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Stanger at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2009 | |
| Born | May 31, 1961 (age 59) |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Millburn High School |
| Alma mater | University of Miami (Bachelor of Fine Arts) |
| Occupation | Businesswoman, television producer and personality, radio hostess |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | The Millionaire Matchmaker |
| Partner(s) | Andy Friedman (2003–10) David Krause (2012–15) |
Patricia 'Patti' Stanger (born May 31, 1961) is an American businesswoman and reality television personality. She is known for starring in and producing her own matchmaking reality series, The Millionaire Matchmaker, on Bravo TV. She is also founder and CEO of Millionaire's Club International, Inc., a professional matchmaking service for millionaires.
Early life and education[edit]
Stanger was born and raised in Short Hills, New Jersey. She was adopted by Ira and Rhoda (Rhoda was also a matchmaker),[1][2] and was raised in the Jewish faith.[2][3] She graduated from Millburn High School in 1979[4] and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Miami in 1983.[citation needed] She currently lives in Los Angeles.[5]
Career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Stanger is a third-generation matchmaker (see shidduch). Prior to founding her business in January 2000, she worked as the Director of Marketing for Great Expectations.[6]
She also worked in fashion. Stanger was introduced to the fashion industry by Janis Spindel, who had hired and scouted the 24-year-old when looking for an assistant.[7] Stanger worked for 10 years in the fashion industry at Unionbay Sportswear, JouJou Jeans, and Saks Fifth Avenue.[6]
Millionaire's Club[edit]
In 2000, Stanger stated that 'successful men in the dating arena needed a private, exclusive club where they could come to find their beautiful and intelligent wives.'[8]
Millionaire Matchmaker[edit]
Millionaire Matchmaking In Kentwood Michigan Zip
In 2008, Stanger signed a deal to have her own reality show called Millionaire Matchmaker on the Bravo TV Network. Stanger starred in and produced the show.[9]
The hour-long show followed her matchmaking at Millionaire's Club. Each episode featured her matchmaking two millionaires. First, millionaire clients submitted a biographical video profile on a DVD describing the type of partner they want. Stanger then met them individually to better understand their desires and welcome them to the club. She's been called 'The Simon Cowell of Dating'[10] and made very quick, very direct comments. 'I am not paid to hide my true feelings,' she said. Her 'casting calls' or 'recruiting sessions', where she screened men and women, involved her making brutal comments on their dress and appearance. She told one woman she had a beautiful face but could not meet her millionaire because she was 10–15 lbs overweight. 'I can't do much for women over 45,' Stanger said in an interview, 'and if they're overweight, it's almost impossible.'[11] She told another woman to take off her wig, then suggested she come back after she got hair extensions.
The millionaires and 30–40 potential dates would first meet at a cocktail party Stanger hosted called a 'VIP mixer', where they mingled and the millionaires got to evaluate the candidates. The millionaires chose their top two candidates and had 10-minute 'mini dates', after which they picked the candidate they liked best. Stanger announced the choices to the group, and then the millionaires set up their 'master dates'.
The Millionaire's Club has a few rules. For example, millionaires cannot discuss sex or trade phone numbers at the mixer. No sex is allowed until the couple is in an 'exclusive, committed, monogamous relationship'. There is also a two-drink maximum enforced on each date. If a millionaire violates the terms of the club, then Patti can throw him or her out of the club.
At the end of each episode, Stanger called each candidate chosen for their master date, after which Patti called each millionaire or invites him or her into her office to discuss how the date went.
The show would conclude with updates on each couple, indicating whether they are still together or not.
The show ran from January 22, 2008 – March 29, 2015.
Radio[edit]
In April 2009, Patti Stanger was hired by Clear Channel subsidiary Premiere Radio Networks to host a 4-week special titled P.S. I Love You for XM Satellite Radio.[12] The live call-in program was simulcast on Clear Channel owned MIX channel 22 and The Pink Channel on channel 24, Sunday evenings. After a month's hiatus, the program was returned to the schedule on a semi-regular basis, until it was moved to Thursday evenings in July 2009 and made a permanent fixture.[13] Stanger continues to host P.S. I Love You on Thursday nights from 4 PM to 6 PM Pacific time on both Mix and The Pink Channel.
