Lory Del Santo is an Italian actress, model, TV personality and director, and her love life has made headlines for more than 40 years. She was linked to a Saudi billionaire, had a son with rock star Eric Clapton, and says she had a secret fling with Beatle George Harrison. Today, at 68, she’s in a long relationship with a man 34 years younger than her. Here’s her full relationship timeline, from the 1980s to 2026.
| Date of Birth | September 28, 1958 |
|---|---|
| Age | 68 years |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Occupation | Actress, Model, Director & Writer |
| Father | Antonio Del Santo (died 1961, car accident) |
| Current Partner | Marco Cucolo (b. 1992) |
| Notable Children | Conor Clapton (b. 1986, d. 1991); Devin Sardi (b. 1992); a premature son with Richard Krajicek (died shortly after birth) |
| Miss Universe | Represented Italy, 29th Miss Universe pageant, 1980 |
Janeane GarofaloWho Is Lory Del Santo?
Lory Del Santo was born on September 28, 1958, in Povegliano Veronese, near Verona in northern Italy. Her father, Antonio, died in a car accident in 1961, when she was three, and her mother raised her and her sister on her own.
She started in TV at 16 and went on to act in Italian comedies like “Dear Father,” “Gardenia” and “Sunday Lovers.” In 1980, she represented Italy at the Miss Universe pageant in Seoul, South Korea. She later became a star of the comedy show “Drive In” and won the reality show “L’isola dei famosi” in 2005. You can read more about her career in our full Lory Del Santo biography.
Lory Del Santo Relationship Timeline at a Glance
Six men have been publicly linked to Lory Del Santo through her own words or solid reporting. This table sums them up in order.
| # | Name | Who He Is | When | Children | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adnan Khashoggi | Saudi businessman and arms dealer | Early 1980s | None | Reported as a romance, but she now says it never happened. |
| 2 | Eric Clapton | British rock and blues guitarist | 1985 to late 1980s | Conor Clapton (1986 to 1991) | Met in Milan; son Conor died in a fall in 1991. |
| 3 | Silvio Sardi | Milanese entrepreneur | Late 1980s to early 1990s | Devin (born 1991) | She later described him as stormy and violent. |
| 4 | George Harrison | Musician, former Beatle | December 1991 (her account) | None | A three-day fling in Japan she called “revenge” on Clapton. |
| 5 | Richard Krajicek | Dutch tennis player | 1990s | A son who died two weeks after birth | The baby was born premature. |
| 6 | Marco Cucolo | Model, videomaker and TV commentator from Naples | Mid-2010s to present | None | Still together in 2026 despite a 34-year age gap. |
1. Adnan Khashoggi
Adnan Khashoggi was one of the first big names linked to her. He was a Saudi businessman and arms dealer, famous in the 1980s for his huge fortune and flashy lifestyle.
For years, the story went that she stayed on his superyacht, the Nabila, and that he gave her a huge ruby. On Rai 2’s “Tango” in April 2024, she said she did go aboard the Nabila but was never with him. She said a journalist made up the love story, and she played along because the publicity helped her career.
She added that she thought he was courting her. Then, late one night, she saw him walking with another woman and decided she couldn’t stay.
2. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is the relationship that made Lory Del Santo famous outside Italy. The two met in Milan in 1985, while Clapton was on tour. He was still married to Pattie Boyd at the time.
She didn’t know who he was at first. On the same “Tango” episode, she said friends brought her to a dinner to meet a musician, and she barely paid him any attention. She turned down his invite to the hotel but left her number, then realized who he was when she saw him in the newspaper.
Clapton later recalled a very strong energy between them from the first meeting. He also wrote the song “Lady of Verona” about her. For more on his other romances, see our breakdown of Eric Clapton’s dating history.
Their son, Conor Clapton, was born on August 21, 1986. Clapton and Boyd divorced in 1989. Clapton struggled with fatherhood at first, but he grew closer to Conor over time. The day before the accident, he took the boy to the circus.
