Eduardo Saverin's fiancee studied at Raffles Girls' School, Indonesian family runs several businesses

Eduardo Saverin's fiancee studied at Raffles Girls' School, Indonesian family runs several businesses

No, he is not marrying former Miss Singapore Universe Rachel Kum, but Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin seems to have found himself a winner nonetheless.

The woman who stole the Singapore based billionaire-investor's heart is described by those who know her as a "lovely, humble and well-educated girl".

Life! understands that Ms Elaine Andriejanssen, an Indonesian Chinese in her early 30s based in Singapore, met Mr Saverin, 33, when they were both students in Massachusetts, United States - he attended Harvard University, while she was at Tufts University.

Word has it that she works in the finance industry here.

"They met briefly when they were both in school and then again when Elaine moved back to Singapore," a source tells Life!.

Brazil-born Saverin was recently linked to a local beauty queen, but the rumours have since been quashed. He has been living in Singapore since 2009, renounced his US citizenship in 2011 and is said to be worth US$5 billion (S$6.7 billion), making him one of Singapore's richest residents.

He is one of the five co-founders of Facebook, along with Mark Zuckerberg, and is an investor in several start-up companies, including online property search portal 99.co and local e-grocer RedMart. He also supports the Singapore Repertory Theatre by buying tables at its fund-raising balls.

According to the source, who is a friend of the couple, Ms Andriejanssen's family runs several businesses in Indonesia and has been living in Singapore for many years.

The wedding is supposed to take place next month at an undisclosed location in France.

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"They are keeping it even from the guests until the last minute; they definitely don't want it publicised," says the source.

An acquaintance of the couple says she got to know Ms Andriejanssen through mutual friends and found her "down-to-earth, accomplished and intelligent".

"She is very stylish and does not dress in an ostentatious manner," says the acquaintance, adding: "She strikes people as very sweet and smart. We often discuss serious issues about the economy and business."

Life! understands that Ms Andriejanssen studied at Raffles Girls' School (Secondary).

Others told Life! that she and her mother attend high-society events occasionally, but described them as "low-key".

The couple have been engaged since March 27 last year, according to Mr Saverin's relationship status on his Facebook page.

"She Said Yes!!! I am engaged to the love of my life. Excited for a life full of adventure, happiness and health," he wrote in a post dated March 28 last year.

The couple threw a lavish engagement party at The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas in Bali last month, where Grammy Awards winner John Legend sang his piano ballad All Of Me.

Earlier this week, Brazilian gossip site Glamurama and Page Six, an entertainment website that is part of the New York Post, reported that Mr Saverin was to marry Ms Kum, who took the Miss Singapore Universe title in 2009.

Page Six has since amended its article to include a statement from Mr Tom Goodman, a spokesman for Mr Saverin.

"He has never dated Miss Singapore and never invested in her company. He is not marrying her."

staceyc@sph.com.sg

 


This article was first published on June 19, 2015.
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