Wendi Deng’s Hungarian model toyboy has still not brought Rupert Murdoch’s ex wife home to his mother, it can be revealed.
The 49-year-old, who split with billionaire Murdoch in 2013, has been pictured this week partying with Bertold Zahoran, 21, on board a yacht with Sir Paul McCartney in the Caribbean.
They were pictured hand-in-hand on the island of St Barts a year ago – but the young model has yet to take his girlfriend to the Hungarian home of his mother, Varga, who is three years younger than the Chinese-born entrepreneur.
Wendi Deng’s Hungarian model toyboy has still not brought Rupert Murdoch’s ex wife home to meet his mother, it can be revealed. The 49-year-old, who split with billionaire Rupert Murdoch in 2013, has been pictured this week partying with Bertold Zahoran, 21, on board a yacht with Sir Paul McCartney in the Caribbean
The couple were pictured hand-in-hand on a beach on the Caribbean island of St Bart’s a year ago
The young model has yet to take his girlfriend to meet his mother Varga (pictured) – who is three years younger than Chinese born Deng
Family friend Dora Mako said Zahoran had recently been home to visit his mother and sister in the town of Mezobereny – but that it was no surprise that he had not brought Wendi.
Mako said: ‘He’s just left a few days ago, as he always comes home to see the family for Christmas. This year was no different, came to see his beloved mum and sister.
‘They are quite close and it is hard for them to spend so much time away from each other. After the divorce, it was Berti, who became the man in the family, and who helped his mum with all the household chores and the hardships of being a single parent.
‘Ever since the divorce, the family has been quite private, I mean they didn’t go out with friends for dinners, nor would they talk much in the town shop, or anything, so its not a surprise that Berti hasn’t brought his girlfriend home either.
‘Also, Berti’s mum doesn’t speak English that well, so there would be the language barrier as well.’
Mako suggested Berti may prefer to show Wendi the capital Budapest rather than taking her to a small town.
‘I’m sure that Wendy would love to see it and I’m also sure, Berti would be happy to show her this part of the world. Perhaps sometime in the summer they’ll have enough time to get around to that too.
Pictures show the young Hungarian model Bertold Zahoran leaning in to kiss Wendi Deng as the couple partied on board a yacht in the Caribbean this week
Deng and Zahoran listened to a performance by American singer Jimmy Buffett and were pictured standing on the yacht’s deck next to former Beatles frontman Sir Paul McCartney
Alone time: The besotted pair moved to a lounger where they continued to enjoy the American escapism musical styles of the Buffett band
Sharing laughs: Former Beatles frontman Sir Paul McCartney (left) and Wendi Deng (centre) seemed to hit it off on deck
‘Since Berti had been helping his mom through so much for so many years, honestly, it would’ve been more surprising if he came home with a model girl his age. You have to understand, Berti is a good, responsible, hard working guy with deep emotions, therefore he’s always been attracted to similar people, not to plaza girls.’
Józsefné Szekeres lives next door to Bertold’s mother said: ‘I don’t think it’s a problem for him that his girl is his senior, as Berti is smart and has always been responsible, like the substitute father in their family.
‘Also, his girlfriend looks sexy and much younger than her real age. So I’m happy for them.
‘I don’t think he would bring her to Mezőberény though, as there isn’t much to see here. Instead he’ll probably take her to Budapest or Balaton lake in the summer, that’s much more fun for the younger ones than in this tiny village.’
Wendi split from ex-husband Rupert Murdoch in 2013 after 14 years of marriage. At the time, Rupert, 86, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
There were reports at the time claiming he had grown suspicious of his wife’s relationship with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair – the godfather of their daughter Grace.
Zahoran’s life now is a far cry from his upbringing in Hungary. Pictured: The home where he grew up
Romance: Hungarian model Bertold Zahoran, 21, from a small town in Hungary, is dating Wendi Deng, former wife of media mogul husband Rupert Murdoch. The couple attended a Halloween party together dressed as ghouls, above, but did not reveal their relationship until the New Year
Split: Rupert Murdoch (left) filed for divorce from Wendi Deng (right) after 14 years of marriage citing irreconcilable differences
Details of their divorce settlement were sealed, but it was revealed that Wendi got to keep the couple’s three-story Fifth Avenue apartment in New York after the split.
