Who Is Sofia Richie’s Fiancé? All About Elliot Grainge

Although news of their engagement surprised fans, Sofia Richie and music executive Elliot Grainge knew each other for years before dating.

Turns out, Richie’s father — legendary singer Lionel Richie — was a frequent collaborator and friend of Grainge’s father, Sir Lucian Grainge. The couple has kept their relationship relatively private, but in April 2021, Richie went Instagram official with a photo of herself and Grainge kissing.

One year later, on April 20, 2022, the model announced her engagement to Grainge, and her father publicly gave his approval.

“I love Elliot,” the “Hello” singer told Access Hollywood on April 26 shortly after his daughter’s announcement. “I’ve known him since he was 12 … It was one of those things where I don’t have to go back and check out the kid. I know who it is.”

The couple later celebrated their engagement with a party that included siblings Nicole and Miles Richie, brother-in-law Joel Madden and Benji Madden.

“They make each other really happy,” a source close to the couple told PEOPLE in 2022. “He’s very mature and hard-working. He has his own house, and she moved in with him a while ago. All of her friends are thrilled that she found true love. They’re a great match for each other.”

So, who is Sofia Richie’s fiancé? Here’s everything to know about Elliot Grainge and his relationship with the model.

He has music business roots

Elliot Grainge and Sofia Richie.

Sofia Richie/Instagram

From a young age, Grainge has always been surrounded by music thanks to his father, Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge.

Over his decades-long career, Grainge’s father has worked with an impressive roster of artists, including Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Rihanna and Katy Perry.

Among his many accolades, Lucian was named Billboard’s first-ever Executive of the Decade and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2016.

He grew up in the U.K.

Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge.

Sofia Richie/Instagram

Although he currently resides in Los Angeles, Grainge grew up across the pond, where he inherited his father’s love for the music business.

“I was a weird kid who used to read the music trades,” he told Variety in a 2019 profile. “What I noticed about my father’s negotiating style was how transparent, honest and sensible he was. When you put your cards on the table like that, negotiating is less competitive and more about teamwork.”

He later attended Northeastern University in Boston, graduating with a bachelor’s degree.

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He has his own record label

Lester Cohen/Getty

After graduating from college, Grainge moved to Los Angeles and started the 10K Projects record label by signing rappers Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine, according to Forbes.

The label has amassed 18 gold and eight platinum/multi-platinum singles, with Grainge earning a spot on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2020.

He loves Eminem

Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge.

Sofia Richie/Instagram

Although Grainge’s musical taste is wide-ranging, Eminem holds a special place in his heart.

“I was obsessed, thought he was the coolest thing in the world,” he told Variety in 2019. “If you look at the streaming data and analytics over the past six years, you’ll see anyone under 28 around the world has been raised on hip-hop. It’s a lifestyle, a culture, as rock once was for another generation. And I believe it was Eminem who took it to the next step in terms of global reach.”

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He’s a private person

Sofia Richie/Instagram

Unlike Richie, Grainge doesn’t frequently post on social media.

He only has four posts on Instagram (three of which are about Richie) and doesn’t have any tweets on his Twitter account.

Still, Richie posts plenty of photos of her fiancé, including a snap of a sweet smooch they shared while celebrating her 24th birthday. In the photo, Richie has her arm around Grainge as they stand over her birthday candles.

He was friends with Richie before they started dating

Sofia Richie Instagram

Before they started dating in early 2021, Grainge and Richie knew each other as kids.

“They have been friends for years, and Elliot is also close with Sofia’s brother, Miles,” a source told Entertainment Tonight shortly after the couple began dating. “It’s very nice for Sofia to date someone her family approves of and likes.”

He and Richie bought a house together just months after they began dating

Sofia Richie Instagram

Shortly after they went public with their romance, Grainge and Richie bought a house together in Beverly Hills in April 2021 for $17 million. The house is in the same neighborhood as Rihanna and Paul McCartney’s L.A. homes.

The couple made a profit when they sold the house just over a year later for $22 million.

He was “a nervous wreck” when asking Lionel Richie for his blessing for their engagement

Sofia Richie Instagram

In an interview with Access Hollywood shortly after Grainge’s proposal, Richie’s father revealed that Grainge was “a nervous wreck” when he asked permission to marry his youngest daughter.

“I thought he was going to pass out, but he survived it,” he said.

Lionel added, “I was going to rib him a little bit, but I didn’t want to play, he was going to faint. It was wonderful … they’re deeply in love, so all I can say is, that’s what you really want as a dad.”

He proposed to Richie in April 2022

Surrounded by candles and flowers, Grainge got down on one knee and proposed to Richie in April 2022.

“Forever isn’t long enough,” the model captioned images from their engagement on Instagram.

In January 2023, Richie shared additional photos from the “most special moment” of her life, which included another close-up of her massive diamond ring.

A month later, Richie’s godmother, Shelleylyn Brandler, threw her a wedding shower. Grainge stopped by to kiss his bride and participate in a champagne toast.