Patti Stanger
{{short description|American matchmaker, businesswoman, and television personality}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Patti Stanger
| image = Patti Stanger at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2009.jpg
| caption = Stanger in 2009
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|5|31}}
| birth_place = Short Hills, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| known_for = The Millionaire Matchmaker
| occupation = Businesswoman, television producer and personality, radio hostess
| years_active = 2002–present
| alma_mater = University of Miami (BFA)
| education = Millburn High School
| partner = Andy Friedman (2003–10)
David Krause (2012–15)
}}
Patricia Stanger (born May 31, 1961) is an American businesswoman, reality television personality, and founder and CEO of matchmaking service Millionaire's Club International. She is known for starring in and producing her own matchmaking reality series, The Millionaire Matchmaker, on Bravo.
Early life and education
Stanger was born and raised in Short Hills, New Jersey. She was adopted by matchmaker Rhoda and Ira Stanger,{{cite news |url=http://www.davidwygant.com/press/press-print/miamiherald2/ |work=Miami Herald|date=March 3, 2008 |author=Robin Shear |title=Local kid makes it big in the dating game |access-date=November 6, 2013}}Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate, by Patti Stanger, pp. 1-3. and was raised in the Jewish faith.{{cite web |url=http://sdjewishjournal.com/site/391/be-your-own-matchmaker/ |title=Be Your Own Matchmaker |date=April 19, 2010 |access-date=November 6, 2013}}{{cite web |last1=LaCroix |first1=Emy |title=Where Is Patti Stanger Now? All About the Famous Matchmaker and Her Return to TV |url=https://people.com/where-is-patti-stanger-now-8638225 |website=People |access-date=January 30, 2025 |language=en}} She graduated from Millburn High School in 1979{{cite news |author=D'Onofrio, Laura |url=https://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/celebrities/115701974_Former_resident_helps_others_find_love.html |title=Former resident helps others find love |journal=The Item of Millburn and Short Hills |date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110091837/https://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/celebrities/115701974_Former_resident_helps_others_find_love.html |access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-date=January 10, 2014 }} and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Miami in 1983.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} She currently lives in Los Angeles.The View (Feb 12, 2009).
Career
=Early career=
Stanger is a third-generation matchmaker, raised by a family that practiced the Orthodox Jewish system of shidduch. Prior to founding her business in January 2000, she worked as the Director of Marketing for Great Expectations.[http://www.bravotv.com/people/patti-stanger/bio Patti's Bio from]. Bravotv.com. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
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.Janis Spindel, interview for blog, Bridgehampton, New York, Aug. 2009. Stanger worked for 10 years in the fashion industry at Unionbay Sportswear, JouJou Jeans, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
=Millionaire's Club=
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."{{Cite web |title=Millionaire Dating Club by Patti Stanger, The Millionaire Matchmaker |url=https://www.millionairesclub123.com/ |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=Millionaire's Club by Patti Stanger |language=en-US}}
=''Millionaire Matchmaker''=
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.{{cite web|publisher=IMDb|title=Patti's IMDb site|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2603679/}}
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"{{cite web|author=Hanauer, Elizabeth|title=Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?|work=LA City Beat|url=http://millionairematchmaker.tv/press/article_69/|access-date=June 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227001428/http://millionairematchmaker.tv/press/article_69/|archive-date=February 27, 2009}} 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."{{cite web|author=Johnson, Ann Johnson|title=Millionaires Club Dating: Want to Marry a Millionaire?|work=Hilary|url=http://www.hilary.com/dating/millionairesclub.html|access-date=June 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208021720/http://www.hilary.com/dating/millionairesclub.html|archive-date=December 8, 2008}} 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.
