Princess Stéphanie, dubbed the ‘wild child’ of Monaco, is Rainier III’s youngest child. Born into a royal family, her life could have been a fairy tale if she had followed social norms, but she chose to make her own choices, regardless of how unpopular they may be in society. Stephanie lost her mother in a fatal car accident when she was in her teens; she survived with minor fractures, but the incident had a profound effect on her, one that would last the rest of her life. She began her career as a model after recovering from her injuries and appeared on the covers of fashion magazines. Later in life, she became a singer and released several successful albums. She worked as a model, fashion designer, singer, and patron of charitable causes throughout her life. Her personal life has been as insecure as her professional career, as evidenced by the fact that none of her numerous relationships have lasted for an extended period of time. While some of her actions may have raised a few eyebrows, there is no denying her abundance of creativity, restless energy, and ability to connect with people. She has gained much wisdom over the years as a result of her numerous ups and downs, but she has never lost her rebellious spirit and continues to work as a philanthropist with a compassionate heart.
Childhood & Adolescence
She was born in Monaco on February 1, 1965, to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and his wife, the renowned Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. She is the couple’s youngest child, with two older siblings, Caroline and Albert II.
She began her education at the Dames de Saint-Maur in Monaco and later attended the Dupanloup in Paris, France, where she developed an interest in gymnastics, which she excelled at. She became the patron of the Grand Prix de Gymnastique de la Ville de Paris in 1978 and 1979.
On 13 September 1982, she and her mother were involved in a car accident while returning home from their farm in Rocagel, France.
Grace, her mother, lost control of the car following a stroke and drove off the steep, winding road, crashing into the mountainside. Her mother died the following day after suffering a hairline neck vertebra fracture. She was profoundly affected by this loss for the remainder of her life.
Career of Princess
Following her physical recovery from the accident that killed her mother, she interned at Christian Dior’s Haute Couture house in 1983, under the direction of designer Marc Bohan. The following year, she made her modeling debut in Spanish magazine ‘Holabiannual !’s haute couture special.
In 1985, she graced the covers of ‘German Vogue’ and ‘Vanity Fair’ in the United States. In 1986, she co-founded ‘Pool Position’ swimwear line with Alix de la Comble, whom she met during her internship.
In 1986, she self-produced and released her first single with Yves Roze’s French label ‘Carrere’. Both ‘Ouragan’ and its English translation, ‘Irresistible,’ achieved international success. Another single, ‘Flash,’ as well as its English translation, ‘One Love to Give,’ also charted in Europe.
In 1992, she collaborated with Michael Jackson on the song ‘In the Closet’ for his album ‘Dangerous’. The song became a global hit, peaking at number ten in the United States.
She is currently the president of a number of organizations, including the ‘Monaco Youth Center’ and the ‘Princess Stéphanie Activity Center. She has also served as patron of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival.
In 2003, she founded her own Women Face the AIDS Association to support people living with HIV and to combat the disease’s social stigma. In 2006, she was appointed an ambassador for the ‘Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Awards and Accomplishments
In 2005, she was awarded the Grand Cross of the ‘Order of Grimaldi’ by H.S.H. Prince Albert II for her humanitarian efforts.
Personal History and Legacies
She lives a glamorous lifestyle and has had several affairs throughout her life. She dated a number of celebrities, including race car driver Paul Belmondo, French-American actor Anthony Delon, and Hollywood actor Rob Lowe.
She began dating her bodyguard, Daniel Ducruet, in 1992. Louis Robert Paul Ducruet was born in 1992, and Pauline Grace Magui Ducruet was born in 1994.
The couple married in 1995 but divorced the following year after Daniel was discovered in a sexual relationship with another woman.
Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb, her third child, was born in Monaco in 1998. Although she never revealed Camille’s father’s identity, it has been speculated that he is another bodyguard, Jean Raymond Gottlieb.
In 2001, she began living in the circus caravan of Franco Knie, a married elephant trainer. However, when the affair ended in 2002, she returned to Monaco to be with her royal family.
In 2003, she married Portuguese acrobat Adans Lopez Peres in a private ceremony in Switzerland. This marriage, too, ended in November 2004.
Estimated Net Worth
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco has a net worth of $1 million. She is the youngest child of Grace Kelly and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. Her net worth is estimated to be $100 million.
Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth was born in Monaco on February 1, 1965. She was born into the House of Grimaldi and married Daniel Ducruet and Adans Lopez Peres twice.