Latest news with #JenniferDonnelly
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What ‘The Materialists' Got Wrong (And Right) According To The Ultimate Matchmaker
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 08: Dakota Johnson (L) and Pedro Pascal are seen filming "Materialists" in ... More Tribeca on May 08, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images) Dakota Johnson's 'The Materialists' has put a spotlight on New York City matchmaking. The film follows Johnson's character, Lucy, a New York City matchmaker that goes to great lengths to please her affluent clients in trying to find them their perfect matches with near impossible criteria across looks, education, income and lifestyle. All the while Lucy finds herself in a love triangle torn between a wealthy finance man and a broke, aspiring actor. The movie's director herself was inspired to to bring this to life after having her own experience with matchmaking, but did the film accurately portray real New York City matchmaker experiences? The Ultimate Matchmaker, Jennifer Donnelly, shared her honest opinions on what movie got wrong and right about her industry. As a high end matchmaker that caters to millionaires and billionaires, she did find that the character, Harry, was similar to some of her real life clients as affluent families tend to hire her to find matches for their children just as Harry's mother was pushing him to get married. More obvious similarities include interacting and approaching strangers, attending clients' weddings and receiving inundating questions about the profession. Jennifer Donnelly helps high net worth indviduals find love across the globe. The demographic Donnelly mainly serves are ultra-wealthy individuals with a client base of about 60% males and 40% females. With her rates ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, her success rate is conservatively 97%, she shared. 'My clients have built extraordinary careers, achieved financial success, and cultivated rich, dynamic family relationships. What they're truly seeking isn't just access—it's deep alignment. And they want to find that connection without putting themselves through the spotlight of a public search process,' she explained on why clients are willing to pay for her premium services. However, there were way more differences than similarities. The way Lucy, Johnson's character, was interacting with clients was not an accurate representation. 'In the movie Lucy makes friends with clients in addition to stating that she 'hates' her clients while talking unkindly about them. This would never happened at my agency. Everyone, including myself, signs an agreement to enforce no outside friendships. Ee genuinely respect clients and absolutely enjoy working with them,' she explained. Lucy smoking is another professional behavior that Donnelly said would deter clients, as many high-end clients do not want to be around smokers. Jennifer Donnelly, founder of the Ultimate Matchmaker. As far as the actual process of helping clients find love, in the movie, clients are on dating apps but that would never happen in real life. Donnelly shared that her clients wouldn't even consider it due to their status, privacy, and limited time to dedicate to dating. The mindset around understanding what the client needs and deserves is also more of a conflict in the movie. Lucy arranges 10 bad dates in a row and believes people just want to settle, so she doesn't give them exactly what they want, and believes the client is fully responsible for making the relationship work. 'At The Ultimate Matchmaker our clients are so well understood;we don't set up pairings that would result in bad dates. Additionally, we execute an intensive screening process in an effort to do everything possible to make sure we give the client exactly what they want—they don't have to settle. The $500k investment allows me to help as much as needed during the relationship. I am on the same team as my clients and I want them to win,' she explained. Other small differences include employees taking frequent breaks to celebrate every successful client date in the movie, but at The Ultimate Matchmaker, success is expected and the celebrations with incredible gifts are saved for the big wins like engagements and marriages. Donnelly also noted that matchmakers at her agency make much more than Lucy's $80,000 salary. The Materialists is now available for streaming on Amazon.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I'm a matchmaker for the uber-wealthy who charges up to $500,000. Sometimes I conduct over 100 interviews for 1 date.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Donnelly, a Dallas-based matchmaker for wealthy individuals. It's been edited for length and clarity. I work with some of the world's most influential people to help them find that compatible partner. My sorority sister is married through me, and the person who lived across the street from me when I was eight years old is married through me. It's such a rewarding career. Out of college, I worked for a company that matched people for dating. It was a really high volume of people, like thousands, at a lower price point, and we were only matching people inside that service. But I wanted to be able to meet the client, get to know them, and search all over for the right fit. So I said, if I do this again, it should be for fewer clients at a higher price point to deliver exceptional results. I've been matchmaking specifically for wealthier clients for the past 10 years. Usually, around 30 to 40% of my month is spent traveling for work. I'm able to go search and hop on a plane to meet with a candidate and screen them. I can do things now that I never was able to do in the previous company. My network and reputation built my clientele. One of my first clients was a well-known billionaire, and then he started referring other people directly to me. My clients have incredibly high expectations, but I do too. My clients often say, "Jennifer, I think you might be even more selective than I am." For