Prince Tao Ruspoli is an Italian-American filmmaker, photographer, and musician best known for his work in independent cinema and documentary filmmaking. Born to actor parents, he grew up in a family deeply connected to the entertainment industry. Rather than pursuing acting, however, he chose to build a career behind the camera as a filmmaker. Over the years, Ruspoli has earned recognition for his original storytelling and artistic vision, with his films receiving acclaim at numerous international film festivals. His 2008 feature film Fix garnered several honors, including the Best Film Award at the Twin Rivers Media Festival. He also received the Heineken Red Star Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in recognition of his innovative contributions to filmmaking. Ruspoli is especially respected for his thought-provoking short films and documentaries, with notable works including Flamenco: A Personal Journey, Behind the Wheel, and Being in the World.
Career of Tao Ruspoli
Tao Ruspoli is widely recognized for his innovative filmmaking style and distinctive approach to storytelling. He began his directorial journey with the short documentary Just Say Know in 2002, which featured his parents and explored personal family issues, including struggles with drug addiction.
In 2004, he released two short films, El Cable and This Film Needs No Title: A Portrait of Raymond Smullyan. The first focused on the flamenco lifestyle, while the second highlighted the life and ideas of American mathematician, logician, and pianist Raymond Smullyan. Ruspoli’s strong interest in flamenco culture also led him to create the documentary Flamenco: A Personal Journey, which portrays the gypsy communities of southern Spain and their traditional flamenco way of life.
His later documentaries include Being in the World (2010) and Monogamish (2017). Being in the World features philosophers influenced by Martin Heidegger and explores themes of existence and human experience.
Ruspoli made his feature film directorial debut with Fix (2008), starring his then-wife Olivia Wilde along with Megalyn Echikunwoke, Dedee Pfeiffer, Shawn Andrews, and Andrew Fiscella. The film received critical recognition and won several awards, including the Grand Chameleon Award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival, as well as Best Film honors at the Vail Film Festival and the Twin Rivers Media Festival. He was also honored with the Heineken Red Star Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for his creative and forward-thinking filmmaking.
Family & Personal Life
Tao Ruspoli was born on November 7, 1975, in Bangkok, Thailand, and spent his childhood in Rome, Italy, before later moving to California. He is the second son of Prince Alessandro Ruspoli, 9th Prince of Cerveteri, an aristocrat and occasional actor, and Debra Berger, an Austrian-American actress.
He earned a degree in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1998. In 2003, he married actress Olivia Wilde (born Olivia Jane Cockburn) in Virginia. The couple divorced in 2011 after nearly eight years of marriage, with Wilde filing for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Their separation was settled privately, without spousal support claims.
Net worth of Tao Ruspoli
The estimated net worth of Tao Ruspoli is about $5 million.