ethanrocker What makes a lifestyle thrilling? Unfettered travel to exotic locales? Check. Access to some of the most exclusive nightclubs in the world? Check. To Pufirio Rubirosa, this was the norm. His lifestyle included all of this and more.
Born in 1909 in San Francisco Macoris, Dominican Republic, Rubirosa lived a life that was better suited for a Hollywood movie. Or maybe an episode of Entourage. Think James Bond, but with less danger and more pleasure. He was the last international playboy of our time, and often schmoozed with members high society in extravagant locations around the world. He spoke five languages, three of them fluently. He was also incredibly charming, stylish, and devilishly handsome.
From the very start, Rubirosa was a thrill seeker, who chose titillating adventures and experiences over tedious hours in a classroom. “Books didn’t find in me a very faithful friend, nor did the professors find a conscientious student. The only things that interested me were sports, girls, and celebrities– in short, life!” Rubirosa excelled at a wide array of sports and activities, such as polo, racing, and cooking. He also excelled at seduction. Throughout his life Rubirosa was able to win over some of the most beautiful (and wealthy) women in the world.
The fire of Rubi’s first famed love affair was lit at the party of Rafael Trujillo, the mercilessly ruthless dictator of the Dominican Republic. And it just so happened that the woman Rubirosa seduced was none other that Trujillo’s daughter, Flor de Oro. As Rubirosa relentlessly charmed Flor, Trujillo looked on. But instead of quickly dismissing Rubirosa, Trujillo continued to watch with amazement as Rubi whispered French into his daughter’s ear. So impressed by Rubi’s potent mix of good looks, charm, and intelligence, Trujillo decided to have him serve numerous positions with the Dominican government, and later as an international diplomat. It was this professional achievement that gave him an introduction to the life of international travel and indulgence.
Soon after they met, Rubirosa and Flor de Oro got married. But as quickly as Rubi seduced her, his insatiable hunger for the opposite sex landed him in the beds of various other women and the marriage crumbled. Without hesitation, he moved on to his next pursuit, hypnotizing her with his uncanny cocktail of seduction . This time even wealthier than the last one, Danielle Darrieu just so happened to be the highest paid actress in France. Her net worth, in todays standards, was 3.5 billion. Can you guess how this marriage turned out? Yep, just like the last one. “One woman is not enough for him,” Darrieux complained to the press. “A man like him needs a harem.” Rubi would continue his sexual conquests and infidelity, and would later go on to marry two more times. He would continue to live his playboy lifestyle on the side, having flings with countless other women, many of whom were just as famous. The expansive list would include many of the world’s richest and most beautiful gals, ranging from Dolores del Rio and Eva Peron, to Zsa Zsa Gabor and Marilyn Monroe.
Out of these four failed marriages, Rubi became a rich man and was finally able to fully enjoy many his deepest pursuits (other than women). Traveling around the world, Rubi indulged in everything that he valued in life. He was able to freely enjoy his two favorite sports, polo and racing. He became a high society socialite and party animal, regularly attending some of the world’s most chic nightclubs and watering holes with countless celebrities. He often crossed paths with members of the Rat Pack, including Sammy Davis Jr. Even they could not keep up with Rubi’s unrelenting pace.
Davis, who was still weak and disheveled after a fun but exhausting night of heavy drinking and partying with Rubi, ran into him early the next day. Rubi, impeccably dressed as usual, was casually leaning against the bar with a sparkling glass of Ramos gin fizz in his hand. “How do you do it?”, asked Davis. “Your profession is being an entertainer,” Rubirosa said. “Mine is being a playboy.” He continued to live a life of glamour and indulgence well into his fifties, and literally up until his death. On July 5, 1965, he sustained fatal injuries after he crashed his Ferrari into some trees after an all-night celebration at the Paris nightclub Jimmy’s in honor of winning the Coupe de France polo cup.
Pufirio Rubirosa worked hard at having fun, and although he was no saint, he knew what he wanted out of life and chased it with a tireless persistence. As a result, he lived a dazzlingly sexy lifestyle.
