You probably remember the hair. That impossibly long, golden mane flowing in a wind machine's breeze while a shirt-ripped hunk held a swooning woman on a paperback cover. For an entire generation, Fabio Lanzoni—known just as Fabio—was the literal face of romance. But time moves on, even for the guys who look like they were chiseled out of Italian marble.
If you’re wondering how old is Fabio the model, the answer might surprise you because he’s managed to stay in incredible shape. As of early 2026, Fabio is 66 years old. He was born on March 15, 1959, in Milan, Italy.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think about. He’s technically a senior citizen now, but he still looks like he could fight off a pack of wolves or at least sell you some margarine. He hasn't really changed his "look" since the nineties, and that commitment to the brand is basically legendary.
Fabio the Model: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With His Age
People search for his age because he represents a specific era of pop culture. He was everywhere. From the covers of over 1,300 romance novels to those "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!" commercials, he was the ultimate "hunk."
But the fascinaton with how he’s aging comes from his lifestyle. Fabio doesn't just "get older." He fights it. He’s famous for a strict health regimen that would make most fitness influencers quit.
- No Alcohol: He’s been a lifelong teetotaler.
- The Hyperbaric Chamber: Yeah, he actually sleeps in one of these. He claims it reverses aging by saturating his body with oxygen.
- Zero Sugar: Good luck finding a candy bar in his house.
- Avoidance of "Everything Bad": He’s very vocal about staying away from drugs and processed foods.
His father, Sauro, was a mechanical engineer, and his mother, Flora, was a former beauty queen. You can see where he got both the discipline and the genetics. When he moved to New York at 19, he reportedly walked into the Ford Modeling Agency and got a contract within minutes. That’s not a normal life. That’s a movie plot.
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The Roller Coaster Incident and the "Goose" Era
You can't talk about Fabio without mentioning the goose. In 1999, at Busch Gardens, Fabio was on the inaugural ride of the Apollo's Chariot roller coaster. A goose flew into the path of the coaster and collided with his face.
He was 40 at the time.
It became one of the first truly "viral" celebrity moments before social media even existed. He ended up with a bloody nose and a permanent spot in weird history trivia. It didn't slow him down, though. If anything, it made him more of a household name because he handled it with a weirdly charming level of "it happens" energy.
What is Fabio doing in 2026?
He’s mostly retired from the "posing on a horse" gig. These days, he lives a pretty private life in California. He’s an avid collector of high-end motorcycles—he reportedly owns over 200 of them. He also became a U.S. citizen back in 2016, which was a huge deal for him.
He still makes appearances at conventions and occasionally pops up in a cameo. He’s played himself in everything from Zoolander to Dude, Where's My Car? and even Sharknado 5.
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Nuance matters here: while he’s 66, he’s not "old" in the traditional sense. He still maintains a workout routine that involves lifting heavy weights and avoiding the sun to protect his skin. It’s a full-time job being Fabio.
The Legacy of the Romance Cover
Before Fabio, romance novel covers were usually just illustrations. He changed the business model. Publishers found that putting his face on a book increased sales by double digits—sometimes up to 40 percent.
Eventually, he realized he was the brand. He started writing his own books (with the help of ghostwriters, obviously) like Pirate, Rogue, and Viking. He wasn't just a face; he was a businessman.
There's a lot of debate about whether he was the "first" male supermodel. While guys like Marcus Schenkenberg were huge in high fashion, Fabio was the first one that your grandmother, your mom, and your teenage sister all knew by name. He was accessible. He was the "everyman's" version of a god.
Keeping the Fabio Vibe Alive
If you want to age like Fabio, you basically have to live like a monk who also happens to own a Ferrari. It’s a weird mix of extreme discipline and extreme luxury.
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How to stay "Fabio-young" according to his own interviews:
- Sleep is non-negotiable. He’s obsessed with the quality of his rest.
- Stay away from the "poisons." That means no smoking and no drinking.
- Low stress. He famously avoids drama and focuses on his hobbies.
- Find your "margarine." Find a lifestyle that works and never deviate from it for thirty years.
It’s easy to poke fun at the long hair and the silk shirts, but the guy has outlasted almost every other fad from the 1990s. He’s 66, he’s wealthy, and he’s still got more hair than most guys half his age. That's a win in any book.
Next Steps for the Curious:
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of 90s nostalgia or fitness for the "silver" years, check out Fabio’s old interviews on The Pat McAffee Show or his appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience. He goes into detail about the hyperbaric chamber and his specific diet. You can also look for his 2016 citizenship ceremony footage if you want to see a rare moment of him being genuinely emotional and out of "model mode."