Michael Schumacher’s daughter Gina – a millionaire equestrian – has reportedly tied the knot with her boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s luxury villa in Majorca.
The couple said ‘I do’ around 4pm on Saturday under an arch of flowers at Villa Yasmin, the property seven-times F1 world champion Schumacher’s wife Corinna is understood to have bought in 2017 from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The ceremony lasted around half an hour according to respected Majorcan daily Ultima Hora.
The newspaper reported a banquet and party with live music by a country music band was taking place tonight at the villa in Port d’Andratx.
Guests are said to have included Michael’s brother Ralf and his partner Etienne Bosquet-Cassagne, who also attended a pre-party at upmarket Mhares Sea Club south of the island capital Palma on Friday afternoon where the dress code was all white.
Michael Schumacher’s daughter Gina is said to have tied the knot with her boyfriend Iain Bethke
IN ACTION: Gina is an equestrian who has reportedly made millions from owning and riding horses
WHO IS GINA MARIA SCHUMACHER?
Gina, 26, is Michael Schumacher’s eldest child with wife Corinna Betsch. The pair also have a son, Mick, who is 24.
Gina is a successful horse rider and is largely based in Switzerland with her now-husband, Iain Bethke, 27.
Michael was very protective of his family’s privacy when his children were growing up, leading to an upbringing largely away from the spotlight.
WHO IS IAIN BETHKE?
As reported by Majorcan daily Ultima Hora, Gina got married at the family’s luxury villa in Majorca.
She tied the knot with longtime boyfriend Iain, who is also a keen horse enthusiast she met at a stable.
Most recently, Gina wished her father a happy birthday in a heartfelt Instagram post, which included a throwback shot with her brother Mick and father Michael
The couple went public with their relationship in December 2017, when they stepped out at an awards ceremony together (pictured attending the Audi Generation Award 2017 at Hotel Bayerischer Hof on December 13, 2017 in Munich)
Iain, who is from Berwangen in Germany, has often featured in Gina’s social media snaps. The couple went public with their relationship in December 2017, when they stepped out at an awards ceremony together.
Bunte reports that the couple moved to Switzerland together, whether they are understood to mainly reside now.
Ahead of the pair’s nuptials, the outlet reported that a wedding planner from northern Germany had been hired to put the ‘finishing touches’ on the festivities.
It added the couple were set to say ‘yes’ under an arch of flowers at the villa seven-times F1 world champion Schumacher’s wife is understood to have bought in 2017 from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
A country music band was set to play live music in the evening at the open-air ceremony, according to the reports. Meanwhile, they added, male guests would be asked to attend the wedding ceremony and subsequent party in suits, but told they wouldn’t have to wear ties because of the high temperatures expected on the day.
The reports before the wedding did not specify whether Michael, who turned 55 on January 3 days after the tenth anniversary of his tragic ski accident, would attend. And Ultima Hora made no references to Michael’s attendance at either event after Gina tied the knot.
In September 2020 it was claimed Schumacher was spending time at the villa in Majorca. Spanish press said he had been moved to the exclusive property on the upmarket estate of Las Brisas near Andratx in the south-west of the island from his Swiss home.
Spanish press including respected Majorcan daily Diario de Mallorca and Catalan daily La Vanguardia published their reports after ex-Formula 1 team boss and former QPR co-owner Flavio Briatore’s ex-wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed: ‘Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.
‘Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.’
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
Gina Maria has long been passionate about horse riding, and has spoken about how the sport has helped her and mother Corrina cope with her father’s injury.
In December 2013, Michael suffered a massive brain injury in an accident which left him permanently disabled – while little has been revealed about his condition after he was moved home in September 2014 to be treated.
Speaking to She’s Magazine in 2019, Corinna and her daughter said that while her son Mick is following in his father’s footsteps with a racing career, mother and daughter were united in their love of Western riding.
They reportedly said that working with horses gave them both the strength to carry on and to deal with the tragedy.
Gina Maria has long been passionate about horse riding, and has spoken about how the sport has helped her and mother Corrina cope with her father’s injury
The duo have a ranch in the Swiss town of Givrins – which was gifted to Corinna by Michael in 2005 for their 10th wedding anniversary – with the mother and daughter organising riding events there.
