Jersey Shore Cast: Then & Now (2025)

The Jersey Shore cast have been in each other's lives for over a decade and on MTV's screens for just as long, and a lot has changed about them over time. With the cast debuting on MTV in 2009, viewers have had nearly 15 years to get to know the housemates of Jersey Shore. From watching them hitting the clubs in Seaside Heights to seeing them getting married and having children, viewers have seen the Jersey Shore cast members through many phases of life. While some moments were easier than others, the Jersey Shore cast has done their best to be there for each other through the good times and the bad.

After joining Jersey Shore and meeting for the first time, the cast connected quickly. Comprised of Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Vinny Guadagnino, Jennifer "JWoww" Farley, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Samantha "Sammi Sweetheart" Giancola, Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, and Angelina Pivarnick, the cast became part of a cultural phenomenon almost immediately. After Angelina left the series, Nicole's friend Deena Nicole Cortese joined the cast in Jersey Shore season 3. While the cast only appeared on the original series for about three years, the show cycled through six seasons before taking a long hiatus. In 2018, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation began airing, bringing the cast back in a whole new series.

Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio

Pauly D is one of the original Jersey Shore cast members, and has become a successful DJ due to his popularity on the series. He was DJ-ing before his time on the show, and has since made his business into an empire. When viewers first met Pauly D, he was nearly 30 years old and living in Rhode Island, growing his DJ business. Known for his easygoing nature, Pauly quickly became a prominent member of the Jersey Shore cast, helping to popularize some of the catchphrases on the series like "T-shirt time." After years on Jersey Shore, Pauly went on to have a successful reality TV career with multiple spin-offs.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi

Easily the most popular cast member of Jersey Shore, Snooki came into the series as one of the more polarizing figures. Viewers loved or hated her throughout her time on Jersey Shore, where she gained a reputation for partying. Snooki and Jenni starred in their own spin-off series, Snooki & JWoww starting in 2011. After Snooki met her future husband Jionni LaValle during an early season of the series, the pair welcomed a son, Lorenzo, in 2012. They had a daughter Giovanna in 2014, and married in the same year. The couple had another son Angelo in 2019, and have settled in New Jersey with their family.

Vinny Guadagnino

While Vinny has built a reputation for himself based on his bachelorhood since the beginning of Jersey Shore, his career has been a major factor in the way he's been perceived publicly. Originally from Staten Island, New York, Vinny was the token nice guy on the series. He became close with DJ Pauly D quickly and the pair developed a bond that would follow them throughout the decade, even resulting in them co-headlining an MTV dating series, Double Shot At Love. Vinny appeared on Dancing With The Stars season 31, getting eliminated after week 5 and making waves for his flirtation with The Bachelorette lead Gabby Windey.

Jennifer "JWoww" Farley

Jenni, sometimes known as "JWoww," was an original Jersey Shore cast member who is originally from East Greenbush, New York. She was 23 when Jersey Shore began, and the series documented a pivotal part of her life as she moved out of a difficult relationship and found herself independent and finding herself. After years on Jersey Shore, Jenni appeared on Snooki & JWoww with her boyfriend, Roger Matthews. Jenni and Roger welcomed a daughter, Meilani, in 2014 and got married in 2015 before welcoming a son, Greyson, in 2016. The couple filed for divorce in 2018, and Jenni is currently engaged to professional wrestler Zack Carpinello as of 2021.

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro

Ronnie was originally from Bronx, New York, and was 24 when he started filming Jersey Shore. He had a complicated time on the series, especially in his relationship with his cast mate, Sammi. Ronnie and Sammi had a volatile relationship that lasted from 2009 until 2016. He welcomed a daughter with his new girlfriend, Jen Harley, in 2017 but the pair developed a similarly volatile relationship riddled with domestic violence. They broke up for good in 2019, and Ronnie began a new relationship shortly thereafter. He was arrested multiple times throughout 2020 and 2021, but has managed to continue to appear on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

Samantha "Sammi Sweetheart" Giancola

Sammi was advertised as "sweet," but during the span of Jersey Shore, she was wrapped up in her relationship with Ronnie, which was anything but. After breaking up with Ronnie, Sammi separated herself from Jersey Shore as much as possible. She went on to develop her own online clothing brand, Sweetheart Styles, and continue to build her brand. Sammi began to date Christian Biscardi in 2017, and the pair were engaged after two years, but chose to end their relationship in 2020. She's currently dating Justin May, a bartender. She chose not to come back to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation at first. Sammi will be returning to Jersey Shore for the 2023 season.

Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino

Mike "The Situation" was one of the most notable people from Jersey Shore's original cast, but dealt with several hardships throughout his time in the public eye. Beginning the series when he was 27 years old, he was a playboy. After the show, Mike dabbled in other reality TV series for years. He rekindled his relationship with college sweetheart Lauren Pesce, and they got engaged in 2018. Mike served 8 months in prison for tax evasion in 2019. The lead-up to his sentencing and time served was documented on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation season 3. Mike and Lauren have two children, and he has been sober since 2015.

Angelina Pivarnick

An original Jersey Shore cast member, Angelina took a break from the show for the majority of its run. She appeared on the first season, but wound up leaving the house after going through a difficult breakup and getting fired from the T-shirt shop the cast was working at for the summer. After leaving Jersey Shore, Angelina met and married Chris Larangeira. The pair divorced in 2022, but their relationship was documented in part on Couples Therapy and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. She is engaged to model Vinny Tortorella. Angelina was the butt of many jokes throughout Jersey Shore, but finally got to defend herself on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

Deena Nicole Cortese

Deena was a close personal friend of Snooki, and joined the cast during Jersey Shore season 3 as a new addition to the house. Bringing a fun, effervescent vibe to the house, Deena described herself as a "blast in a glass" and delivered during her time on the series. After Jersey Shore, Deena met Christopher Buckner, who she married in 2017. The couple welcomed two sons, CJ in 2019 and Cameron in 2021. Returning to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation for the fun with her cast mates, the Jersey Shore alum has been a grounding addition to the cast.