Patti Stanger has spent decades telling the rest of us exactly why we’re failing at love. She's the "Millionaire Matchmaker." The woman with the "picker" that never fails—except, maybe, when it comes to her own living room. For a few years there, it looked like she’d finally cracked her own code with David Krause.
Honestly, it was the kind of setup that felt like a scripted reality TV win. But as we’ve seen with almost every "perfect" match on her show, the reality off-camera is usually a lot messier.
The Online Meet-Cute That Broke Her Own Rules
You’d think the world’s most famous matchmaker would have a line of suitors out the door. Maybe she did. But in 2012, Patti Stanger and David Krause actually met on a dating site. Specifically, a site where David had a photo of himself in Australia feeding a kangaroo.
He didn't even know who she was.
That’s the part that always kills me. On their second date, people were coming up to Patti for autographs and photos. David, a mortgage banker with two kids, was reportedly just sitting there thinking, "What on earth is happening?" He had to go home and Google her that night just to figure out why his date was being treated like royalty.
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Patti eventually admitted she broke almost every one of her own "Patti-isms" with him. No sex before monogamy? She usually preaches a long wait. With David, things moved fast. They were living together way before any talk of a ring. She even joked on Good Morning America that she’d probably kick herself out of her own club for how she handled the early days of their romance.
That "Engaged to be Engaged" Era
The relationship with David Krause lasted about three years, which is a lifetime in reality TV years. By 2013, the rumors were flying. Patti was sporting some serious ice on her finger, and the tabloids were ready to plan the wedding.
But it wasn't an engagement ring. It was a promise ring.
"A promise ring to me means a commitment," Patti told reporters at the time. "However, at the same time I have the freedom to take my time to consider marriage."
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It was a weird, middle-ground space to live in. They were "engaged to be engaged." They were living together. She was acting as a "stepmom in training" to his two teenagers. On paper, it looked like the ultimate success story for her brand. She even brought him onto her show and did the rounds on the talk show circuit.
But behind the scenes, there were whispers that marriage was "bad for business." If the matchmaker is happily married, does the show lose its edge? Or maybe the "non-negotiables" she talks about so much were starting to surface.
Why Patti Stanger and David Krause Called It Quits
In June 2015, the bubble burst. Patti announced the split herself on her blog. It wasn't a scandalous explosion involving cheating or secret lives. It was just... over.
She wrote about the "million and one reasons" why it was hard and sad. She mentioned that she needed to learn lessons she never could have learned without him. That’s matchmaker-speak for "we wanted different things."
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The Real Deal-Breakers
- The Marriage Factor: Patti has always been open about wanting the "soulmate" connection, but David had been through the marriage and kids thing already.
- The "Non-Negotiables": Patti famously split from her previous long-term partner, Andy Friedman, because she wanted kids and he didn't. With David, she was a stepmother, but the legal tie of marriage seemed to be a sticking point that never quite resolved.
- The Business of Being Patti: Being the "Millionaire Matchmaker" is a 24/7 job. For a guy like David, who worked in wholesale mortgages, the spotlight might have been fun for a minute, but the reality of the "Patti Stanger Brand" is a lot to carry.
Life After the Split
Since David, Patti hasn't exactly gone into hiding. She’s been on Tinder—yes, really—and has been linked to other "David" types (she clearly has a type: salt-and-pepper hair, successful, grounded).
She recently popped up in 2026 discussions about the "broken" state of modern dating, sounding as sharp as ever. She still maintains that her personal breakups don't invalidate her professional advice. It's like a doctor who smokes—they still know how to fix your lungs, even if they aren't following the prescription themselves.
The whole saga with David Krause serves as a reminder that even the experts get it wrong. You can follow the book, you can check the boxes, and you can even find a guy who likes kangaroos, but there’s no accounting for the long-term "click" that makes a relationship survive the transition from a TV finale to real life.
Lessons You Can Actually Use
If the queen of matchmaking can’t make it work with a "perfect" match, what hope do we have? Actually, there are a few takeaways here that aren't just gossip:
- Don't ignore your own rules. Patti admitted she bypassed her "rules" for David. If you have deal-breakers, they are there for a reason. Don't "stepmom in training" your way into a life you aren't 100% sure about.
- The "Promise Ring" Trap. If you're over 30 and looking for marriage, a promise ring is often just a "placeholder." It’s a way to delay a real decision. If you want the wedding, don't settle for the "engaged to be engaged" title.
- Google is your friend. David didn't know who Patti was, and he did his homework. In 2026, there’s no excuse for not knowing who you’re sitting across from. Just maybe don't do it during the date.
Patti and David are ancient history now, but their relationship remains the most "human" moment in the matchmaker's public life. It showed that she’s vulnerable to the same "hopeless romantic" mistakes we all make.
Check your non-negotiables today. If you're in a "promise ring" situation and you actually want a marriage license, it might be time for a Patti-style "come to Jesus" talk with your partner.