Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Most Charming Man in the World

You've undoubtedly seen the Dos Equis commercials with a grey haired fellow whose lifestyle is so carefree, adventurous, and dangerous that he's been dubbed the Most Interesting Man in the World.
Surrounded by beautiful women, the Dos Equis man ends each commercial with a bit of gentlemanly advice.


What if I told you that such a man once existed. His name, Porfirio Rubirosa and his lifestyle is the stuff of legend.

Some gentlemen are scholars, others warriors, Porfirio Rubirosa was of a different breed. Meet the Playboy Gentleman.

Rubirosa, or Rubi to those in his inner circle, was a notorious playboy, dapper diplomat and nightlife personality. Without having ever held a real job, Rubirosa financed his jet setting lifestyle by seducing and wedding the world's richest women. His other interest included race car driving, treasure hunting and polo (the sport, not the brand).



The exploits of Rubi are plenty, and his charm irresistible to women. Honing his skills in Paris nightclubs while attending school, Porfirio returned to his native Dominican Republic to study law only to drop out soon after. The son of an army general , Porfirio used this connection to familiarize himself with the soon-to-be dictator "El Jefe" aka Rafael Trujillo. Taken by the young man's charisma, El Jefe appointed Rubirosa as a diplomat and ambassador. In a daring move that could have ended  his life Rubi successfully courted and wed Trujillo's daughter. This would be just the first of five wives.

With an insatiable appetite for new pleasures and thrills Porfirio soon grew bored of his current wife and set his sights on an even bigger catch. Thus came wife Number Two and soon after Number Three. Number Three proved to be the biggest catch of all, Doris Duke, heiress to a $100 million tobacco empire.


Able to speak five languages, fluent in three, and possessing impeccable manners, Rubirosa was a member in many elite circles. How many men can say they chased skirts with the Kennedy's and boozed it up with the Rat Pack?  After one exceptionally wild night out with the The Pack , Sammy Davis Jr., hungover and recovering the next morning saw the ever ready Rubirosa by the hotel bar looking refreshed as ever. When asked how he was still standing after such a crazy night Rubirosa calmly replied, "your job is to be an entertainer, my job is to be a playboy".




Always the opportunist and in need of financing after divorce from tobacco heiress Doris Duke, Rubi quickly wed his 4th wife, another deep pocketed heiress. Although his marriages to super-wealthy women suggest otherwise, Porfirio was not beyond having a rendezvous with a common girl.

His two criteria; she must be beautiful and a good lay.

Many women and even some men secretly hated Rubirosa. The ultimate hedonist, Rubirosa appeared to have it all. He led a decadent life without boundaries or consequences. International playboy or con man? Gentleman or gigolo? How could one man with such a checkered pass seduce, wed and discard women at will? Let's just say he had an "asset" that aided him in his conquest. Or as one of his victims remarked "the guy was hung like a.........



But as if often the case with individuals who live life in the fast lane, Porfirio died much like he lived. After a night of partying in Paris, Rubi took to the road and wrecked his car, dying in the crash. Even in death the guy had style, the car, a Ferrari.

1 comment:

  1. Alexander, I found your blog through Kyoto Mikayo, and I wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying it! It's always wonderful to find bloggers making longer, thoughtful posts on fashion's more serious issues.

    LOVE the style too. I go bonkers for that elegant, mid-century look.

    Cheers,

    Alexandra

    ReplyDelete