'The Bachelor' Stars: Where Are They Now?

4:05 PM 3/13/2016

by Natalie Stone and Meena Jang

THR looks back at what happened after these former Bachelors handed out the last rose.

alex michel and ben higgins - H 2016
Shane Gritzinger/FilmMagic; Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic

Following their season-long runs on The Bachelor series, 20 eligible men won over millions of devout fans while pouring out their hearts on national television. While each endured late nights, early mornings, tears, kisses, two-on-one dates, fantasy suites and extravagant international trips, only some found romance on their road to love.

The Hollywood Reporter looks at what each of the (once most eligible) bachelors have been up to since they handed out their final rose.

  • Alex Michel

    What happened during the finale: Michel gave the final rose to Amanda Marsh, but chose not to propose. The couple dated for several months following the show's end and later called it quits (runner-up Trista Rehn became the first female contestant to lead her own season of spinoff series The Bachelorette).

    What he's doing now: Michel, who was a management consultant when he appeared on the show, went on to become a spokesperson for Match.com and Princess Cruises and guest-starred on The Re-Run Show in 2002. Michel currently works as an executive at a media and tech company.

  • Aaron Buerge

    What happened during the finale: Buerge proposed to Helene Eksterowicz at the end of his season. His engagement with Eksterowicz lasted only a few weeks and the pair split soon after.

    What he's doing now: The former contestant and banker opened up a restaurant, Trolley's Downtown Bar & Grille, in his hometown of Springfield, Mo., in 2003 (it eventually closed down). He married his wife, Angye McIntosh, in 2009, with whom he shares a daughter named Aven, and filed for bankruptcy just two years later in 2011.

  • Andrew Firestone

    What happened during the finale: Firestone got down on one knee and proposed to Jen Schefft. After several months together, Firestone and Schefft broke things off and he later married actress and TV personality Ivana Božilovi? in 2008.

    What he's doing now: Heir to the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Firestone has appeared on VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project and Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School and Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown. He also served as host of the show Billionaires Car Club.

  • Bob Guiney

    What happened during the finale: Guiney, who was chosen to be the Bachelor after appearing as a fan-favorite contestant on the first season of The Bachelorette, didn't propose to finalist Estella Gardinier but, instead, gave her a promise ring to continue their relationship. Gardinier and Guiney broke up shortly after the finale aired.

    What he's doing now: He's currently the lead singer of charity cover band Band From TV (with James Denton, Jesse Spencer and Hugh Laurie, among others) and served as host of TLC's Date My House, a real estate makeover show. In 2004, Guiney married All My Children actress Rebecca Budig, though the couple split five years later. Just last year, Guiney appeared on NBC's Today and announced his recent engagement to Jessica Canyon.

  • Jesse Palmer

    What happened during the finale: Canadian Palmer, who was the first non-American bachelor on the show, chose Jessica Bowlin, but didn't propose; the couple broke up shortly after the show ended.

    What he's doing now: The former NFL quarterback (who played for the New York Giants from 2001-04) continued his sports career as a college football analyst for ESPN/ABC. In 2014, Palmer was chosen to be the lead game announcer for ESPN's SEC Network (alongside Brent Musburger). He's currently a special contributor on ABC's Good Morning America.

  • Byron Velvick

    What happened during the finale: Velvick popped the question to Mary Delgado, and the two stayed together for five years until Delgado was arrested on charges of battery in 2007. The couple split thereafter.

    What he's doing now: Velvick currently hosts his own show on The Outdoor Channel, Byron Velvick's Guides' Eyes.

  • Charlie O’Connell

    What happened during the finale: O'Connell ended up with Sarah Brice, though he chose not to propose at the final rose ceremony. The pair had an on-and-off relationship over the years that ultimately ended in 2010.

    What he's doing now: The brother of actor Jerry O'Connell, he had appeared in small roles in films such as Dude, Where's My Car?, Cruel Intentions and The New Guy prior to leading season 7 of The Bachelor and continued his acting career following the season finale. O'Connell has since starred in projects Mischief Night, Huff and Sex, Marriage and Infidelity, among others.

  • Travis Lane Stork

    What happened during the finale: Sarah Stone was the last girl standing, but Stork didn't propose. The pair, instead, chose to formally begin their relationship, which ended not long after the show's end.

    What he's doing now: Stork, a physician, went on to become host of CBS' The Doctors. He has since appeared as a guest on shows such as the Late Show With David Letterman, The Talk and the Rachael Ray Show. In 2012, he married Dr. Charlotte Brown.

  • Lorenzo Borghese

    What happened during the finale: Borghese gave Jennifer Wilson the last rose of the season, but didn't propose. The couple began a relationship following the finale, though it ended in early 2007.

    What he's doing now: Borghese, who comes from Italian royalty and was dubbed Prince Lorenzo Borghese on the show, continued his entrepreneurial efforts with the launch of Royal Pet Club (a high-end product line for pets) and RumGolf (a lifestyle brand for men). He appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother UK in 2012 and on the Esquire reality show Lucky Bastards in 2014.

  • Andrew Baldwin

    What happened during the finale: Baldwin popped the question to Tessa Horst and she accepted both his final rose and engagement ring on the season's finale. Unfortunately, eight months after the couple got engaged, the pair split and went their separate ways.

    What he's doing now: Though Baldwin had a short-lived romance with Donald Trump's ex Marla Maples months following his split from Horst, the doctor/U.S. Naval officer/Ironman triathlete remains an eligible bachelor and resides in Washington D.C. The self-described "Navy doctor with a global mindset" pens his Twitter (@DrAndyBaldwin) bio as "Life is short. Stay present, be generous, and live fearlessly."

