If you watched the latest season of Real Housewives of New Jersey, you know that more than a few episodes were dedicated to the lead-up and wedding of star Danielle Staub to a gentleman named Marty Caffrey. But before the episodes even aired, the marriage was on the rocks with the saga playing out in the tabloids. Meanwhile the onscreen drama was more focused on Staub’s bridezilla behavior toward her supposed friends (and castmates) prior to her Bahamas destination wedding.
But no sooner was the divorce finalized than Staub was engaged. Again. For the 21st (!) time. According to People, the Staub and Olivier Maier got engaged during a vacation to St. Barth and they’re planning to wed as soon as they return—perhaps as early as Monday in front of a justice of the peace in New York City. “I’m madly in love,” Staub told People. “I’m feeling elated and excited for the next stage of my life. I’m going to marry the man of my possible dreams and hopefully I’ll spend the rest of my life in bliss.”
The two reportedly met through a mutual friend (whom he was dating!) in October, but didn’t get together until last month. “I quite frankly couldn’t stand him when I first met him,” Staub said. “He’s so strong-willed, and at first, I read that as rude, and arrogant and entitled. It wasn’t until I got to know him that I saw the other side.”
So who is this new man? Maier is German and French and works in the finance industry. “People don’t like to take a risk, but I took a risk,” he said about his new fiancée. “Danielle’s one of the smartest people I’ve met. People have preconceived notions about her from reality TV, but she’s a smart woman. And I was instantly attracted to that.”
He also claims to be a French duke. He told People that he is the Duke of Provence and that his family owns 15 vineyards and two castles. But over on Royal Twitter, there seems to be some dispute over this matter. “Guys, there’s no Duke of Provence. Why is every media outlet just taking his word for it?” wrote Ella Kay, editor of The Court Jeweller. And royal historian Marlene Koenig also chimed in tweeting, “There were counts of Provence centuries ago but in the list of French dukedoms, extinct & Extant, no such person as duke of Provence. Name is also not French.”
