Baronet Seeks Heir and Bride
Sir Benjamin Slade, a 79-year-old British baronet, is on an unusual quest to find a partner who can help him secure an heir to his multimillion-dollar estate. He’s not just looking for love; he has a unique set of requirements and, oddly enough, nine months’ worth of frozen sperm at his disposal.
In his search, he’s turned to various avenues, from creating a Tinder profile to taking out ads in newspapers and even making an appearance on a television show. Clearly, he’s committed to finding a “good breeder” who fits his specific criteria.
This week, he revisited his decades-long search for a bride, emphasizing a rather eccentric wishlist. For instance, he has made it clear that potential partners who are Scorpios, readers of the Guardian, or hail from countries that start with ‘I’ or have green flags need not apply.
His background adds another layer to the story—he boasts a helicopter license and mentions legal expertise, which he believes could be beneficial. His ideal woman, he says, should be 30 to 40 years younger, which seems to be a practical consideration in ensuring the continuation of his family line. Interestingly, he’s open to marrying someone who already has a daughter.
In his own words, “I want a new car. I’m getting a new car, not an old banger,” which he shared in a British interview, hinting at his taste for the finer things in life.
Sir Benjamin is the seventh baron in the Maunsell family and holds a hereditary title within the aristocracy. He’s been on the lookout for a wife to bear him a son ever since his divorce from Pauline Myburgh in 1991, which, surprisingly, might have been influenced by their shared home with 17 cats.
Despite previously having a daughter through IVF with American poet Sahara Sunday Spain in 2021, their relationship has since deteriorated, with two wedding plans falling through and no contact with their child. Spain remarked, “It’s incredible that after all this has happened, he’s still talking about wanting a baby.”
The woman who becomes part of Sir Benjamin’s life will earn a salary of £50,000 (approximately $66,000), including housing and board. However, he admits to facing some financial difficulties and suggests that having her own wealth would be a plus.
His candid checklist humorously states, “A little personal capital and income helps; a lot of wealth helps even more!” Currently, the baronet is reportedly in discussions to sell his historic 1,300-acre estate, which has been in his family since 1772, to a luxury hotel company. His business, mainly centered around hosting weddings, took a significant hit during the pandemic, prompting this drastic search for a new partner.
