Kristin Cavallari, 37, says Mark Estes, 24, will ‘thank me’ for ending their relationship: ‘He needs to experience life’

Kristin Cavallari has opened up about her breakup from Mark Estes, saying that one day he will thank her for calling it quits.

The "Hills" alum, 37, pulled the plug on her relationship with the 24-year-old influencer seven months after debuting their romance.

Speaking on Tuesday's episode of her "Let's Be Honest" podcast , Cavallari explained why she and the Montana Boyz TikTok star parted ways.

"Mark and I broke up," she said. "It's hard because I broke up with Mark because I just know long-term it's not right, and it's not because of love lost or something bad happened."

Cavallari explained that their romance ended cordially, adding that "no one cheated" or "was mean."

"He's been the best boyfriend I've ever had," she said of the social media star. "I just know long-term he needs to experience life, he's young... I started to feel the age a little bit with life experience."

"I look back when I was 24 and how much life has happened between then, those are crucial years, those are formative years, they're when you find yourself and he needs to be able to do that," she added.

Cavallari shares sons Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10 and Saylor, 8, with her ex-husband, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler.

The mom of three discovered Estes on social media in September 2023 and the pair started dating in February 2024.

Cavallari admitted that the duo's 13-year age gap has always been something that's she's "been well aware" of.

Still, she added their ill-fated relationship was "very healthy and very mature" nonetheless.

"He will make someone so happy one day ... and he will have a beautiful family of his own," she went on. "I know that one day he will look back and understand it and I actually think one day he will look back and thank me."

As for Estes, it will take some time for him to have the same "hindsight," she hinted.

"I don't regret going public with him. I don't regret introducing him to my kids," she continued. "I don't regret anything."

"It was such a good, happy relationship. And I think with every relationship you learn and you grow from, and I will forever look back at Mark and I with such fond memories and just pure happiness," she added.

As she forays back into single life, Cavallari admitted that she has "no interest in getting back into the dating world right now."

"I'm really happy and really content having my life right now being about my kids and work," she said, adding that she's going to shift her focus into taking "care of myself."

"I'm like really feeling this energy of just wanting to feel really good and making myself a priority and so I don't really know where men fall on that list," she said.

"I guess they sort of don't, and in a few months, I'm sure that'll change. But right now, I that's kind of all I want to do."