When a three-day romance changes your life forever, the world remembers you differently. Katherine Berkery, born in 1963 in Korea, became known as Tom Jones’ baby mama after a brief 1987 encounter with the Welsh singer. The former model found herself in a legal battle that dominated tabloids across two continents.
Katherine Berkery is a former model and real estate agent who gained public attention through her relationship with singer Tom Jones. Their brief 1987 affair resulted in the birth of their son, Jonathan Berkery, in 1988. Following a DNA test, Jones was ordered to pay $1,700 monthly in child support until Jonathan turned 18. Despite the court victory, Berkery stepped away from the spotlight to raise her son alone.
Who Is Katherine Berkery?
Born in 1963 in Korea, Katherine was adopted at age eight by a wealthy couple from New Jersey. This transatlantic move reshaped her identity and future. The circumstances surrounding her biological parents remain private—she’s maintained discretion about her early childhood throughout her adult life.
After moving to the United States, Katherine enrolled in a local elementary school and likely completed her education through college level. Her Korean-American background gave her what observers called an exotic appeal in the fashion industry. Details about her adoptive family and upbringing remain scarce, reflecting the privacy she’s maintained for decades.
The Modeling Career That Defined Her Early Years
Katherine launched her modeling career in the 1980s, working for fashion houses and walking runways in Paris, Milan, and New York City. The industry was competitive, but she carved out her place. Magazine covers featured her face. Photographers sought her for shoots.
Beyond modeling, Katherine worked as a shipping clerk at Regine’s nightclub in New York. The dual income supported her Manhattan lifestyle. Like many models of that era, she balanced glamorous work with practical employment. The modeling world’s instability meant smart financial planning.
In 2006, she appeared in Picture Perfect, a short film directed by Brett Meyer, playing a club girl. This marked her brief foray into acting. After that, she transitioned into real estate work, leaving the entertainment industry behind.
October 1987: The Night That Changed Everything
Katherine met Tom Jones in a New York nightclub in October 1987. She was 24. Jones was 47 and already married to Linda. The Welsh singer, touring the United States at the time, was at the peak of his fame.
Their connection was immediate. Jones invited Katherine to his performance the following evening. After the show, they had dinner and spent the night together at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manhattan. What followed was a three-day romance that neither anticipated would have lasting consequences.
Three months later, Katherine discovered she was pregnant. She tried contacting Jones. His aide’s response was dismissive: “That’s showbiz, darling. Do what you have to do.”
The Paternity Battle That Made Headlines
Jonathan Berkery was born in June 1988. When Katherine told Jones the child was his, he denied paternity. His refusal to acknowledge Jonathan forced Katherine to take legal action.
Katherine took Jones to court, and a DNA test confirmed he was the father. The court ordered him to pay $1,700 monthly in child support until Jonathan turned 18. Jones complied with payments but wanted no relationship with his son.
Manhattan Family Court Judge Judith B. Sheindlin oversaw the case. Katherine’s attorney stated that she was emotionally devastated, telling her baby, “Now you have a father,” when the ruling came through.
In a 2008 interview with the Daily Mail, Jones claimed, “It wasn’t something I had planned. If I had planned it, I would have done something more than just financially. But it wasn’t. I just fell for it. I just fell for the seduction”. His comments about being “tricked” hurt Jonathan deeply.
Jonathan Berkery: Growing Up Without a Father
Jonathan grew up knowing his father was Tom Jones, but having no relationship with him. Katherine raised him as a single mother, fielding questions about his famous father from classmates and neighbors.
The absence of a father figure took its toll. Jonathan revealed he developed anger and bitterness. He stated: “I was very angry. My anger boiled over in school—I fought every kid and rebelled constantly. I lost count of the times I changed schools. I needed a father figure. I leaned towards older bad guys”.
To numb his pain, Jonathan turned to drugs, smoking cannabis from age 16 and later using prescription pills. His struggles continued into adulthood. Jonathan pursued music under the stage name Jon Jones, attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Reports indicate Jonathan has faced periods of homelessness and substance abuse. In 2018, he expressed his desire to reconcile with his father, stating he wanted to meet him before it was too late. Jones has acknowledged paternity in recent years but hasn’t pursued reconciliation.
Where Is Katherine Berkery Today?
Katherine currently resides in the United States and maintains a low profile. Her net worth is estimated at $500,000, primarily earned through her modeling career and real estate work.
She has no social media presence. No public appearances. No interviews seeking attention. Katherine chose to keep her personal life private, stepping away from the public eye to focus on raising Jonathan.
The question of whether she ever married or had other relationships remains unanswered. She’s successfully shielded her personal life from scrutiny. Some reports suggest she’s started a new family, but details remain unconfirmed.
At 62 years old in 2025, Katherine’s story represents more than just a celebrity scandal. It shows the human cost of fame—how one brief encounter can define decades of a person’s life. The paternity case brought her unwanted attention. The court victory didn’t bring a family connection. The child support payments didn’t replace a father’s presence.
The Lasting Impact
Katherine’s experience highlights how celebrity culture impacts ordinary people who become connected to famous individuals through personal relationships. Her dignity throughout the ordeal demonstrates remarkable resilience.
The case also revealed broader issues about accountability and fatherhood. Jones admitted to having intimate relations with around 250 women a year at his peak, yet Katherine’s case was the only one that resulted in such public litigation.
Her story continues to resonate because it asks uncomfortable questions: What happens when fame collides with responsibility? How do children cope when famous parents refuse to acknowledge them? What price do women pay when they become footnotes in celebrity biographies?
Katherine Berkery never sought the spotlight. She was a model building her career, a woman who met someone at a nightclub, a mother who fought for her son’s rights. The world remembers her primarily through her connection to Tom Jones, but her strength came from standing alone—raising Jonathan, maintaining privacy, and refusing to let public scrutiny define her worth.
Today, while Tom Jones continues performing and receives accolades for his legendary career, Katherine remains in the shadows by choice. She’s carved out a life away from cameras and tabloids. Her son still pursues music, still hopes for reconciliation. And Katherine? She endures—the woman who fought a superstar in court and won everything except what she truly needed: a father for her child.