The men (and women) of Madonna

By Elizabeth Snead, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Mae West once said, “It’s not the men in my life that counts. It’s the life in my men.”

Madonna could say pretty much say the same.

Our Material Girl has enjoyed a cornucopia of exciting, accomplished men from the high-profile worlds of politics, entertainment and sports over the last three decades.

She’s rumored to have gone from American royalty John Kennedy Jr. to exhibitionist former NBA star Dennis Rodman, from the reclusive Prince to public illusionist David Blaine, from surly actor Sean Penn to press-phobic actor Warren Beatty.

Now, at 50, she’s about to reinvent her world again. After more than seven years of marriage, she’s running from the chilly clutches of her British director-husband, Guy Ritchie into, it is rumored, the well-muscled arms of New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.

Let’s take a look back at Madonna’s main men, a few dalliances and some of her gal pals. Maybe we can discover a pattern or preference among her continually changing romantic interests. Perhaps we can even tell whether Madonna really does have a type.

This much is certain. What’s the one thing Madonna doesn’t want from a partner? Boredom.

Related: Madonna: Who’s a gold digger now?  (Ryan Remiorz / Associated Press)