The life of Philippe Junot, a man who once changed the fate of Carolina de Monaco and became a symbol of European high society, has come to an end in Madrid. He was 85. His passing became significant not only for his family but also for all those who followed his eventful biography, marked by unexpected turns, high-profile romances, and scandals that echoed for decades.
Junot’s eldest daughter, Victoria, was the first to announce her father’s death, sharing a heartfelt message. She called him a “legendary dad” and admitted the family would always miss him. In his final days, Philippe was surrounded by loved ones, and his home was filled with memories of the adventures he generously shared with his children and grandchildren. For Victoria and her sisters, he was not just a father but a true example of vitality and resilience.
Family roots
Philippe Junot came from a family with a remarkable history: his father, Michel Junot, was a politician and deputy mayor of Paris, while his mother, Lydia Thykjær, was from a Danish industrial dynasty. Philippe chose the path of an entrepreneur, working as a broker, managing real estate, and building his career between Paris, Montreal, and Detroit. However, it was Spain—specifically Marbella—that became the place where he entered high society, becoming one of the founders of the legendary jet set on the Costa del Sol.
Junot also faced financial upheaval: he was among the victims of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, adding yet another dramatic chapter to his life story. However, it was his personal life—particularly his marriage to Carolina of Monaco—that drew even greater attention, shaking the royal houses of Europe.
The Wedding of the Century
In 1978, the world watched the wedding of Philippe Junot and Carolina, the eldest daughter of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. The civil ceremony took place in Monaco on June 28, followed by a church service the next day. The festivities glittered with stars from Hollywood’s golden age: David Niven, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant. Yet beneath the lavish facade lay tense relations with the bride’s family.
Prince Rainier did not hide his skepticism, famously calling his future son-in-law ‘a man who lives on everything and nothing.’ At the time, Junot’s commoner background bred distrust in royal circles, despite Rainier himself having married an actress with no aristocratic roots. But it wasn’t only social standing that concerned them: a 17-year age gap and Philippe’s reputation as a playboy gave Carolina’s family genuine cause for concern—which time proved to be well founded.
Divorce and New Beginnings
Junot and Carolina’s marriage lasted just two years. Their breakup was marked by mutual accusations of infidelity and interference from Carolina’s parents. Junot insisted that pressure from the royal family was what ultimately destroyed their union. In 1992, the Vatican officially annulled the marriage.
After the divorce, Philippe did not retreat from the spotlight. In 1988, he married Nina Vendelbo-Larsen, with whom he had three children: Victoria, Isabelle, and Alexis. Later, he had another daughter, Chloé, with model Hélène Vendel. Despite his tumultuous personal life, Junot always remained a source of inspiration and support for his children.
Society gossip
Philippe Junot’s name repeatedly made tabloid headlines. He was linked with some of the most glamorous women in Europe, and his appearances at parties in Marbella and Paris were always an event. In social circles, he was called the ’emperor of the night’, and his playboy image only fueled the intrigue around him. Rumors of his affair with Giannina Facio, Ridley Scott’s future wife, became the last straw for Caroline and her parents.
Junot knew how to be different things to different people: for some, he embodied high society; for others, he was a man unafraid to break the rules. His biography is a story of how passion, ambition, and a desire for freedom can change not only one’s own fate but also the course of an entire era’s social chronicles.
RUSSPAIN reminds that Philippe Junot was not only a renowned entrepreneur and a figure in the European jet set, but also someone who played a significant role in shaping the social scene of Marbella and the Costa del Sol. His name is associated with an era when Spain became a magnet for the global elite. Junot was married to Caroline of Monaco and had four children from two marriages and extramarital relationships. His life is an example of how personal choices can become part of the history of an entire generation.