clients, my rates are for a 1-year period. They start at $150,000, which is generally for a search within a certain city. Then $250,000 is typically for a whole state, and at $500,000, we do a nationwide search. We gauge the rate based on the market and size. The candidates never pay. When I initially meet a prospective client, we go through at least two interviews, if not three. My clients are understandably very private, so I have to get them comfortable being vulnerable because I can only be as good as they allow me to be. I'll be a lot more effective the more information I have. Often, wealthy men are used to people telling them what they want to hear. I don't do that. This is about being effective and having a successful outcome. And oftentimes that requires a level of honesty that somebody hasn't presented to them before. Sometimes what people want and what they need is different. "Well, I want her to have an incredible career, to be a great mom, to be able to travel at a moment's notice because I've got a plane." And how can all of those things fit? Let's talk about what really matters in the relationship. When we start, I explain it might take up to six weeks. But if we're at six weeks, and I have not found the person, I'm not going to just put somebody in front of them. I'll just keep looking. We create strategy plans for each client. We create a profile of what we envision for that client, and then we'll say, "Okay, how are we going to find people like this?" and then we'll start working through our network. The good thing is we're incredibly well-connected. It would be highly unusual if there was a candidate we wanted that I couldn't get through somebody I know. It's important that they truly want a relationship. I always ask candidates, "Are you dating anybody? Does anybody think they're dating you? You could end up married; are you ready for that?" There's other matchmakers that can create dates. I'm really trying to create relationships. We'll conduct sometimes over 100 interviews before a client goes on one date. We want to make sure this isn't a waste of time for the client or the candidate; we would like to think we're matching for both people. As far as dates go, it can be as simple as dinner to something much more elaborate. The client can decide if they'd like to help plan it, or leave it to us or have their assistants plan it. I love attending the weddings of couples I've matched. That's the prize for me. It's like, OK, I did it, this is why I'm in this profession. But oftentimes the couple will tell me at their wedding, "Hey, please don't mention you're a matchmaker. Just say you're a 'consultant.'"
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Jennifer Donnelly's Multi-Million Dollar Strategy For Finding Everlasting Love
Jennifer Donnelly, The Ultimate Matchmaker. While over 45% of single Americans are using dating apps to meet new love interests, many are worried about the interference of connection with the integration of artificial intelligence. Over 97% of Americans do not want artificial intelligence to interfere with their dating process. The global dating market is worth close to $1 billion and some high-net-worth individuals are paying half a million dollars for matchmaking services in hopes of finding their perfect partner. Jennifer Donnelly, known as The Ultimate Matchmaker, has been a professional matchmaker for over 20 years specializing in finding long lasting relationships for high-net-worth individuals. Even though access has become easier than ever, the art of true connection has faded. Seeing this, Donnelly has led a matchmaking revival. Access has become exponentially easier, but the true art of connection, unfortunately, has gone in the opposite direction in today's world. 'For my clientele, meeting a wide array of people at any time, from any place, is hardly a challenge. The real challenge is finding someone who aligns with their core values, accomplished lifestyle, and ambitious goals—without giving up their hard-earned privacy to do so. Imagine the intricacies of being highly successful across multiple arenas, from business to philanthropy, yet struggling to carve out time to sift through endless 'dating pools' in search of that one 'rare gem'—the person who truly fits into their unique, multifaceted life. My clients often rely on trusted teams to support and elevate their businesses and lifestyles. That's where I come in: my private, bespoke service offers the same level of trust and expertise, optimizing their time and delivering results that are not just meaningful, but authentic. That's the heart of what I offer,' she explained. For Donnelly, her business revolves around one rare, specific need: helping individuals forge a deep, lasting connection that has the potential to stand the test of time. Her growth has been fueled by word of mouth referrals over the last two decades–only recently has she had a public website, 'I started with no website, no ads, no flashy marketing campaigns, no sales teams—just a singular focus on delivering unparalleled quality and utmost privacy. That's what draws people to me. My success has been driven by referrals, not fleeting trends. And honestly, that's all I care about—delivering what truly works for the people I serve.' Many singles are turning to matchmaking services hoping to find a deeper connection to a partner ... More even though access is easier than ever. The demographic she mainly serves are ultra-wealthy individuals with a client base of about 60% males and 40% females. With her rates ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, her success rate is conservatively 97%, she shared. 