. Sources close to the pair say the relationship was intense, clandestine, and defined by a yearning for normalcy amid the chaos of Edelsten’s public life.

Brynne Edelsten, now 42, rose to fame as a US-born glamour who married eccentric Australian millionaire Dr. Geoffrey Edelsten in 2009, a union that made global headlines.

The marriage, which featured a $3 million Crown Casino wedding with celebrity guests—including Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander—propelled Brynne into the public eye. Following the 2014 collapse of her high-profile marriage, her life took a turbulent turn, and it was during this period that she crossed paths with Johnny Ruffo.

The romance reportedly began in early 2015, when Brynne met Ruffo at a celebrity event in Melbourne. Instant attraction ignited, with Brynne drawn to Ruffo’s boyish charm, warm smile, and fun-loving personality. Sources say she was “besotted” with the singer-actor, finding in him a glimpse of the life she desperately craved—stability, love, and perhaps even a family. “To her, it was more than just some casual fling,” one source told the Daily Mail. “Johnny represented the normalcy she longed for, the calm after the storm.”

Over the next two years, Brynne and Johnny nurtured a private connection. Away from the public eye, they met in secret, with their relationship shielded from media scrutiny. “Everything was clandestine,” the source continued. “Whenever he was in town, she would arrange to meet him, and the excitement was palpable. She fiercely protected this relationship; it was her safe space.”

Despite the depth of her feelings, Brynne reportedly never explicitly declared herself “in love” with Ruffo. However, her hope for a more enduring relationship was evident. “She was immensely fond of Johnny and imagined a scenario where the ‘L’ word might eventually come into play,” the source explained. But Brynne’s life at the time, marked by media scrutiny and personal upheaval, made any lasting connection challenging. “The chaos surrounding her made it unrealistic to think their relationship could progress beyond infatuation,” the source added.

Speculation also surrounds Ruffo’s feelings during the affair. Rumors suggested he may have been “playing the field,” with Brynne one of several admirers. The source noted, “We don’t know how serious Johnny was about her. It’s possible he saw her as a brief escape rather than a future partner.” Eventually, the relationship fizzled, with Brynne withdrawing as her personal life became increasingly turbulent. Yet, even as the romance ended, Brynne reportedly retained a soft spot for the late star. “Some things just aren’t meant to be,” the source said.

Brynne Edelsten, 42, is pictured with her multi-millionaire ex-husband Geoffrey, to whom she was married from 2009 to 2014

A former friend of the US-born reality TV star has revealed she was romantically involved with Australian singer and actor, Johnny Ruffo (pictured), in 2015

Tragically, Johnny Ruffo, diagnosed with a rare brain cancer in 2017, passed away in 2023 at just 35 years old. His death left a void in the lives of those who knew him, including Brynne, whose own life has since been marked by scandal and controversy.

After her split from Geoffrey Edelsten, Brynne’s celebrity trajectory included reality TV appearances, a personal show (Brynne: My Bedazzled Life), and stints on programs like SAS Australia and Dancing with the Stars. Yet her personal life was far from smooth. Following her 2014 divorce, Brynne became embroiled in a string of high-profile relationships, including a romance with poet Ian McAllister and a brief engagement to comedian Brett Hunter.

Most recently, Brynne has faced serious legal troubles. On December 29, 2025, police arrested her at her Fitzroy property in inner Melbourne, charging her with drug trafficking after allegedly discovering commercial quantities of meth, ketamine, and a date rape drug. Authorities reportedly began investigating her operations months earlier after tips suggested she was sending illicit substances from Victoria to Tasmania. She was released on bail the following day, surrendering her passport and agreeing to report to police three times weekly, with her mother, Mariel Gordon, posting a $5,000 cash guarantee.

Today, Brynne lives in a modest halfway-house apartment in Melbourne, raising her three-year-old daughter Starr. Once accustomed to luxury properties in Port Melbourne and the CBD, the fallen socialite now contends with a starkly different reality, navigating parenthood amid legal challenges and media scrutiny.

Her life has remained a whirlwind of highs and lows. In April 2022, she faced drug charges yet avoided conviction, seeking to rehabilitate her public image. By September, she was making a return to the public eye as a judge at Melbourne’s Runway in the Rainforest festival and announced a new mysterious boyfriend. However, the December 2025 arrest has cast a shadow over any attempts to re-enter celebrity circles.

The revelation of her secret romance with Johnny Ruffo adds another layer to the story of Brynne Edelsten—a life often defined by public spectacle, but punctuated by deeply personal moments hidden from the media. For Brynne, the connection with Ruffo represented more than fame or flirtation; it was a glimpse of emotional grounding, a private love that offered respite amid chaos.

A source once close to Edelsten said she strived to keep her relationship with Ruffo out of the headlines

Ruffo, who played Chris Harrington on Home and Away between 2013 and 2016, died aged 35 of brain cancer in November 2023

While the relationship ultimately ended, the memory of Johnny Ruffo holds a special place in Brynne’s heart. The late actor and singer’s untimely death in 2023 from cancer marked the end of a chapter in which Brynne found both hope and heartbreak. Friends close to the socialite note that, despite her controversial life, Brynne has retained affection for Ruffo and the stability he represented.

As Brynne prepares to face the consequences of the latest legal charges, the story of her secret love affair with Ruffo serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities behind her public persona. It is a tale of fleeting romance, unfulfilled potential, and a yearning for a life that, for brief moments, seemed within reach.

Brynne Edelsten is pictured arriving to court on January 7 as she faces charges for alleged drug trafficking

The public may remember Brynne Edelsten for her glitzy wedding, reality TV appearances, and headline-grabbing antics, but her romance with Johnny Ruffo reveals a more intimate and vulnerable side. It tells of a woman navigating fame, heartbreak, and personal upheaval, finding fleeting solace in the arms of a man who, like her, was beloved by the Australian public yet faced his own battles.

Brynne Edelsten is next scheduled to appear in court on April 21, 2026, as legal proceedings continue. Her journey remains uncertain, but the story of her love with Johnny Ruffo endures—a secret chapter that, even amid scandal and hardship, reveals the enduring human desire for connection, hope, and the possibility of love.