Teanna Trump says she pays her own way in the Nicolas Pepe romance, pushing back firmly against whispers that the adult-film star is dating the former Arsenal winger for financial gain. In a candid 38-minute interview released Thursday on the No Jumper podcast, the 29-year-old American entertainer detailed how she personally funded flights and luxury trips during the early stages of their relationship to prove her independence and silence any gold-digger accusations before they could take root.
The couple first sparked dating rumours in mid-2024 when Teanna was spotted courtside at several of Pepe’s games while he was playing for Trabzonspor in Turkey. Photos of the pair on yachts in Dubai and at Paris Fashion Week quickly went viral, prompting online speculation about motives given Pepe’s estimated £25 million career earnings and Teanna’s lucrative OnlyFans empire. Addressing the chatter head-on, Teanna explained her deliberate financial choices from day one.
“In the first year we were seeing each other, I paid for every single flight myself, every two weeks, sometimes twice a month,” she revealed. “I didn’t want him or anyone else thinking I was flying out on his dime. I have my own money, always have.”
The most striking example came on Pepe’s 30th birthday in May 2025. Teanna surprised the Ivorian forward with an all-expenses-paid getaway that she planned in complete secrecy. “He literally didn’t know where we were going until we landed,” she laughed.
“I told him to pack for warm weather, and that was it. I set a budget of exactly 30,000 dollars because he was turning 30. Everything from the private jet credit to the villa, dinners, shopping – all of it came from me.” The destination turned out to be a private estate in Mykonos, Greece, where the couple spent five days celebrating away from paparazzi lenses.
Teanna, whose real name is Keanna Nichele Jones, has built a multimillion-dollar brand through adult entertainment and social media, reportedly earning upwards of $300,000 monthly on subscription platforms at her peak.
She emphasised that her career choices, while controversial to some, have always afforded her complete financial autonomy. “People see a footballer and an adult actress and automatically assume the worst,” she said. “But I’ve been booking my own first-class tickets since I was 19. I don’t need anyone’s wallet to live the life I want.”
The relationship appears to have deepened significantly since Pepe became a free agent in June 2025 after leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor. Sources close to the couple say the 30-year-old forward has spent increasing time in Los Angeles, where Teanna is based, and the two have discussed future plans that include her attending more of his matches once he signs with a new club.
Pepe, who earned £140,000 per week at Arsenal during his prime, has remained private on social media but was photographed wearing a custom chain bearing Teanna’s initials in November.
Public reaction has been mixed but largely supportive. Many fans praised Teanna for flipping the usual narrative of athletes dating models or influencers. “She really said ‘I fly myself out’ and backed it with receipts,” one viral X post read.
Women’s finance pages on Instagram reposted clips of the interview with captions celebrating independence, while Premier League meme accounts jokingly dubbed the couple “the most financially secure relationship in football”.
Teanna also touched on the cultural adjustments both have made. “He’s African, I’m American, and we come from completely different worlds,” she acknowledged. “But money has never been the bridge or the barrier.
Respect and real attraction are.” She revealed that Pepe initially hesitated about going public because of potential backlash from conservative circles in Côte d’Ivoire but ultimately decided authenticity mattered more.
As Pepe continues negotiations with clubs in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and surprisingly MLS, Teanna says she is focused on expanding her own brand, including a planned clothing line launch in early 2026.
Whatever stadium he lands in next, one thing seems clear from her interview: she will be in the stands on her own terms and with her own ticket.
The refreshingly transparent conversation has shifted much of the online narrative from suspicion to admiration, proving once again that Teanna Trump saying she pays her own way in the Nicolas Pepe romance is not just a catchy headline but a statement backed by private-jet receipts and a $30,000 birthday surprise that money genuinely cannot buy.
