Who is Bethenny Frankel’s new beau, Tom Villante? The Real Housewives star just made it official with the Princeton graduate, businessman and father at the Yellowstone season 5 premiere

Nov 13 , 2024

RHONY star Bethenny Frankel has found love with YapStone CEO Tom Villante. Photos: @bethennyfrankel/Instagram

It’s only been a few months since Bethenny Frankel split from fiancé Paul Bernon, but the Skinnygirl founder is already stepping out with new flame Tom Villante – so what do we know about him?

The Real Housewives of New York City reality TV star Bethenny Frankel has officially found love – just in time for the holiday season. The 54-year-old, previously engaged to film producer Paul Bernon, was spotted with her new beau Tom Villante at the New York premiere of Yellowstone, season five, part two on November 8. Frankel walked the red carpet solo at the Museum of Modern Art, but met up with her partner inside. The pair sported coordinated, all-black outfits and posed alongside another celebrity couple, Jay Cutler and Samantha Robertson.

The Skinnygirl drinks company founder first sparked romance rumours with Villante in September, when they were photographed hand in hand at Hollywood hotspot restaurant Giorgio Baldi. On that occasion they were paired in white ensembles.

So who is Tom Villante, the man who stole Bethenny Frankel’s heart just a few months after her engagement to Bernon was called off?

What is Tom Villante’s background?

Bethenny Frankel’s beau Tom Villante, pictured here with U2’s Bono, is a businessman. Photo: Tom Villante/Facebook

Tom Villante is reportedly the son of late model and watercolour artist Marilyn Villante and former MLB executive Carmelo Villante. He has a sister named Christina Villante Lunny. Their mother died in 2022 after battling Parkinson’s disease.

He’s a businessman

Tom Villante (left) is co-founder and CEO of YapStone. Photo: Tom Villante/Facebook

Villante studied economics at Princeton University, then began a career in finance. He worked as an investment banker and was a partner at private equity firm The Seidler Company, before founding Los Angeles-based payment processing platform YapStone in 1999. He is now chairman and CEO of the company, which describes itself as a leader in the holiday rental payment industry. The firm regularly appears on the annual Inc. 5000 list of the United States’ fastest-growing private companies.

He’s a philanthropist

Tom Villante: dedicated to giving back to society. Photo: @canyonnews/Instagram

Villante has a philanthropic outlook. He works with schools and charities, serving as a board member. He also organises fundraisers for institutions such as the nationwide St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.