How Old Is ‘Golden Bachelor’ Mel Owens Compared to the Women Hoping to Win Him Over?
Mel Owens, the star of The Golden Bachelor Season 2, is bringing charm, wit, and life experience to the franchise’s latest season. A retired NFL linebacker and community advocate, he now enters the spotlight for a different kind of challenge: finding love on national television. While fans are excited to see how Mel’s season unfolds, they weren’t impressed by his early comments about wanting to fall in love with a younger woman. So, what is Mel’s age, and how does it compare to the contestants on his season?
How old is ‘Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 lead Mel Owens?
The Golden Bachelor Season 2 lead, Mel Owens, made insensitive comments about the ages of the women vying for his love on the show before the season began filming. In a June 2025 podcast interview with In the Trenches, Mel stated he would “cut” any women over 60 from consideration, expressing a preference for women aged 45 to 60.
“It’s blind up until they get out of the limo,” Mel said. “But they asked me, ‘What’s your preferences?’ So, I just said 45 to 60, just being honest,” Owens said. “And then the process went, and I was selected, right? And then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, ‘You know, if they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them.’ ‘Oh Mel, you can’t, you know, this is not The Silver Bachelor. It’s The Golden Bachelor. He goes, ‘But they’re going to be hot, don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about it.'”
So, how old is Mel? He’s 66 while The Golden Bachelor airs, and he’s turning 67 in December 2025. This makes him significantly younger than the first Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, who turned 74 in 2025. Theresa Nist, Gerry’s ex-wife, turned 72 in 2025.
Mel also has two sons: Lucas, 20, and Andre, 18.
How old is Mel Owens compared to the women on his season?
The Golden Bachelor Season 2 introduces 23 vibrant women, aged 58 to 77, each bringing their unique stories and energy to the quest for love with 66-year-old Mel Owens. The contestants hail from diverse backgrounds and professions, including a longevity nurse, a retired biomedical engineer, a flight attendant, a librarian, and a full-time mom.
Here are the contestants, from youngest to oldest (according to The Hollywood Reporter), hoping to sweep Mel off his feet this season:
Maia, 58: College sports consultant
Monica P., 60: Cosmetic dentist
Cindy, 60: Retired biomedical engineer
Mylene, 61: Casino VIP host
Peg, 62: Retired firefighter
Carla, 62: Former model
Monica B., 62: Flight attendant
Roxanne, 62: Longevity nurse
Susie, 62: Realtor
Tracy, 62: Interior designer
Robin, 63: Wealth advisor
Carol, 63: Family manager for Freddie Freeman, a baseball all-star
Amy, 63: Full-time mom
Nicolle, 64: Yoga instructor
Gerri, 64: Home-care agency CEO
Debbie, 65: Fitness professional
Cheryl, 66: Retired IRS employee
Lisa, 66: State park employee
Alexandra, 67: Luxury yacht sales representative
Diane, 71: Librarian
Terri, 71: Cosmetic dentist
Lily, 72: Retired elementary school teacher
Andra, 77: Retired federal worker
Given this range, Mel is eight years older than the youngest contestant and 11 years younger than the oldest contestant. Most of the other women are between 62-63 — just a few years younger than he is.
The former NFL linebacker wants Bachelor Nation fans to give him a ‘second chance’
Mel Owens knows his comments regarding age were out of bounds — and he hopes The Golden Bachelor Season 2 viewers can give him a chance at redemption.
“I’d say tune in, give me a second chance,” he told USA Today. “Make your own evaluation.”
A preview of the premiere posted to Instagram shows just how impressed Mel is with the women on his season. This might prove that age is just a number.
“These are the most extraordinary women I’ve met,” Mel says. “If this is how it’s going to be, this is great. I’m blown away.”
The Golden Bachelor Season 2 premieres with two episodes on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