Corinna told the magazine: ‘I don’t forget who I have to thank for this. That would be my husband Michael.’
Explaining how she developed her passion for horses, she said: ‘When I was 30 and I dreamt of having a horse, he flew me down to Dubai in order to look at an Arabian horse.’
She said that when she was there she fell in love with Tyson, a horse used for Western-style riding.
The magazine notes that while also working as an office clerk, she ended up becoming a successful Western rider, and was in 2010 the European champion in Western-style horse riding.
Corinna at the time had 40 horses, and Michael used to boast about how he would act as the hired help, known as a Turniertrottel in Germany, where he would muck out stables and drive the truck.
She said she was proud of her entrepreneurial activity, saying: ‘I am glad that I have such a great team that keeps everything going. I feel the greatest pride when I see Gina. What she has already achieved and how much fun she is – that makes me happy.’
Gina Maria is a highly successful rider, and has won multiple competitions over the years, including the FEI World Reining Championships in Switzerland in 2017.
In February 2018, she won a gold medal at the National Reining Horse Association’s novice Cavalli and she topped World Championships for junior riders in 2018.
However, her success was something Michael had once prophesied would happen.
Corinna said: ‘When my husband told me that one day Gina would be much better than me, I was not thrilled.
‘I thought “hey, how did he come to that conclusion?” I mean I work with horses from morning to night, trying to learn everything.’
Speaking to She’s Magazine in 2019, Corinna and her daughter (both pictured) said that while her son Mick is following in his father’s footsteps with a racing career, mother and daughter were united in their love of Western riding
He then told me: ‘You are too nice. Gina however gives everything to the horses, but she is also able to say no and to see it through.’
It is understood that the mother and daughter have also set up a ranch in Gordonville, Texas.
Bunte reports that the impressive spot roams across 162 hectares and has 40 large stables.
Recently, Gina also teamed up with fashion label HERZENS ANGELEGENHEIT to produce a capsule wardrobe inspired by her equestrian passions.
Outlining the athlete’s achievements, the website says: ‘With four world championships and twelve European Championship titles, she has now proven that she is one of the best in her field. Gina is the first German to call herself “Million Dollar Rider”‘ – meaning she’s earned more than one million in winnings.
On their Facebook page, XCS Ranch LLC – Gina and Corinna’s Texas ranch – it was revealed that Gina won $459,326.14 from riding in 2023.
In a recent Instagram post, the athlete shared a throwback reel of her with beloved horse Sammie.
‘Throwback to the run for a million!’ she wrote. ‘My horse is special, he’s one in a million ❤️ thank you Sammie for this reel. It brings back so many emotions…’
WHAT HAS SHE SAID ABOUT HER FATHER?
Most recently, Gina wished her father a happy birthday in a heartfelt Instagram post.
‘Happy Birthday Papa! ❤️’ she penned, sharing a snap of herself and Michael with their father when they were younger. ‘Throwback to one of many of our adventures.’
The seven-time F1 champion suffered massive head injuries following a crash while skiing in the French resort of Meribel on December 29, 2013.
Schumacher, whose helmet took the impact as he struck his head on a rock, was placed into an artificial coma and underwent a number of operations.
His family have closely guarded details of his condition and Michael hasn’t been seen in public since the accident.
Michael was very protective of his family’s privacy when his children were growing up, leading to an upbringing largely away from the spotlight. Gina pictured with her mother as a child
His wife Corinna, offered a rare insight on her husband’s state in a Netflix documentary in 2021. Michael and his wife pictured together in 2005
Updates on Schumacher’s health have been few and far between.
His wife Corinna, offered a rare insight on her husband’s state in a Netflix documentary in 2021.
‘I miss Michael every day,’ she said.
‘But it is not just me who misses him. It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here.
‘Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength. We’re together. We live together at home.
‘We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.’
Corinna has enforced a wall of secrecy to protect one of the biggest names in modern sporting times.
‘”Private is private” as he always said,’ she added.
‘It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael.’
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