For Love Or Money? Duchess Gives Away Her Billions To Marry Commoner


Posted on Aug 10, 2011 @ 06:00PM  
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By Radar Staff

They say you can't buy love and an elderly billionairess is trying to prove them right.

The Spanish royal with the long-winded name of Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva (or Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart for short) is sacrificing her fortune to prove that her commoner toy boy isn't a gold digger.

Also known as the Duchess of Alba, the 85-year-old bride to be is giving away her estate, which is valued between $850 million and $5 billion, before she walks down the aisle with civil servant Alfonso Diez, 61, reported the Guardian newspaper in the U.K.

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The 24-year age gap and massive difference in bank accounts between the pair ruffled so many feathers amongst Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart's six children that she decided to prove that she was genuinely the object of Diez's affection by giving them her inheritance before walking down the aisle, including gifting all of them (and her eight grandchildren) a palace each.

"Alfonso doesn't want anything. All he wants is me," she said earlier this year.

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Despite the generous gifts, the Duchess' children are still skeptical about the upcoming nuptials.

"If in the end my mother decides to marry, we shall go, although we still don't agree," her son Cayetano recently told Spanish paper El Mundo.

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According to Guinness World Records, as well as her riches, Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva also boasts more titles than any noble on earth, being a duchess seven times over, a countess 22 times and a marquesa 24.

As head of the 539-year-old House of Alba, her privileges include not having to kneel before the pope and the right to ride on horseback into Seville cathedral.

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With all you billiions can't you buy some conditioner!

by in the know
Posted Sun, 08/14/2011 - 6:53pm

Ohhh brutha! She looks ridiculous...nice hair!

by in the know
Posted Sun, 08/14/2011 - 4:29pm

She's not going to be broke. She gave her estate to kids so that when she dies this husband won't inherit estate that has long, vast historical significance to SPAIN. It's going to the rightful heirs b4 Duchess marries . It's for the best.

by Bree
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 9:37am

well they sure know how to con the old lady anyway. n
now that shes got nuthing i guess she ll be happy. stupid to give the people that insult you your money ]
especially these !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by ted409
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 6:38am

she looks great for an 85 yr old, plastic surgery and all. obviously he loves her, and she him, and, they have been together for a long time. it is not her kids business, and all of you negative people...tough. wish them well.

by mous
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 4:20am

ya know, life is so sad when you think about how power and privelidge influences a persons way.None of you will EVER understand this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but I am so grateful that I am poor.

by gedrast
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 3:15am

Well, good for them I guess...

by trollingmuch
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 1:43am

She is 85! 8-5. Eighty-five. He is 61. Could easily be with someone 51. Sorry, folks. This is NOT a love match & the poor woman is deluding herself.

by 7continents
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 1:34am

I do think it is beautiful that she has so much faith in the man she
loves that she is willing to give up most of her money. However, I think it is sad that her family doesn't trust
her judgment and she has to do this to gain approval.

by chanelprincess
Posted Thu, 08/11/2011 - 1:02am

she's not moving into his apartment so whatever she is leaving herself with is more than enough for a man to get along quite well with. It's not like either of them want sex at this point and I'm sure living it up is just fine by him

by pooky
Posted Wed, 08/10/2011 - 10:24pm

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