Meanwhile Rupert went on to find love with model Jerry Hall, with the pair tying the knot last year. It was the fourth marriage for the CEO of News Corp.
The couple married in 1999 after first meeting in 1997 when Wendi was a TV executive at the Murdoch-owned Star TV network in Hong Kong.
Wendi memorably slapped a man about to throw a custard pie in Rupert’s face during a parliamentary hearing with MPs over the phone hacking scandal in 2011.
And the former couple, who share two children Grace, 15, and Chloe, 13, seem to have remained firm friends, with the pair sharing a friendly hug after a family meal in New York in September.
Wendi raised more than a few eyebrows when she was first photographed strolling hand-in-hand on a Caribbean beach with Zahoran.
It was not so much their age difference, but her choice of a man who was little known outside the fashion industry.
Zahoran also happens to be 64 years junior to Deng’s former husband who is one of the most recognisable names in the world.
Deng and Zahoran went public with their romance when a photo of the couple standing together on the island of St Barts was published on his Instagram account – much to the delight of his 24,000 followers.
Celebrity parties: Since his modelling career took off two years ago when Zahoran’s good looks were first recognised, he moved to New York (pictured at a party above). His meteoric rise has seen him front campaigns for Givenchy
The couple had spent the New Year together along with her two daughters after Zahoran jetted in from spending Christmas with his family in Hungary.
The romance, which began last May, has been the talk of fashion circles and among the power players in New York.
Deng and Zahoran, who also lives in New York, are thought to have been introduced by friends and were first pictured at a party thrown by supermodel Naomi Campbell.
They later dressed up as ghouls for a Hallowe’en party with the photo appearing on Zahoran’s Instagram page.
But while Zahoran continues to grace the covers of glossy magazines and on fashion catwalks in his meteoric rise, MailOnline revealed in January that he only decided to make a career in fashion two years ago after failing to realise his childhood dream of playing basketball in the American NBA league.
In an exclusive interview his mother, Varga revealed his dream of emulating his basketball heroes ended when he realised he was not good enough.
Ladies in his life: Zahoran is close to his sister Kitti, left and his mother Varga, right, who works as a temp for a transport company in Mezobereny, Hungary, where he grew up. Varga raised Zahoran and his sister on her own after divorcing their father when they were young At the end 2015 Zahoran posted on Instagram that he was ‘with the two most important women in my life’ #mommy #sis #love – eight months before he met Deng
‘From an early age Bertold wanted to be a basketball player and compete in the NBA league. His heroes were Michael Jordan and other players,’ Varga told MailOnline from her home in the town of Mezobereny.
She divorced Zahoran’s father when her son was a baby and brought up him and his sister Kitti up on her own.
‘When he was about 17 he said he was not strong enough or tall enough to make it in the league,’ she said. ‘By then modelling opportunities were presenting themselves and he decided to take them.’
He never thought he would be a model but of course people when they see him in magazines tell me how handsome he is. I am of course very proud.
Varga said her son was a very good boy: ‘He was always very well behaved and was no trouble. From an early age he kept his body in good shape and enjoyed working out.
‘Physically he is good looking, but all mothers would say that about their son. I wouldn’t say he was very aware about his looks.
‘He never thought he would be a model but of course people when they see him in magazines tell me how handsome he is. I am of course very proud.’
Zahoran was ‘discovered’ in 2014 when he was featured in a photo-spread for Vogues Hommes magazine posing alongside the Danube in Budapest, Hungary, with other local models.
But he was already a seasoned model having started posing for a local photographer from the age of 15.
Hairdresser Tamas Balogh chose Zahoran as his model for a series of hairdressing competitions in the town of Debrecen where he was attending a sports academy.
‘He was a natural and I chose him because he had the most wonderful hair and also looked good,’ said Balogh.
Celeb circles: Deng and Zahoran, who both live in New York City, are thought to have been introduced by friends and were first pictured at a party thrown by supermodel Naomi Campbell (pictured with Zahoran above)
‘Women loved him, but he was not that interested as he was so focussed on sport.’
Putting aside his dream of playing in the NBA two years ago, Zahoran signed to a New York based modelling agency and his career took off at lightening speed.
He has fronted campaigns for Versace and Ralph Lauren and also opened a Givenchy show.