'My clients have built extraordinary careers, achieved financial success, and cultivated rich, dynamic family relationships. What they're truly seeking isn't just access—it's deep alignment. And they want to find that connection without putting themselves through the spotlight of a public search process,' she explained on why clients are willing to pay for her premium services. The success stories Donnelly has orchestrated over the years is what fuels her, 'I have so many success stories, and that's truly the best part of my career—the beautiful weddings I get to attend. One story that really stands out is a series of referrals within a family. A client who got married referred a relative, who then got married. Those two relatives referred a friend, who is now also happily married. It became a quiet circle of successful outcomes. These are individuals who are incredibly high-profile, and that level of trust, passed from one client to the next, has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my work.' Jennifer Donnelly specializes in working with ultra-high-net-worth indviduals looking for privacy ... More and efficiency when it comes to finding love. When asked about any known divorces or breakups with any of her couples, she was happy to share that she was unaware of any divorces through her matches. She emphasized that ensuring matches are on the same page on multiple fronts while fostering deep, meaningful connections that stand the test of time is what she prides herself on. 'The truth is, I define success individually for each client. For some, it's marriage; for others, it's finding a deeply committed relationship. What matters most is that we clearly define what success looks like for them from the very start—and then I deliver on that. Sometimes, after the very first interview, I'll advise someone to return to their previous relationship—because, in my opinion, they already had what they truly wanted,' she shared. 'They just needed to put in more effort. I operate from a place of honesty, not strategy. This isn't about closing deals like most businesses. For me, it's about integrity and the joy of transforming lives in a profound way. I tell people all the time: you may think you need me, but if I believe you don't, I'll say so. I've walked away from situations where $500K was on the table because I knew it wasn't the right move for that person. I've said, 'You don't need me—you need to go do XYZ instead.' That's what will get you the happiness or outcome you're truly looking for.' Donnelly has become the go-to expert in this space, and she attributes that to the way she's maintained a very high ethical and authentic standard and focused on long-term purposeful results. 'I've built this business through deep trust and real outcomes, not visibility or promotion. That model has resonated and reached people who value privacy, discretion, and commitment,' she added. As technology and human interaction evolve, this centuries old service is having a renaissance and Donnelly is just getting started.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Benefits of books highlighted at east Belfast reading fair
There is no app to replace your is what they tell parents at St Matthew's Primary and Nursery School in east Belfast to encourage them to read with their Jennifer Donnelly from the school said the message was getting through."When children are developing their speech and language a book can take you anywhere," she said."Although there is a place for technology at times we feel that if a child is sitting reading with you, turning the pages and learning all about how to read the book it's so much better than the technology."Jennifer was among those at the Eastside Learning reading fair at the Skainos centre in east Belfast spreading the message about the benefits of books. But parent Faith Ritchie, who had come along with her young daughter, needed no reads with her daughter most nights."I find it's a good way to engage with my daughter, to spend time and bond with her," she told BBC News NI."Since she's started early already it's helped with her communication skills."It started off where I'd just look at the pictures with her and now she's able to tell me what the pictures are and we create our own stories."Now as she's starting to get a wee bit older we're looking more at the words, to see if she can recognise words from the book then." For mum Jessica Gilmore, reading with her young daughter had also changed her own view of books."To be honest, I didn't like reading when I was in school so I really want to boost her to like books and love them," she said."So I'm trying to get myself to like books now."She really has a love for it so I want to kind of put that in my flow while she's going before she gets into P1."I think it's really good for their imagination."Both parents said they knew that screens and phones were likely to enter their children's lives more as they got Jessica is hoping to delay her daughter getting one "until she is at least P7". Bond between parent and child Education Minister Paul Givan recently gave guidance advising all schools to restrict when and how pupils can use mobile schools have introduced their own measures - like putting phones in magnetic pouches - to stop the use of phones during the school recent research suggests that evidence for the benefit of phone bans is not clear-cut.A number of studies, though, have highlighted the benefits of reading for improves language skills and fires the imagination. Some research suggests it's also good for our general wellbeing, improving confidence and fewer children say they read for pleasure outside St Matthew's, they take part in a scheme called the Big Bedtime Read to encourage children and their parents to read at Jennifer Donnelly said the response from parents has been positive."The bond between the parent and the child is developed, the speech and language is developed," she said."It's speech and language that'll help the child proceed through the school and have better outcomes and that's what we're hoping for." Ruth Guildea from Eastside Learning said part of the reading fair's purpose was to give parents more confidence about reading with their children."Even if they didn't feel confident themselves, they're still able to pick up a book and read the story, look at the pictures and interact with it," she said."Just being confident that they're doing the right thing for their child is really, really important."
