Padma Lakshmi beau dies at 71

Padma Lakshmi is in mourning after the death of her boyfriend, Theodore “Teddy” Forstmann, a veteran business leader and philanthropist, People magazine reports. The billionaire — who suffered from brain cancer — died Sunday. He was 71.

Although the famed Forstmann never married, he dated Top Chef host Lakshmi, 41, over the last several years. Their relationship made headlines when she gave birth to now 1-year-old daughter Krishna in February 2010, which spawned speculation over the identity of the father. (Venture capitalist Adam Dell was later revealed as the father.)

Forstmann was also briefly linked to Princess Diana. The two were plotting to wed in the last weeks of her life, according to The Diana Chronicles by Newsweek and The Daily Beast editor Tina Brown.

Forstmann — who invested in companies ranging from Gulfstream Aerospace to Dr. Pepper — is survived by his two sons, Siya and Everest, brothers Anthony and John, and sisters Marina Forstmann Day and Elissa Forstmann Moran.

---

---