Anne Hathaway’s Scammer Ex Arrested in Trump-Linked Case

The glittering allure of Hollywood romance often hides dangerous secrets. For Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway, a whirlwind relationship with charismatic Italian Raffaello Follieri became a cautionary tale of deception and audacious fraud. As their high-profile love story crumbled, it exposed a $50 million scam targeting the world’s elite—including the Clintons.

How Did Anne Hathaway’s Ex-Conman Deceive New York’s Elite?

Follieri arrived in New York City in 2003, posing as a Vatican-connected financier selling church properties at “exclusive discounts.” By 2004, he’d captivated Hathaway, fresh off The Princess Diaries success. She gushed to Vanity Fair: “He looks like a God”—unaware his empire was built on lies. Follieri’s spending was staggering, including:

• $107,000 for a chartered flight to a Dominican Republic Oscar de la Renta party
• $37,000/month rent for his Olympic Tower penthouse
• $30,000 flights for doctors to treat minor ailments

The turning point came at a New Year’s Eve event attended by the Clintons. To infiltrate their circle, Follieri pledged $50 million to the Clinton Foundation—money he never possessed. This granted him access to billionaires like Carlos Slim and Ron Burkle. Soon after, Burkle invested $105 million in Follieri’s sham ventures.

What Triggered the Conman’s Downfall?

Follieri’s unraveling began when Burkle sued him for misusing funds. Within a month of the lawsuit (August 2008), Hathaway ended the relationship. FBI agents arrested Follieri at his parents’ Trump Tower penthouse. Donald Trump, then a reality TV star, publicly mocked Hathaway: “When he had plenty of money, she liked him, but then after that, not as good, right?”

Court documents revealed Follieri had siphoned millions to fund his luxury lifestyle, including dog-walking services for his apartment. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. After serving 4.5 years in prison, he was deported to Italy in 2012.

Hathaway’s resilience transformed personal trauma into professional triumph. Weeks after Follieri’s arrest, she filmed Rachel Getting Married, earning an Oscar nomination. Her journey underscores a powerful truth: even in Hollywood’s darkest scandals, integrity outshines illusion. Explore more untold celebrity sagas [internal link: /hollywood-scandals] and verify facts via the FBI’s public archives [external link: FBI.gov].

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Must Know

Q: Who was Anne Hathaway’s conman boyfriend?
A: Raffaello Follieri, an Italian fraudster who posed as a Vatican financier. Their relationship lasted from 2004 to 2008, ending with his arrest for scamming investors out of millions.

Q: How much money did Follieri steal?
A: Court records show he misappropriated over $2.4 million from investors, while leveraging fake $50 million pledges to networks like the Clinton Foundation.

Q: Did Anne Hathaway face legal repercussions?
A: No. Prosecutors confirmed she was unaware of Follieri’s crimes. She cooperated with investigators and returned gifts bought with stolen funds.

Q: Where is Follieri now?
A: Deported to Italy after prison. He avoids media and runs a small renewable energy consultancy, per 2023 reports from La Repubblica.

Q: How did Hathaway rebound professionally?
A: Her Oscar-nominated performance in Rachel Getting Married (2008) was filmed post-scandal. She later won an Academy Award for Les Misérables (2013).