Personal life[edit]
In 2003, Stanger started dating Andy Friedman, a real-estate executive whom she met through another matchmaker.[14] On July 22, 2009, Lalate.com announced that Friedman had proposed on May 31, her birthday. They did not agree on a date for the wedding, although episodes of season three of The Millionaire Matchmaker showed Stanger engaged in wedding planning activities, and she spoke openly to the media about details of the wedding.[15]
On August 14, 2010, Stanger announced via Twitter[16] that she was ending her relationship with Friedman, stating, 'I just ended my relationship with Andy. It hit me really hard that I want kids in my life. You have to agree on the non-negotiables.' She has also stated in the season 5 finale of Millionaire Matchmaker that Friedman was like a 'best friend' to her and that passion was lacking in their relationship.
After she was matched on her own show, Patti started seeing John Matthews, the man she picked.[17] In the Millionaire Matchmaker Reunion show however, she said the two of them were just friends.
Stanger's first book on dating was published in 2009. It is entitled Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate.[18]
In February 2012, she was one of a group of celebrities who walked a catwalk in red dresses for the 'Heart Truth Red Dress Collection' show, part of New York Fashion Week. She wore a Marc Bouwer dress.[19]
Controversy[edit]
On September 25, 2011, during a taping of Watch What Happens Live hosted by Andy Cohen, Stanger made some controversial remarks. When responding to a question from a gay man about a long-distance open relationship, she said, 'There is no curbing you people'. She later told a viewer who Skyped in, 'You are very handsome, I thought you were straight.' She went on to explain that she meant he was not 'queen-y'. Stanger also made comments about Jewish men and smart women that viewers and critics deemed offensive.[20]
These comments quickly drew many angry responses on Twitter. Bravo and Stanger issued apologies with Stanger tweeting, 'I am so sorry. I did not mean to offend anyone with my comments last night on Watch What Happens Live.”[21]
Television work[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Anna Nicole Show | Herself / Millionaires Club Matchmaker | 2 episodes |
| 2008–15 | The Millionaire Matchmaker | Host and executive producer | Main role |
| 2011 | Married In a Year | Host, writer and producer | |
| 2011 | Drop Dead Diva | Marcie LaRose | Episode: 'Toxic' |
| 2011, 2014 | Days of Our Lives | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Sharknado: The 4th Awakens | Marley Craig | TV movie |
| 2016–2017 | Million Dollar Matchmaker | Host and executive producer | Main role |
| 2017 | Dr. Phil | Herself | Episode: 'Abducted Twice, Brainwashed and Molested: Actress Jan Broberg's Story' |
| 2017 | Hollywood Medium | Herself | Episode: 'Todd & Julie Chrisley/Patti Stanger/Adrienne Palicki' |
Radio work[edit]
- P.S. I Love You – host (April 2009–present)
Published works[edit]
- Stanger, Patti; Johnson Mandell, Lisa (2009). Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate. Atria Books. ISBN978-1416597711.. Atria Books is a division of Simon & Schuster.
References[edit]
- ^Robin Shear (3 March 2008). 'Local kid makes it big in the dating game'. The Miami Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ abBecome Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate, by Patti Stanger, pp. 1-3.
- ^'Be Your Own Matchmaker'. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^D'Onofrio, Laura (10 February 2011). 'Former resident helps others find love (Patti Stanger moved to Millburn when she was 11 years old and graduated from the high school in 1979. Maybe the name means something to you, or maybe the phrase Millionaire Matchmaker will ring some bells)'. The Item of Millburn and Short Hills. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^The View (Feb. 12, 2009).
- ^ abPatti's Bio from. Bravotv.com. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^Janis Spindel, interview for blog, Bridgehampton, New York, Aug. 2009.
- ^http://www.millionairesclub123.com/ | Millionaire's Club website
- ^'Patti's IMDb site'. imdb.com.
