Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa celebrated a remarkable milestone this month, marking 30 years of marriage since their Las Vegas elopement on May 1, 1996. The couple first met on the set of All My Children, and their union has grown into a celebrated Hollywood love story.

On a recent episode of iHeartRadio’s podcast “I’ve Never Said This Before With Tommy DiDario,” Consuelos shared the secret behind their enduring marriage, a lesson he learned from his father: “One of the great things my dad taught me was, ‘Find somebody who’s gonna pull you up, that’s gonna make you better.’ And I did. I was lucky enough to find somebody like that.”

Reflecting on their relationship, Consuelos explained that fans have been deeply invested in their love story from the beginning. “They watched us fall in love on a soap, and they saw these two characters, like, playing boyfriend and girlfriend, like, ‘I knew you guys were in love.’ And, like, yeah, we were. We really, really, really, really were.”

The couple, who are parents to three children—Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 23—have spoken publicly about their marriage philosophy. Ripa, on Live With Kelly and Mark, described marriage as a marathon: “There’s going to be, like, mile 24 when you’re like, ‘I quit.’ But you just got to push through. Just push through.” Consuelos adds that their bond felt destined: “I feel like it wasn’t even a decision. It was like—it was a thing that was destined to happen.”

Their love, perseverance, and commitment have made them one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples, admired for blending personal connection with public presence, and for maintaining a strong, supportive family unit through decades in the spotlight.