When Richard Gere married a woman 33 years his junior, the internet had a lot to say. Many skeptics couldn’t hold back their reactions, with comments like: “Why would she marry this old man?”

But the marriage of Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva is far from the cliché of a young woman marrying an aging Hollywood star for his fortune. So, who is the woman who captured Gere’s heart, and why, out of all the wealthy suitors in the world, did she choose him? Many assumed that Silva was drawn to Gere’s fame and fortune, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Alejandra Silva was born into wealth and privilege. Her father, Ignacio Silva, was a millionaire and a former vice president of the iconic football club Real Madrid. Alejandra never lacked financial security and carved out her own successful path as a publicist, activist, and businesswoman.

In fact, before meeting Gere, Silva had been in relationships with both a millionaire and the son of a billionaire. But in the end, it wasn’t money that won her over—it was the qualities she saw in Richard Gere as a man.