned as a tech-forward rival to more traditional burger chains, Miso Robotics, Kitchen United, and PopID, a company specializing in facial-recognition payment technology, where Miller has also served as CEO.
One of Cali Group’s most notable ventures came through CaliBurger, where Miller’s team developed Flippy, a robot designed to handle certain food preparation tasks in restaurant kitchens. Miller has described his approach to the restaurant business through a distinctly tech-oriented lens, once explaining that his company thinks of itself as a technology business that happens to sell cheeseburgers, reflecting the broader automation and tech integration strategy behind Cali Group’s restaurant investments.
That framing captures much of Miller’s overall business philosophy, applying technology-driven thinking to industries that have traditionally operated with far less automation.
Miller’s business philosophy has also extended into how he talks publicly about his ventures, on the rare occasions he does so. In interviews tied to his work with Cali Group, he has described his interest in identifying industries that have been slow to adopt new technology, then applying automation, data, and modern retail thinking to modernize them. That approach has shaped Cali Group’s broader investment strategy, which has focused heavily on food service and retail technology rather than the more traditional venture capital sectors like software or biotech that defined the earlier part of his career at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals.
4. He Was Previously Married to a Concert Violinist
Before his relationship with Jennifer Garner, Miller was previously married to Caroline Campbell, an acclaimed violinist known for her work across film scores, television, and live performance. The couple wed in 2005 and went on to have two children together, a daughter named Violet and a son named Quest. Miller and Campbell’s marriage eventually came to an end, with the couple filing for divorce in 2014 and finalizing their split several years later, in 2018, the same year Miller’s relationship with Garner became public.
5. He Met Jennifer Garner Shortly After Her Divorce From Ben Affleck
John Miller and Jennifer Garner reportedly began dating in early 2018, not long after Garner’s own divorce from Ben Affleck was finalized. The two made their first public appearance together that November, when they were seen attending a performance of the musical Dear Evan Hansen in Los Angeles. From the outset, the couple made a deliberate effort to keep their relationship low-key, with their second public outing not occurring for several more months, when they were spotted together at a restaurant in Santa Monica in February 2019.
6. Their Relationship Has Had an On-Again, Off-Again History
Despite their private approach, the relationship has not been without its ups and downs. Garner and Miller reportedly split on amicable terms in 2020, with Garner telling People around that time that she felt ready for a fresh start. The break did not last permanently, however, and the couple reconciled in May 2021, later being spotted together in New York City that August as they resumed their relationship.
By 2023, sources close to the couple described them as having settled into a steady, committed relationship. A source told People in February of that year that Garner and Miller had been back together for roughly a year, describing their bond as a very special relationship, while acknowledging that it had never been the easiest given that both have families of their own to consider. That balancing act, between two adults each raising children from previous marriages, has remained a defining feature of their relationship in the years since.
The couple’s relationship has continued to progress in the years that followed. In April 2025, Garner and Miller were photographed sharing a kiss while out together in coordinating denim outfits, one of several public appearances that have offered rare glimpses into their otherwise private romance.
Around the same time, a source told Us Weekly that Miller had begun splitting his time between his own Los Angeles office and Garner’s home, a living arrangement that reportedly began in January 2025 amid the Los Angeles wildfires, when Miller moved out of his previous residence. According to that source, the arrangement was described as a temporary solution while Miller decided whether to rent or buy a new home of his own, rather than a formal step toward moving in together permanently.
By the summer of 2025, sources described the relationship as stronger than ever, with insiders telling People that Garner and Miller were doing better than they had ever been, and that those close to the couple considered them to be the most solid and connected they had seen them in years. The couple has also been seen together at select public events over the years, including a Save the Children charity event in 2025, though such appearances remain relatively rare compared to how often Garner is photographed with her children or seen navigating her career in the public eye.
7. He Has Never Walked a Red Carpet With Jennifer Garner
One of the more distinctive aspects of Miller and Garner’s relationship is just how private they have kept it, especially given Garner’s level of fame. Neither has publicly confirmed the relationship in their own words through interviews, and Miller has never accompanied Garner to a red carpet event or major Hollywood function, a notable contrast to the very public nature of her previous marriage to Ben Affleck. Sources close to the couple have described their approach to dating as intentionally low-profile, preferring quiet dinners at each other’s homes over public outings, and reportedly taking private trips together to destinations including New York and Italy over the years.
Family has remained a central consideration throughout their relationship. Garner shares three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel, with Ben Affleck, while Miller has his own two children, Violet and Quest, from his marriage to Caroline Campbell. Sources have indicated that the couple has worked over time to gradually incorporate their respective families into their relationship, though specific details about how their children interact remain largely private, consistent with the couple’s overall approach to keeping their personal life away from public scrutiny.
Jennifer Garner, for her part, has continued to build her own career throughout her relationship with Miller, appearing in projects such as Yes Day, The Adam Project, and Deadpool & Wolverine, while also remaining active in her advocacy work, including her long-running involvement with the nonprofit organization Save the Children. Garner has spoken publicly over the years about prioritizing her children and her career over her dating life, which aligns closely with the low-key nature of her relationship with Miller and may help explain why the couple has taken such a gradual, private approach to their romance compared to some of Garner’s earlier, more publicized relationships.
The couple’s ability to maintain a long-term relationship largely outside of tabloid coverage is somewhat unusual given Garner’s level of fame, and it has occasionally made headlines simply because so little is known about it. Even so, the glimpses that have emerged over the years, from grocery runs in Los Angeles to quiet dinners and the occasional public kiss, suggest a relationship that has continued to deepen steadily, even without the public displays that often accompany celebrity romances.
Quick Facts About John Miller
- Full name: John Miller
- Date of birth: 1978
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Profession: Businessman, attorney, and author
- Education: University of Redlands (economics) and Stanford Law School
- Career highlights: Vice president of intellectual property at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (2004–2010); founder and chairman of Cali Group; CEO of PopID
- Notable ventures: CaliBurger, Miso Robotics, Kitchen United, and PopID
- First marriage: Caroline Campbell, married 2005, two children, divorce finalized in 2018
- Relationship with Jennifer Garner: Began dating in 2018, with an on-and-off relationship that has continued since
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Miller?
John Miller is an American businessman, attorney, and entrepreneur best known as the longtime boyfriend of actress Jennifer Garner. He is the chairman of Cali Group, a restaurant and retail technology investment company.
What does John Miller do for a living?
He is a businessman and attorney who serves as chairman of Cali Group, overseeing investments in companies including CaliBurger, Miso Robotics, Kitchen United, and PopID, where he also serves as CEO.
Where did John Miller go to school?
He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Redlands and later attended Stanford Law School, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif Honor Society.
When did John Miller and Jennifer Garner start dating?
The couple reportedly began dating in early 2018, making their first public appearance together that November at a performance of Dear Evan Hansen in Los Angeles.
Was John Miller married before dating Jennifer Garner?
Yes. He was previously married to violinist Caroline Campbell. The couple wed in 2005, had two children together, and finalized their divorce in 2018.
Does John Miller have children?
Yes, he has two children, Violet and Quest, from his marriage to Caroline Campbell.
Are John Miller and Jennifer Garner still together?
As of recent reports, yes. Sources have described their relationship as stronger than ever, despite a brief split in 2020 followed by reconciliation in 2021.
Why do John Miller and Jennifer Garner keep their relationship private?
The couple has intentionally kept a low profile since they began dating, likely due to Garner’s high public profile and the fact that both have children from previous marriages to consider.