With his chiselled good looks and impressive six-pack abs – which he shows off in countless shirtless photos on his Instagram page – Zahoran was a favourite of Donatella Versace.
Despite meeting Deng in May last year, their romance was not seemingly confirmed until the Caribbean trip.
What first struck me about him was his piercing blue eyes. He also had a wonderful head of hair that I could work with.
The sun kissed beaches of St Barts, where the rich and famous see in New Year are a world away from his early life in a small Hungarian town close to the border with Romania.
Such was Zahoran’s dedication to basketball that he would spend hours in the garden of his family’s modest home in Mezobereny practising shots against a basketball net.
One neighbour said:’ Every evening you would hear the thump of the ball on the ground. It went on and on, but Bertold was such a lovely polite boy.’
His first coach Imre Tanczos recalled how Zahoran was a natural for the sport because of his height. In his early teens he was close to 6ft tall – putting him head and shoulders above other players.
‘There was one game where about four of five players jumped on him to get the ball. Suddenly he emerged out of the pile and strode away. It was like something out of a movie.’
Imre, 40, who now runs a restaurant in the town of Mezebereny, said Zahoran had little time for anything apart from basketball.
‘When we would go to tournaments in Germany or Slovakia he would be the focus of lots of girls,’ he recalled.
With his chiselled good looks and impressive six-pack abs – which he shows off in countless shirtless photos on his Instagramm page – Zahoran was a favourite of Donatella Versace
Varga, who works part time for a transportation firm, said her son spent Christmas with her and his sister (above) before jetting off to St Barts to meet up with Wendi Deng, her two daughters and model Karlie Kloss
‘He was a very good looking boy, but had not real interest in having a girlfriend as he was just interested in sport’
At the age of 14, and with his mother’s support, he left home to move to the town of Debrecen where he attended a sports academy along with 1,000 of the most talented young sports stars in Hungary.
It was while playing for the Debrecen team that he was selected to represent the under 16 National team.
‘People were very proud that someone from the town was representing the country. They would come up to me in the street and congratulate me, said 45-year-old Varga in January.
‘Bertold is known much more for his basketball than his modelling. They do know he is a model, but not so many people approach me to talk about him.’
While attending the Debrecen Sport Academy Zahoran came to the attention of hairdresser Balogh.
‘I needed someone to model for me in competitions and Zahoran agreed,’ he said.
‘What first struck me about him was his piercing blue eyes. He also had a wonderful head of hair that I could work with.
‘Other people began to notice him and he was asked to model for other hairdressers.’
‘I remember one time he came to the salon just after a basketball match. He had a big red mark on his face and we had to use a lot of make-up to hide it before the competition.’
Good fortune: Zahoran’s relationship with Deng – who received a $44m three storey home as part of her 2013 divorce settlement from billionaire Rupert Murdoch – will also open doors to the cream of New York society. Picture: The model with friends in Hungary before he was famous
Asked about her son’s girlfriend being three years older than her, Varga said:’ That is none of my business. It is his life.’
Varga said she hoped to visit New York to see her son adding: ‘Apart from the Christmas holidays he was only here last January. I would love to see him more, but I know he is very busy.’
Among his biggest fan is Donatella Versace. She is reported to have personally chosen him for one of her campaigns.
Runway shows quickly followed and he is a regular for Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Armani.
Photographer Mark Segal believes he gave Zahoran his big break when he featured him in a photo spread for Vogues Hommes magazine in the summer of 2014.
The photos were published the following year and Segal told the magazine : ‘I was travelling in Prague when my close friend Cliff Fong texted me to join him in Budapest.
‘He mentioned he knew someone starting a modeling agency (WAM models Budapest) there and thought I might want to do some portraits of their guys. I have always been fascinated with Eastern European faces so decided to go and check it out.’
Segal would later shoot Zahoran in the gardens of Millard House in California.
Zahoran candidly admits that he cannot believe his good fortune in going from a small town in Hungary to living in New York City.
He said: ‘When I started modeling I dreamed about doing big shows like Givenchy, but I never thought that I would open the show in my first season, or ever. When they confirmed the first look on me I was the happiest guy in the world. Dreams do come true. The show was unbelievable; I think I forgot to breathe when I was on the runway.’