- ^Hanauer, Elizabeth. 'Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?'. LA City Beat. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^Johnson, Ann Johnson. 'Millionaires Club Dating: Want to Marry a Millionaire?'. Hilary. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^'Premiere Radio Networks Debuts Satellite Radio Special Hosted by Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger'. premiereradio.com. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^'P.S. I Love You with 'Millionaire Matchmaker' Patti Stanger Moves to Thursday Nights on XM'. premiereradio.com. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^''Millionaire Matchmaker' Patti Stanger hires matchmaker and is now engaged to Andy Friedman'. nydailynews.com. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^''Millionaire Matchmaker' Patti Stanger's Wedding Day Details'. Celebrity Wedding Buzz. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^'Patti Stanger (@pattistanger) op Twitter'. Twitter.com. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^'Patti Stanger's Photo: Me and Mr. John hitting the town this past month. X0'. lockerz.com. Lockerz. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^Pikul, Corrie (11 January 2009). 'For-Love-Money For Love & Money'. Elle.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^'Stars Hit the Runway for Heart Health'. Shape.com. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^Anne, Sarah (26 September 2011). 'Patti Stanger's latest advice offensive to gay men, Jewish men, smart women – Celebritology 2.0'. The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^'Patti Stanger and Bravo Release Apologies Following Stanger's Comments on Watch What Happens Live'. glaad.org. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
External links[edit]
- Patti Stanger at IMDb
- ''Millionaire Matchmaker' Is the New Heidi Fleiss'. TMZ.com.
- 'Exclusive: Patti Stanger Dishes On Being the-Millionaire Matchmaker'. Reality TV World.
Recently, the Economic policy Institute published a new report on income inequality in the US and found that Grand Rapids has the largest gap between the richest people in the community and the poorest.
However, none of the West Michigan news media chose to run a story about the wealth gap in Grand Rapids. WDET radio in southeast Michigan did produce a story about the new report and interviewed the head of the Grand Rapids Urban League.
The link to this story provides a summary of the interview with Joe Jones (GR Urban League) and Karen Holcomb-Merrill with the Michigan League for Public Policy. However, we encourage our readers to click on the audio file at the top of the link page, since the full interview is worth listening to.
What the text version of the story doesn’t share is that Joe Jones acknowledges that Grand Rapids is a highly gentrified community. The Michigan League for Public Policy spokesperson also stated that one reason why Grand Rapids made the top of the list in Michigan for income inequality is because the top 1% in Grand Rapids is making more than top 1% in Detroit.
Karen Holcomb-Merrill goes on to say that there are clear policy decisions that have been made in recent years that impact income inequality, such as a regressive tax structure that benefits the wealthy and the earned income tax credit has been reduced. Joe Jones said that the reduction in the Earned Income Tax Credit has particularly been devastating in communities of color, with 52% for blacks and 31% for Latinos unemployment in certain neighborhoods.
Who are the wealthiest people in Grand Rapids?
It is difficult to find out exactly how much the wealthiest people in the area are worth, since many of them do not like to reveal this information to the public.
We do know, based on the Forbes list of wealthiest people, that Hank & Doug Meijer are worth $8.2billion and Richard DeVos is worth $4.7 billion.
In addition to these billionaires, we know that data from the Michigan Department of Treasury’s tax filings shows that when comparing 2010 to 2014, the number of millionaires in Kent County increased from 407 in 2010, to 600 in 2014.
Other people in Grand Rapids who are part of the millionaire plus club are:
Dick & Betsy DeVos
Dan & Pam DeVos
Doug & Maria DeVos
Millionaire Matchmaking In Kentwood Michigan Map
Steve Van Andel
David Van Andel
Pete Secchia
Michael Jandernoa
Sam Cummings
Scott Wierda
John Kennedy
Blake W. Krueger
Interestingly enough, many of these same people are not only amongst the richest in Grand Rapids, thus contributing to greater income inequality, they are part of the larger power structure that makes policy decisions or at least influences those same decisions in Grand Rapids, Kent County and at the state level.
Many of the people listed here are part of groups like the West Michigan Policy Forum, which has helped to push through legislation in recent years that made Michigan a Right to Work state and change the tax structure to benefit themselves.
Some of these millionaires and billionaires have contributed hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to political campaigns to make sure that state legislators pass laws that support their political agenda or benefit their own economic interests.
So the next time the news media proclaims these people as great philanthropists, just remember that their wealth is directly contributing to greater income inequality in Grand Rapids.