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In case you’ve been living under a rock this week, Pippa Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister, is engaged. Some would say that Pippa herself is the one living under a rock, almost weighed down by the giant sparkler on her finger, worth an estimated $350,000. But while the lady once dubbed “her royal hotness” and her Asscher-cut diamond have stolen the spotlight, just who is her beau, James Matthews? Here’s the 411.
1. He’s pretty posh
And not just because of his penchant for preppy polo shirts. The It-Brit went to Uppingham, an uber-exclusive boarding school in the English countryside (think Eton minus Harry and Wills).
2. He ain’t short of moolah
Although the Londoner, now 40, reportedly never went to university, he’s laughing all the way to the bank – quite literally, now an eminent hedge fund manager. Exhibit A: his $30 million digs (a five-storey townhouse) in swanky Chelsea. Oh, and he has a private plane.
3. His little brother is a major UK reality star
If you haven’t seen Made In Chelsea, you probably should – well if you like the sound of watching privileged 20-something Sloaneys (the west-London social set) doing not that much (think The Hills on the other side of the Atlantic: somehow mind-numbing and riveting at the same time).
The show’s resident bad boy? One Spencer Matthews, serial womaniser and younger brother of James.* His stint on the show led to more reality gold: first as a smarmy British Bachelor, and earlier this year on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! He was thrown off the show after just three days for taking steroids.
*Sources have been quick to assert that James is the antithesis of his brother.
4. His family owns a celeb hotspot in the Caribbean
James’s parents purchased Eden Rock, a five-star resort in St Barths, in the nineties. A-list guests include Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba, Bono, and um, Carole Middleton. Could this be the setting for a lavish hens’ weekend?
5. He’s a charitable gent
After his middle brother Michael tragically died while climbing Mount Everest, James and his family set up a charity in his name. Now, he regularly competes in marathons – sometimes with Pippa – to raise money for the foundation, which helps provide education for children living in poverty across the globe.
RELATED: Brother of Pippa Middleton’s fiance was lost on Everest
6. He’s kind of a jock
Well, maybe not in the American teen movie sense, but James is an outdoorsy chap involved in all kinds of sporting pursuits: skiing, tennis, and even race car driving in his youth. Just Pippa’s match.
7. He’s just a normal dude
Sure, he might be a multi-millionaire who’s half a degree away from marrying into the royal family. But, he’s also just a normal dude. Here’s how we know. The guy takes his dog for a run around sartorial stomping ground Chelsea, slogan t-shirt on top, flimsy Nike shorts on bottom, and backpack strapped – not once, but twice – to his body. He may have just won our hearts.
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