In 2022, the Jewish Journal named Stanger one of "The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time."{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/television/354530/the-top-10-jewish-reality-tv-stars-of-all-time/|title=The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time|first1=Alan|last1=Zeitlin|date=December 23, 2022|website=Jewish Journal}}
=Radio=
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.{{cite web |work=premiereradio.com |url=http://www.premiereradio.com/news/view/689.html |title=Premiere Radio Networks Debuts Satellite Radio Special Hosted by Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger |date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=November 6, 2013}} 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.{{cite web |work=premiereradio.com |url=http://www.premiereradio.com/news/view/738.html |title=P.S. I Love You with "Millionaire Matchmaker" Patti Stanger Moves to Thursday Nights on XM |date=July 28, 2009 |access-date=November 6, 2013}} 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
In 2003, Stanger started dating Andy Friedman, a real-estate executive whom she met through another matchmaker.{{cite news |work=nydailynews.com |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/millionaire-matchmaker-patti-stanger-hires-matchmaker-engaged-andy-friedman-article-1.394597 |title='Millionaire Matchmaker' Patti Stanger hires matchmaker and is now engaged to Andy Friedman|date=July 23, 2009 |access-date=November 6, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|work=Celebrity Wedding Buzz |url=http://www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com/celebrity_weddings/2010/03/mill.html |title='Millionaire Matchmaker' Patti Stanger's Wedding Day Details |date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=November 6, 2013}}
On August 14, 2010, Stanger announced via Twitter{{cite web |via=Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/pattistanger |title=Patti Stanger (@pattistanger) op Twitter |access-date=October 1, 2011}} 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.{{cite web |work=lockerz.com |url=http://lockerz.com/s/159050086 |title=Patti Stanger's Photo: Me and Mr. John hitting the town this past month. X0 |publisher=Lockerz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715080117/http://lockerz.com/s/159050086 |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |access-date=November 6, 2013 }} 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.{{cite news |author=Pikul, Corrie|date=January 11, 2009 |url=http://www.elle.com/life-love/sex-relationships/for-love-money-284363 |title=For-Love-Money For Love & Money |work=Elle.com |access-date=November 6, 2013}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.shape.com/celebrities/celebrity-photos/stars-hit-runway-heart-health?page=10|title=Stars Hit the Runway for Heart Health|date=February 10, 2012|publisher=Shape.com|access-date=February 10, 2012}}
Controversy
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.{{cite news |author=Anne, Sarah |date=September 26, 2011 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/patti-stangers-latest-advice-offensive-to-gay-men-jewish-men-smart-women/2011/09/26/gIQAzaPYzK_blog.html |title=Patti Stanger's latest advice offensive to gay men, Jewish men, smart women – Celebritology 2.0 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 6, 2013}}
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.”{{cite web |work=glaad.org |url=http://www.glaad.org/blog/patti-stanger-and-bravo-release-apologies-following-stangers-comments-watch-what-happens-live |title=Patti Stanger and Bravo Release Apologies Following Stanger's Comments on Watch What Happens Live |date=September 26, 2011 |access-date=November 6, 2013}}
Television work
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class = "unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2002
|Herself / Millionaires Club Matchmaker | 2 episodes |
| 2008–2015
| Host and executive producer | Main role |
| 2011
| Married in a Year | Host, writer and producer | |
| 2011
| Marcie LaRose | Episode: "Toxic" |
| 2011, 2014
| Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2016
| Marley Craig | TV movie |
| 2016–2017
| Host and executive producer |Main role |
| 2017
| Herself | Episode: "Abducted Twice, Brainwashed and Molested: Actress Jan Broberg's Story" |
| 2017
| Herself | Episode: "Todd & Julie Chrisley/Patti Stanger/Adrienne Palicki" |
| 2024–present
| Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker | Co-host and executive producer | |
| 2024
| Herself | Red team's Chef's table guest diner; Episode: "Harmony in Hell" |
Radio work
- P.S. I Love You {{ndash}} host (April 2009{{ndash}}present)
Published works
- {{cite book |last1=Stanger |first1=Patti |last2=Johnson Mandell |first2=Lisa |year=2009 |title=Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate |url=https://archive.org/details/becomeyourownmat00stan |url-access=registration |publisher=Atria Books |isbn=978-1416597711 }}. Atria Books is a division of Simon & Schuster.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2603679}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090227003700/http://www.bravotv.com/the-millionaire-matchmaker/bio/patti-stanger Patti Stanger's Bio from Bravotv.com]
- [http://www.millionairesclub123.com Millionaire's Club Website]
- {{cite news|url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/05/millionaire-matchmaker-is-the-new-heidi-fleiss/#comments |title='Millionaire Matchmaker' Is the New Heidi Fleiss |website=TMZ.com}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/exclusive-patti-stanger-dishes-on-being-the-millionaire-matchmaker-6540.php|title= Exclusive: Patti Stanger Dishes on Being the-Millionaire Matchmaker|website=Reality TV World}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanger, Patti}}
Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles
Category:University of Miami alumni
Category:American women chief executives
Category:Millburn High School alumni
Category:Businesspeople from Millburn, New Jersey
Category:20th-century American Jews
Category:American women company founders
Category:American company founders
Category:21st-century American Jews