British Entrepreneur and Podcaster Steven Bartlett Proposes to Melanie Lopes With a Huge Diamond Ring

What started as a romantic Christmas getaway in Morocco ended with a diamond ring, a heartfelt "yes," and a love story years in the making.

Steven Bartlett, the 33-year-old entrepreneur behind "Diary of a CEO," is officially off the market — and the story of how he chose his now-fiancée Melanie Lopes' engagement ring is as swoon-worthy as the proposal itself.

The couple's engagement was confirmed Monday, January 5, sending fans into a frenzy. Bartlett popped the question to the yoga and wellness entrepreneur on Christmas Day, during a lavish and intimate holiday escape to Morocco.

Sources close to the couple revealed that after nearly a decade together — including a brief split that saw Bartlett laser-focused on building his empire — the duo have never been more in sync.

In fact, when the two were apart, Bartlett flew 22 hours to Bali to win her back. Lopes, who runs a luxury yoga and breathwork retreat on the island, reportedly had no idea what was coming.

"Steven and Melanie have been together for a long time, but their relationship really went up a notch after they started living together in both London and Los Angeles a couple of years ago," a source told the Daily Mail.

"The proposal happened on Christmas Day while they were on holiday together in Morocco," the insider continued. "Steven asked Melanie to marry him and presented her with a beautiful diamond engagement ring. She was thrilled to say, 'Yes.' They really are each other's soulmates and couldn't be happier."

'Mon Amour': A Ring and a Moment Worthy of a Movie

Just days after the announcement, Lopes gave the world a glimpse into her joy — and her breathtaking engagement ring. On January 7, she shared a photo of her hand resting gently in Bartlett's, the oval-cut diamond glistening against a delicate band.

"Mon Amour," she wrote — a simple caption for a moment overflowing with emotion.

While Lopes' post went quietly viral, Bartlett himself had hinted at the engagement in a podcast appearance taped before the proposal.

'My Engagement Ring...': The Clue He Almost Didn't Give

Appearing on "Hot Smart Rich" with Maggie Sellers Reum, Bartlett hesitated during a rapid-fire Q&A when asked what he last charged to his credit card.

After checking when the episode would go live, he revealed, "My engagement ring. [...] I'm going to propose around Christmas time."

Cue gasps and celebration from Reum — but the revelations didn't stop there.

Why He Was Once Skeptical About Marriage

Reum reminded Bartlett that he'd once been openly hesitant about tying the knot, both on his own podcast and in public interviews.

"I wasn't entirely convinced that marriage is the best structure for uniting two people because there's so many flaws to it," he admitted.

Citing court involvement and divorce statistics, Bartlett explained, "You look at the stats and go 50% of people fail. [...] So it felt like a broken thing to me from first principles and I wondered if there was a better way."

The real shift, he said, came with age — and with Lopes.

"You grow up and then you meet the right person and you understand things more," he reflected. "And it's important for Mel, but also I want to get married too, you know. So what am I waiting for?"

The transformation is striking: from a man once "massively avoidant of commitment" — due in part to his own parents' unhappy relationship — to someone who now speaks openly about building a family.

A Folder Full of Love: How He Chose the Ring

And perhaps the most romantic detail of all? Bartlett had been planning the ring for years.

About four years ago, he recalled, Lopes had been talking about engagement rings with a friend. "I was looking over her shoulder and looking at the ones she liked and I was looking at her Pinterest and just like saving the ones she said she really liked," he revealed.

He kept them in a hidden folder on his phone for about four years.

When the time came, he consulted a New York jeweler recommended by close friends, carefully selecting an oval-cut diamond to match Lopes' taste. To top it off, he also made sure the ring would pair perfectly with the stacked wedding band she dreamed of.

Private Love in a Public World

Though both are well-known in the influencer and entrepreneurial world, Bartlett insists he's not one for splashy displays.

"No, I'm not going to post about it. I'm not going to Instagram it," he told Reum of the proposal. "[...] I'm really not about that. Like it's not my thing to bring my personal stuff to the world generally."

Still, fans can't help but feel invested in their story. Earlier in the interview, Bartlett also opened up about their approach to conflict — sharing one of the keys to their lasting bond.

"The first thing is realizing that me and Mel, when we have conflict, that this is not a sign of our inadequacies or our lack of love for each other," he said. "It's an opportunity for us to understand each other more and for us to grow. And it's me and her against the conflict, not me versus her."

A Family in the Making

As for what comes next? Bartlett isn't just thinking about wedding bells — he's dreaming bigger.

"I want to become a dad," he told The Standard in 2025, adding that he planned to speak on parenting on his podcast when the time comes.

For now, though, fans are basking in the beauty of a love story that's as modern as it is timeless — one engagement ring, one Moroccan Christmas, and one very determined man who knew exactly who he wanted all along.