Massimo Marone IV

Family ties: Former lover Stephanie Douglas Forrester, mother of their son Ridge Forrester. Former lover Shelia Carter, mother of their daughter Diana Carter. Current wife Jacqueline Payne, mother of their son Dominick Marone. Uncle of Oscar Marone. Grandfather of Thomas, Stephanie, Phoebe and R.J. Forrester.

Massimo went to college at Northwestern University with Eric, Stephanie and Beth. He was a bit of a playboy, but Mass was especially smitten with Stephanie. She cared for him as well and the pair made love, but when Stephanie found out she was pregnant she kept it from Mass, believing he wouldn't want to settle down with a child. She went on to marry the more stable Eric. Massimo threw himself into his work, running a vast shipping company (which Eric suspects of having ties to underground crime networks). Massimo and Stephanie stayed in touch, especially after Eric and Stephanie's first divorce.

When Massimo moved to L.A., he pressured Stephanie to rekindle their relationship. After Ridge got into an accident, hospital blood tests revealed there was no possible way for Eric to be his biological father. Stephanie and Massimo were stunned, but recalled being together years ago at college. Stephanie begged Massimo to keep Ridge's paternity a secret, which he reluctantly agreed to. Ridge was eventually told the truth. He worked with Massimo for a time, but soon returned to Forrester Creations to work side by side with Eric.

After Taylor's death, Massimo and Ridge clashed over Ridge's relationship with Brooke. Massimo had his own relationship with Jacqueline Payne, who revealed that they, too, had a son: sea captain Dominick Payne. Dominick came to L.A. and became involved with Brooke. Jackie and Massimo got married, but Massimo threw Jackie out after she confessed to knowing Ridge was the father of Brooke's baby but kept the second paternity test a secret, hoping that Nick and Brooke would marry. Just before filing the divorce papers, however, Massimo changed his mind and took Jackie back — not realizing that she'd been pursuing an affair with Deacon. Soon afterward, he overheard the pair talking about their relationship and became furious, lashing out at both of them. During the confrontation, he suffered a massive stroke.