Francisco de Borbón von Hardenberg
Spanish-German aristocrat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Don Francisco de Paula Joaquín de Borbón y Graf von Hardenberg-Fürstenberg (born 21 January 1979) is a Spanish-German aristocrat, television personality, and businessman. He is a relative of the Spanish royal family and the Grand Master of the Malta-Paris obedience of the Order of Saint Lazarus.
Madrid, Spain
| Francisco de Borbón von Hardenberg | |
|---|---|
De Borbón von Hardenberg in 2019 | |
| Born | 21 January 1979 Madrid, Spain |
| Spouse | Sofia Károlyi (m. 2021) |
| Issue | Francisco Máximo de Borbón y Károlyi |
| House | Bourbon |
| Father | Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville |
| Mother | Countess Beatrice von Hardenberg |
Early life and education
De Borbón von Hardenberg was born on 21 January 1979 in Madrid to Francisco de Borbón y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville and Countess Beatrice Wilhelmine Paula von Hardenberg-Fürstenberg.[1]
He was educated at the American School of Madrid and Gulliver Preparatory School.[2] In 2001, he graduated from Barry University with a degree in sports management and business.[3][4]
Career
He worked as a sports manager and coach for various clubs before becoming a FIFA agent in 2005. He co-owns the company Alpha Trading.[3] In 2012, he joined the World Economic Forum's Forum of Young Global Leaders. That same year, he became a cast member on the American reality television series Secret Princes.[5][6]
In 2014, he was named Spain's "Entrepreneur of the Year" and received the Laurel de Platino award.[4]
He and his sister, Olivia, co-founded the Beatrice von Hardenberg Foundation, focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[7]
Orders and societies
In 2009, de Borbón von Hardenberg became a member of the Grand Council and the Coadjutor Grand Master of the Order of Saint Lazarus.[8] He was appointed Grand Master ad interim of the order and was elected and installed as the Ordinary Grand Master on 5 May 2018.[3] He is also a Knight of the Principality of Asturias.[4]
He is a member of the Spanish society of the Sons of the American Revolution as a descendant of King Charles III of Spain, who gave an order to send firearms and medicines to the Patriots during the American Revolutionary War.[9]
Personal life
On 9 October 2021, he married Sofia Károlyi at Seville Cathedral.[3][10] The couple had been living together since 2016 and Károlyi gave birth to their son, Francisco Máximo de Borbón y Károlyi, in 2017.[3]
He did not inherit the Dukedom of Seville upon the death of his father in 2025 and submitted a claim to the title, against his older sister's claim, to the Spanish government.[4]
Arrest
According to news reports, de Borbón von Hardenberg was responsible for smuggling the largest cocaine shipment ever seized in Spain.[2]
On 2 February 2026, he was arrested by the Spanish police and charged with money laundering.[11] He was allegedly involved in a money laundering network established through an Irish-based cryptocurrency company he co-founded, Finetch Europe.[12] Francisco de Jorge, a judge on the Audiencia Nacional, said that there is "reasonable evidence" against de Borbón von Hardenberg and, after confiscating his passport, released him on a €50,000 bail.[2]