Anne Hathaway’s past romance with Raffaello Follieri stands in stark contrast to her current stable marriage with Adam Shulman. Their relationship, which began in 2004, was marked by luxury funded by Follieri’s fraudulent schemes, leading to his arrest by the FBI in 2008. After serving prison time and being deported, Follieri reflects on the fallout and Hathaway’s decision to distance herself for her career’s sake. Despite his challenges, he has found new beginnings with his wife and children.
The Beginning of Anne Hathaway and Raffaello Follieri’s Romance
Anne Hathaway has been enjoying a blissful partnership with actor Adam Shulman for over 15 years, sharing two sons, Jonathan, 8, and Jack, 5. Their 12-year marriage has been devoid of scandals, contrasting sharply with Hathaway’s earlier relationship. In the same year she met Shulman, she professed her love for another man, Raffaello Follieri, but soon ceased all contact with him. This intriguing twist adds to the narrative of her past romance.
The couple first crossed paths in 2004, when Raffaello was just 25 and Anne was 21. He fondly referred to her as “Annie” and recalled their introduction by a mutual friend from Sweden during a 2021 interview. “I asked her out for lunch but arrived late, so I sent her roses as an apology. […] It was a relationship that worked beautifully right from the start,” he shared, reflecting on their connection.
The Lavish Lifestyle Built on Deception
During their time together, Anne Hathaway experienced a meteoric rise to fame, starring in blockbuster hits like ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’ The couple lived extravagantly, jet-setting across the globe on private planes and luxury yachts. They even splurged on a lavish private flight costing approximately 105,000 euros to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the home of the late fashion designer Óscar de la Renta.
However, this opulent lifestyle was funded by ill-gotten gains. Raffaello Follieri misled investors by claiming he had connections to the Vatican that would enable him to acquire church properties at bargain prices. This elaborate scheme ultimately led to the infamous Vati-Con scandal, which came to light in the summer of 2008.
The FBI’s Shocking Intervention
One fateful summer day, the FBI made a dramatic entrance at Raffaello Follieri’s parents’ residence in New York’s Trump Tower, leading to his arrest. Agents combed through the luxury apartment, seizing various personal belongings, including Anne Hathaway’s diaries. With bail set at nearly 21 million euros, Follieri struck a deal with prosecutors and faced charges on 14 counts, including fraud and money laundering.
Reflecting on his downfall, Follieri remarked, “I was too much in the spotlight. I had everything too soon, and my relationship with Annie drew attention to me. I believe the public’s interest caught the FBI’s eye.”
Hathaway’s Strategic Move
Following his imprisonment for four and a half years, Follieri was deported to Italy upon his release in May 2012, barred from returning to the USA. Since that day, he has had no contact with Hathaway. “If she wanted to reach out, she could have gone through my family and friends,” he stated, yet no message from her ever arrived.
Despite feeling “shattered into a thousand pieces,” Follieri has come to terms with his ex’s silence. “I believe she made a strategic choice. Her career’s preservation was paramount,” he explained in an interview.
Follieri’s Life Today: A New Chapter
During his incarceration, Follieri found solace in the unwavering support of his mother, who frequently visited from Italy. He also had a friend from New York, Konstantina, who would later become his wife and the mother of his children.
“If there is anything positive that emerged from this experience, it’s the understanding of the importance of having trustworthy people by your side. I misplaced my trust before,” he reflected, praising his wife as a genuinely good person who cares for him beyond material wealth. Whether this sentiment extends to Anne Hathaway remains a mystery known only to Raffaello Follieri.
Sources used: dailymail.co.uk, spiegel.de