Conor died on March 20, 1991, at four and a half. He fell from an open window on the 53rd floor of the Galleria apartment building in Manhattan, New York. A cleaner had opened the window moments before. Clapton later wrote “Tears in Heaven” about his son, and the loss ended any chance of a future for the couple.
3. Silvio Sardi
Silvio Sardi is a Milanese entrepreneur and the father of her son Devin. Devin was born on August 23, 1991, just five months after Conor’s death.
The relationship did not last. Del Santo has described Sardi as having a stormy and violent character, and she said that was why they split. Devin is her only child who is still alive.
4. George Harrison
George Harrison is the most surprising name on this list. In a 2007 interview, Del Santo said she had a secret affair with the former Beatle in December 1991. Harrison and Clapton were touring Japan together at the time.
By her account, she spent three days with Harrison in his hotel suite in Hiroshima. She called it “sweet revenge” on Clapton, who she said had frozen her out after Conor died. Clapton had also famously taken Pattie Boyd from Harrison years earlier. Harrison died in 2001, so he never spoke about it, and she said Clapton never found out.
She told the story again on “La Volta Buona” in January 2025. She said Clapton went to dinner with his band and left her alone at the hotel. At 10:30 that night, her phone rang, and the voice said, “Hi, I’m George.” She said she spent the rest of her time in Japan with him.
5. Richard Krajicek
Richard Krajicek is a Dutch former tennis player who won Wimbledon in 1996. He was born on December 6, 1971, making him 13 years younger than Del Santo.
Their relationship in the 1990s brought another tragedy. The couple had a son who was born premature and died of an infection about two weeks later. The two went their separate ways after that loss.
In 1999, Del Santo had her youngest son, Loren. She has never named his father. Loren died by suicide in 2018, at 19, and she has spoken about his mental health struggles in several interviews since.
6. Marco Cucolo
Marco Cucolo is Lory Del Santo’s current partner. He’s a model, videomaker and TV commentator from Naples, and he’s 34 years younger than her. He first reached out to her as a fan through private messages on social media, and they later met in person.
The couple have been together for more than a decade. In 2016, they finished third on the travel reality show “Pechino Express” as “Gli Innamorati” (The Lovers). Cucolo also stayed by her side after Loren’s death in 2018. On “La Volta Buona” in December 2024, she said he never left her alone, not even for one day.
Their biggest public crisis came on “L’isola dei famosi” in 2022. Both took part, and Del Santo felt Cucolo put the game ahead of her. She ended things with him on live TV and told him not to come back to her house. They made up at the show’s semifinal and have stayed together since.
The age gap doesn’t seem to bother him. On “La Volta Buona” in March 2025, Cucolo was asked if Lory ever felt too old for him. He said it’s the other way around, since he sometimes has to slow her down when she wants to go out dancing.
Is Lory Del Santo Married?
No, Lory Del Santo has never married. Asked about marrying Cucolo on “La Volta Buona,” she said she isn’t the marrying type, though she admitted he can still get jealous. As of September 2026, the two are still a couple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lory Del Santo’s boyfriend?
Her boyfriend is Marco Cucolo, a model and TV commentator from Naples. They have been together for more than 10 years.
How old is Marco Cucolo?
Marco Cucolo was born in January 1993. The couple confirmed on “La Volta Buona” that he turned 32 in January 2025. He is 34 years younger than Lory Del Santo.
Did Lory Del Santo marry Eric Clapton?
No. They never married. Clapton was still married to Pattie Boyd when their son Conor was born in 1986.
Did Lory Del Santo date George Harrison?
She says she did. In 2007, she claimed she had a three-day affair with Harrison in Japan in December 1991. Harrison never commented, as he died in 2001.
How many children does Lory Del Santo have?
She has had four sons: Conor, Devin, a baby with Richard Krajicek, and Loren. Only Devin, born in 1991, is still alive.
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