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So, Patrick Antonelli… A name that comes up a lot when talking about Amel Bent. You know, that business leader from Neuilly-sur-Seine, born in February 1977? Here is a man whose life has not been a smooth ride.
He is about 1.75 meters tall, which makes him a pretty average-sized guy, but already, he has quite a crazy story. Married to Amel Bent since 2015, they have three children together. But wait, don’t get carried away; their path is far from simple.
Before being in the spotlight for his marriage to the singer, Patrick was mainly known in the driving school world. Yes, he is an entrepreneur, the boss of two driving schools, P.H.L. and the one in Roule, the latter dating from 2004. But this classic side quickly became complicated.
The meeting with Amel Bent is a bit like a beautiful story out of a movie. It was in 2012, after a season of Dancing with the Stars where Amel made a splash. It was their mutual friend, Christophe Licata, who connected them. And bam, love at first sight.
Patrick Antonelli, the man behind the public notoriety and family roots
So, who really is Patrick Antonelli? A guy born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a very special neighborhood. He has forged a somewhat complicated public identity, especially since he has been linked to the star Amel Bent. He is a businessman who, despite his successes in managing driving schools, drags a reputation marked by several legal cases.
Their age difference – 16 years, no less – did not prevent them from building a true love story. Married in June 2015, they experienced strong moments, such as welcoming Sofia in 2016 and Hana in 2017, then their youngest Zayn in 2022. One might think everything is smooth, but no, life decided otherwise.
Before finding himself at the center of a scandalous fake driving license trafficking case, Patrick was an ambitious entrepreneur with well-established businesses. Nothing foreshadowed the troubles to come. Honestly, it’s surprising, especially when hearing the official version: he just wanted to “keep up” financially with his wife’s friends.
This story turned everything upside down, and not just a little. Indicted in 2016, convicted in 2020, then in 2022… With a prison sentence and incarceration in Nanterre, his life transformed into a real storm. Imagine the shock. It is talked about a lot, obviously.
A career between driving school and financial scandals
It must be said that Patrick was not rolling in money when he started, but he managed to create two solid driving schools, including P.H.L., which has made good progress since 2004. So being a business leader was his daily life, his comfort zone. Until the moment he found himself accused of fraud. Yes, between 2013 and 2015, he got into serious trouble.
The case? Selling fake driving licenses, notably to celebrities. That created a big buzz. Samir Nasri, Jérémy Ménez, big names that caused a stir. Basically, Patrick was convicted for having facilitated obtaining these licenses through questionable means. Not nothing, huh.
His 2020 conviction was harsh: four years in prison, two of which were firm, and a 100,000 euro fine. It shook the couple, so much that Amel Bent had to divorce in 2019 to protect her children and herself from his debts. It might seem crazy, but they remained close despite everything.
Private life, family and twists
Amel Bent often talks about their life, unfiltered. She is a fulfilled mom but also a wife who goes through storms. She explains how this legal case almost tore their family apart. Her husband, despite his mistakes, remains someone close, present despite the hardships.
Their union went through a legal divorce but not an emotional separation. And then, there are the children. Sofia, Hana, and finally little Zayn in 2022. A united family despite everything. She even recently explained how they keep moving forward together.
After being incarcerated in Nanterre in 2022, Patrick benefited from a sentence adjustment to stay close to his family. It’s a bit surreal, but it also shows the importance of balance for them.
We can wonder how far this will go and what the future holds for this couple both solid and shaken. !!
A few notable anecdotes about Patrick Antonelli
- 🎬 It is through a mutual friend, Christophe Licata, that Patrick met Amel Bent, during her stint on Dancing with the Stars.
- 💥 The conviction for license trafficking had huge media impact, shaking up family life.
- 📉 During the pandemic, he was accused of wrongly receiving state aid, which further complicated his situation.
- 💔 Despite their 2019 divorce, they decided to stay together, proof that love does not always follow the rules.
- 👨👩👧👦 Patrick had to give up managing his businesses after his incarceration, but he is undergoing training to avoid any recidivism.
Patrick Antonelli today: projects and news
It is 2025, and Patrick Antonelli continues to make headlines. He no longer runs his businesses but works on his personal and professional recovery. He has committed to a mandatory training course to turn the page.
The relationship with Amel Bent remains a hot topic: even though they are no longer officially married, their closeness makes waves. As for him, he is trying to rebuild his image, slowly, after the legal consequences that have marked recent years.
In recent years, we have also seen some media collaborations around the lives of Amel Bent and Patrick, notably on popular platforms where they sometimes share their truth. It humanizes a bit the man behind the case.
As for their family, it is their priority. Patrick, despite a tumultuous public life, remains a present dad and a man trying to get back on his feet.
