Jaime King Engaged to Investment Banker Amid Custody Struggles and Financial Turmoil

9 July 2025

OConnor / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Actress Jaime King is once again in the headlines not just as a star of Hart of Dixie and White Chicks, but as a woman navigating a deeply turbulent personal chapter accentuated by legal setbacks, financial stress, and now, a new romantic commitment. On July 9 reports emerged revealing the 46‑year‑old actress has become engaged to investment banker Austin Sosa merely months after a judge granted her ex-husband sole physical custody of their two sons, James (age 11) and Leo (9). According to People magazine, King was recently seen wearing a diamond engagement ring following a salon visit in West Hollywood, marking what could be a hopeful, new beginning in her personal life.

King’s path to this announcement has been fraught with difficulties. Earlier in the year, a court ruled that she would have only supervised visitation with her boys, limited to three times per week, largely because she did not complete a six-month court-mandated rehabilitation program aimed at addressing alleged substance abuse and parenting issues. Her ex-husband, filmmaker Kyle Newman, was awarded sole physical custody after alleging he found her intoxicated while caring for the children. Additionally, King faced eviction from her Los Angeles apartment after falling more than $42,000 behind in rent, reportedly moving in with Sosa’s family for support.

Despite these pressures, King has maintained a public sense of gratitude and determination. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she expressed thanks to Sosa and his family, writing, “My God, I am the luckiest and most great mother ever. Thank you to Pammy, Chase, Austin, Gwendolyn and Carlos. Family forever”. The poignancy of the moment is underscored by her emotional admission on Jana Kramer’s Whine Down podcast in April, where she described losing custody as “scary” and “terrifying”. She has also accused the legal system of penalizing her teenage struggles with drugs even though she maintains she has been sober since age 17 .

King’s journey has exposed the vulnerability of celebrity status in personal turmoil. Despite a highly publicized divorce filed in 2020 and settled in 2023, followed by spousal and child support battles, she now faces damnation in the public eye, an eviction over unpaid rent, and custody constraints that have stripped her of expected parental rights. Sources claim her eviction came amid significant financial strain, and she had been staying in the San Fernando Valley and with Sosa’s parents to get back on her feet.

In the midst of this, King appears to have found solace in a new relationship. Reports indicate that she has grown very close to Sosa’s parents and been living with them leading up to their engagement announcement. Sosa, who maintains a low public profile and is originally from Brigham Young University as per his LinkedIn, seems to have become a stabilizing presence. Though details from the couple remain private, King’s sparkling ring marked a significant moment emerging from months of hardship.

The coverage of her engagement has reignited discussion around the nature of celebrity rebranding after personal struggle. While tabloids and news outlets have focused on the sensational contrasts financial reversals followed by romantic resurgence King has tried to reclaim the narrative, emphasizing love and support as she rebuilds her life.

The custody battle remains in legal limbo. King has indicated plans to complete the mandated rehab and parenting program, voicing concerns about legal procedures she claims penalize mothers in divorce proceedings. She remains determined to regain full parental rights, having described the custody outcome as unfair, citing outdated stereotypes about women and sobriety. Advocates for transparency and family rights have also pointed to her case as emblematic of systemic issues in court decisions regarding mothers.

As she rebuilds an unstable foundation, King has also resumed her professional work. She has begun promoting a new film, Love Danielle, and remains committed to her career in spite of ongoing legal and personal challenges. Her resilience in continuing to work amid adversity may hint at a carefully orchestrated return to normalcy balancing public obligations with private healing.

King’s story is a modern blend of vulnerability, turmoil, and resilience. It reflects the intense scrutiny celebrities face in personal crises and the complex choreography involved when their rebound becomes headline news. The engagement, her expected recovery, and renewed custody fight signal a chapter still unfolding. The world is watching to see if love, new and familial will fortify her position and enable her to secure justice for her children.