Bernie Ecclestone doesn't really do "normal." Most men his age—he turned 95 in late 2025—are focusing on quiet afternoons and perhaps a bit of gardening. Instead, the former Formula 1 kingpin is navigating the "terrible fives" with his youngest son, Ace, and managing a massive coffee plantation in Brazil alongside his wife, Fabiana Flosi. It’s a setup that sounds like a movie script. You've got a billionaire who basically invented the modern sports business model, a Brazilian marketing executive 46 years his junior, and a family tree where the eldest daughter is 70 years old while the youngest son is just starting primary school.
Honestly, the public fascination with Bernie Ecclestone and wife Fabiana usually starts and ends with the age gap. It's a 46-year difference. When they married in 2012, people gossiped. They said it wouldn't last. Fast forward over a decade, and they seem to be one of the more stable units in the high-octane world of international celebrity. They aren't just "together"; they are actively running a global life that splits time between the snowy peaks of Gstaad, Switzerland, and the lush interior of Brazil.
How Bernie Ecclestone and Wife Fabiana Flosi Actually Met
It wasn't some chance encounter at a gala. They met through work, which makes sense given that Bernie’s entire life has been the paddock. Fabiana was the Vice President of Marketing for the Brazilian Grand Prix. She’s sharp. She’s a lawyer by trade. She knew the business of F1 inside out before she ever became "the wife."
They first crossed paths in 2009. At the time, Bernie was dealing with the fallout of a messy, $1 billion divorce from his second wife, Slavica Radić. According to those close to the scene, romance didn't actually spark until a second meeting on a mutual friend's yacht in Turkey.
Bernie has always been a man of few words and quick decisions. He didn't do the whole "down on one knee" traditional proposal. He just knew. They got engaged in April 2012 and were married by August of that same year. They held the ceremony at Bernie’s ski chalet, "Le Lion," in Gstaad. It was private. It was quiet. It was very Bernie.
💡 You might also like: Why the Jordan Is My Lawyer Bikini Still Breaks the Internet
The Parenting Dynamic: Raising Ace at 95
The birth of their son, Alexander Charles Ecclestone (known as Ace), in 2020 changed everything. Bernie was 89. That puts him in a very exclusive club of the oldest fathers in recorded history.
Fabiana has been surprisingly open lately about what their home life looks like. It’s not all private jets and caviar. Well, it is, but with strict rules.
- No Screens: Ace is only allowed YouTube and tablets on Tuesdays. That’s it. While his school friends in Gstaad are glued to screens, Bernie and Fabiana are old-school.
- Trilingual Life: The kid is already a linguist. He speaks Portuguese with his mom, English with Bernie, and Swiss German at school.
- The Foodie: Most five-year-olds want chicken nuggets. Ace apparently loves sushi.
Fabiana recently told Bild that they work as a team. If she loses her patience, Bernie is the one who steps in with a "calm and quiet" explanation. There’s a strange irony there. The man who used to terrify team principals and global CEOs is now the "good cop" when a preschooler won't finish his homework.
The Massive Age Gap: More Than Just a Number?
The 46-year gap between Bernie Ecclestone and wife Fabiana is hard to wrap your head around until you look at the siblings. Bernie’s eldest daughter, Deborah, is 70. She’s a grandmother. She is literally 65 years older than her youngest brother.
📖 Related: Pat Lalama Journalist Age: Why Experience Still Rules the Newsroom
Then you have Tamara (41) and Petra (36), the daughters from his marriage to Slavica. They’ve lived high-profile, paparazzi-filled lives in London. In contrast, Bernie and Fabiana seem to be moving toward a more secluded existence.
Critics often point to the wealth, but Fabiana has her own career and her own standing. She was recently appointed as one of the FIA’s Vice Presidents for Sport. She’s not just "the wife" sitting on a yacht; she’s actively involved in the governance of motorsport. In 2024, the couple even helped young Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto secure his Audi-Sauber seat for the 2025 season. They still have the "magic touch" in the paddock.
Life in Brazil and Switzerland
The family spends a lot of time at their ranch in Brazil. It’s a coffee plantation. Bernie has joked that he wants to be remembered for his coffee as much as his cars. It’s a bit of a stretch, but it shows where his head is at.
In Gstaad, they live in a chalet that overlooks the Alps. It’s luxury, sure, but it’s a bubble. Bernie has mentioned he hopes Ace doesn’t just see him as "the old man." He tries to stay active, stay involved. He’s still selling off assets, like his 176-foot yacht Petara, because Fabiana pointed out they only used it about eight days a year.
👉 See also: Why Sexy Pictures of Mariah Carey Are Actually a Masterclass in Branding
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ecclestones
The biggest misconception is that Fabiana is a "trophy wife." If you look at her background as a lawyer and her current role in the FIA, she’s more of a partner-in-power.
Another mistake? Thinking Bernie has slowed down. Even after pleading guilty to a £400 million fraud charge in 2023 (which resulted in a suspended sentence), he’s still making headlines. He’s still giving opinions on Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and the state of modern F1.
Key Takeaways for the Curious:
- Look past the age: The marriage has lasted 13 years, defying the usual celebrity shelf life.
- Watch the kid: Ace is being groomed for a very different life than the typical "billionaire brat," with heavy emphasis on discipline and language.
- The Brazil Connection: Their move toward the Brazilian coffee industry is a genuine business pivot, not just a vacation.
- Influence remains: Between Bernie’s connections and Fabiana’s FIA role, they are still a "power couple" in the literal sense.
If you’re following the Ecclestone saga, the best thing to do is watch the FIA’s upcoming sporting regulations and the progress of Gabriel Bortoleto in 2026. It's the clearest sign that while Bernie might be 95, the Ecclestone influence—with Fabiana at the helm—isn't going anywhere. For a deeper look into how they manage their estate, researching the recent sale of the Petara yacht provides a glimpse into their current "decluttering" phase of life.