Dragons' Den investor and podcast host Steven Bartlett is engaged to his long-term partner, wellness guru Melanie Lopes, after proposing during a lavish family holiday in Morocco. The 33-year-old multi-millionaire popped the question on Christmas Day in the historic city of Marrakech, the Daily Mail can reveal.
A Desert Proposal and Family Celebration
The couple celebrated their engagement with a trip that included Melanie's parents, sister, and brother. Social media posts from the family show the pair beaming while touring the desert in a dune buggy convoy. The holiday also featured traditional Moroccan cuisine, camel rides, scenic walks, a luxury spa visit, and a trip to a non-profit that trains disadvantaged women in cooking.
It is unclear whether Steven's own parents and three older siblings joined the African getaway. The family has been approached for comment.
Melanie announced the engagement earlier this week, sharing a photo of her dazzling oval-cut engagement ring, estimated to be worth around £200,000. She captioned the image, which showed her holding Steven's hand, with the words 'Mon amour.'
A Modern, Transatlantic Relationship
The engagement caps a decade-long, on-off relationship that is notably unconventional. The pair currently live thousands of miles apart, pursuing their high-flying careers on opposite sides of the world. Steven Bartlett, with an estimated net worth of £320 million, is based in Los Angeles, while Melanie Lopes spends much of her time in Bali running her wellness business.
Neither has indicated where they will settle after their wedding. Their relationship began in 2016 after they connected on Instagram but split after a year as Steven focused on building his business empire. In a dramatic turn, Steven later flew 22 hours to Bali to win Melanie back while she was running a retreat, successfully rekindling their romance.
Melanie Lopes: The Wellness Entrepreneur
Melanie, 33, is a French-Portuguese entrepreneur who founded Bali Breathwork, a company that organises high-end meditation, yoga, and breathwork retreats globally. Her nomadic business takes her to glamorous locations like Greece, Portugal, and South Africa.
She shows no signs of slowing down, with her next event—a week-long retreat for 'awakened women' in Sri Lanka—priced at up to £1,750 per person. A certified practitioner in reiki, hypnosis, and 'somatic experiences', her work often emphasises connecting to sensuality and feminine power.
Prior to her breathwork venture, Melanie worked as a lingerie model, ran a beauty brand called Auraya, created recipe and fitness guides, and contributed to an immersive art installation in London's Canary Wharf.
Healing Past Wounds and Future Plans
Steven has spoken openly about how Melanie helped him heal from the 'trauma' of his parents' arguments during his childhood in Plymouth. He told the Daily Mail she changed his evidence about relationships, showing him they 'aren't about being trapped in a cage'.
This marks a significant shift from views expressed in his 2021 memoir, Happy Sexy Millionaire, where he criticised concepts like marriage and 'soulmates'. Steven has since gushed about his fiancée, even serenading her with a gospel choir at his live podcast show in 2022.
The entrepreneur's foray into the wellness sector has not been without controversy. In 2024, his Dragons' Den investment in Acu Seeds, a company claiming its ear seeds could help heal ME, drew hundreds of complaints and led to the episode being pulled from BBC iPlayer. His chart-topping podcast, The Diary of a CEO, has also faced criticism for allowing guests to make unchallenged health claims.
Representatives for Steven Bartlett have been contacted for comment regarding the engagement and his business ventures.