  • Brad Womack

    What happened during the finale: During his first run on the show in season 11, Womack made history on the show as the first bachelor to reject all of his eligible bachelorettes and not get down on one knee for one of the two final candidates. He returned for Bachelor in season 15 and found short-lived love with Emily Maynard, who he split with in June 2011 months after their on-air engagement.

    What he's doing now: Though the Texas winemaker amassed overnight fame from his two seasons on the romance show, he has remained out of the spotlight since his chapter on reality TV came to a close.

     

  • Matt Grant

    What happened during the finale: The British financier got down on one knee and proposed to actress Shayne Lamas (daughter of Lorenzo Lamas) on the last episode of the 12th season. Unfortunately, love didn't last long for the couple, who split a few months later in July 2008.

    What he's doing now: Since living in the U.S. for his run as the Bachelor, Grant returned to the U.K. and works as the sales and marketing director at Kafoodle Limited, according to his LinkedIn account. He is also the father of a baby girl named Clemmie.

  • Jason Mesnick

    What happened during the finale: In one of the most controversial and shocking seasons ever, Bachelor Jason Mesnick broke two hearts before finding happily ever after. Mesnick turned down Molly Malaney on the season 13 finale and proposed to Melissa Rycroft. Weeks later, during the "After the Final Rose" episode, audiences watched in horror as Mesnick called it quits with Rycroft ("We're not right for each other," he said) and later rekindled his romance with Molly, whom he married Feb. 27, 2010.

    What he's doing now: The father of two resides in Seattle and works as a real estate broker. On Feb. 27, Mesnick celebrated his sixth anniversary with his wife, Molly, and expressed his love for her in a heartfelt Twitter post. "Happy anniversary to the most amazing wife, friend, mom, and partner in crime in the world. I love you," he penned.

  • Jake Pavelka

    What happened during the finale: After his season five run on The Bachelorette, Pavelka was brought back as the season 14 bachelor. During the finale, the single bachelor proposed to contestant Vienna Girardi, but they split three months later in June 2010.

    What he's doing now: Pavelka's career as a reality star took off as a result of his time on the relationship show. The real-life pilot appeared in four more reality TV programs — Bachelor Pad (2011), VH1's Famous Food (2011), The CW's H8R (2011) and was a contestant on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off (2014) — and two guest spots (Drop Dead Diva in 2010 and The Bold and the Beautiful in 2011). The Texas native is still single.

  • Ben Flajnik

    What happened during the finale: Winemaker Flajnik chose Courtney Robertson as his final rose during season 16 of the reality show, but the love didn't last long: the couple split in October 2012.

    What he's doing now: According to his Twitter account (@BenFlajnik), the serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Fernet Francisco wines, co-resides in San Francisco and Sonoma. 

  • Sean Lowe

    What happened during the finale: The entrepreneurial businessman found the love of his life on season 17 when he asked Catherine Giudici to spend the rest of her life with him during the finale. In 2014, the couple wed on national television and are expecting their first child this summer. Follow his Twitter account to stay updated on all-things baby (@SeanLowe09).

    What he's doing now: Following the wrap of his time on the ABC relationship show, Lowe was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars and now resides in Dallas with his wife. He credits his financial success to his time on The Bachelor for making it feasible to pursue his real estate endeavors with a friend. "I guess I owe most of my entrepreneurial success to The Bachelor," he told Fortune magazine. I never imagined signing up for a reality show about love would have led me to the realization of my dreams (and my wife!)." In addition, the born-again Christian is a frequent contributor to faith-based website Patheos.

  • Juan Pablo Galavis

    What happened during the finale: In an attempt to add diversity to the matchmaking show, the first Latino star of The Bachelor offered the final rose to pediatric nurse Nikki Ferrell. Galavis' finale was a shocker for the show's devout fans: it was the first time in ABC history that the final pick wasn't proposed to or told "I love you" by her bachelor. Following the show's wrap, the couple split in October 2014 after a stint on VH1's Couples Therapy.
     
    What he's doing now: Since calling it quits from his blonde beauty, Galavis has remained out of the spotlight. He's currently listed as a sports and entertainment consultant on his Twitter account (@JuanPaGalavis). 

  • Chris Soules

    What happened during the finale: The hunky farmer got down on one knee in his Iowa barn and proposed to nurse Whitney Bischoff, who excitedly said yes. Though the couple stuck together for five months following the season 19 finale, including Soules' run on Dancing With the Stars, they called it quits in May 2015. "I can't thank you all enough for the kind messages over the past few days," Soules tweeted (@souleschris) following the split. "This has been really tough and your support means a lot to me."

    What he's doing now: Since becoming single Soules once again, the former Bachelor star appeared in a McDonald's commercial — as well as former couple/contestants Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici — that aired during a season 20 Ben Higgins episode.

  • Ben Higgins

    What happened during the finale: Though fans were in shock when Higgins sent fan favorite JoJo Fletcher home during the finale trip to Jamaica, the bachelor found love with Lauren Bushnell when he got down on one knee and said "yes."
     
    What he's doing now: On the "After the Final Rose" episode, an engaged Bushnell revealed that she will be moving to Denver in the near future to be close to her Colorado beau and that the couple will be watching Fletcher try and find love when she stars on the next season of Bachelorette. Asked by host Chris Harrison when fans can expect to see the two tie the knot, Higgins said "soon."