Richest and most influential man in the world, Bill Gates, recently bought one of the most expensive houses in London – for a cool £50 million ($67 million). He bought the house because he wanted to be closer to his childhood friend, the globally famous musician, Robert Pattinson. The world now knows that Gates is a big fan of Pattinson and recently added him on Snapchat – which has over a billion users around the world – as a friend. No wonder why. He’s a very interesting guy.
Robert Pattinson: The Face Of The New Generation
Pattinson caused quite a stir at the 2015 Oscars when he skipped the traditional “after-party” party and went straight to bed. He received a standing ovation for his performance in “Beauty And The Beast.” This was the first time this year that someone other than a best actor nominee accepted the award. Before the night was over, social media was filled with memes comparing Pattinson’s decision to Michael Sheen’s infamous “Skip Out” scene from the 1990 comedy, “The Accidental Tourist.” In that scene, Sheen skips out on the “after-party” for a cocktail with his girlfriend and they compare notes on former relationships.
Pattinson’s choice not to join the “in” crowd and go to an “Oscars after-party” was met with widespread approval on social media, where fans compared his unique brand of style to that of another influential British figure: Prince William. The two even look strikingly similar. People couldn’t help but notice and say so. One tweeter remarked that he “looks like my gramps.”
Pattinson’s style choices aren’t unique to him. He’s long been compared to other famous British men who’ve made a lasting impression on the fashion world: David Beckham, Robert Dudley and even Prince William himself.
Robert Pattinson’s Childhood Years
Pattinson was born in London on December 4, 1986, to a family that’s been in the public eye since the early 1980s. His mother, Vanessa Denise Hathaway, is a model and actress who appeared in the film, “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (which is, in fact, one of the movies Gates recently bought and put in his Netflix collection). His father, David Pattinson, is a director who had a small part in the 2006 movie, “The Black Knight.”
It was announced in 2014 that Pattinson was dating actress Sophia Bush, and people couldn’t help but notice. In an interview, Bush said: “We met in secret – no photos, no press conference – because he doesn’t want to be labeled as ‘that guy’…we are keeping our relationship private for the moment.” They’ve been dating since 2013 and were seen together at the 2014 Met Gala – an annual awards show that celebrates art, music and literature.
The “Snow White” Effect
Pattinson’s acting career really took off in 2011, when he starred in what was arguably one of the most popular films of the year: “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.” He played the part of vampire Edward Cullen, and even though the film was only released in theaters in 2013, it sparked a viral trend that’s still going strong: “snow white” hair or pale skin. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there are currently more than 450,000 variations of the “snow white” hairstyle on Google searches.
Before Eclisphe, Pattinson starred in the 2008 film, “Wedding Crashers,” in which he played “the matchmaker.” It was here that he really solidified his position as “the next big thing.” He followed this up with parts in the blockbuster “The Fault in Our Stars” and the comedy “Tropic Thunder.”
Pattinson And “TWILIGHT”
Pattinson is often credited with popularizing the “twilight” effect – the way in which the colors of the sunset are reflected in photos of people with long hair, often portrayed by Kristen Stewart in the “Twilight” films. Before these films, Stewart’s hair always used to be styled in such a way as to avoid this effect. Stewart has been quoted as saying that she thinks the “twilight” effect “changes everything about [her] life and the way [she] goes about [her] day-to-day.”
The first “Twilight” movie was released in 2009 and was an immediate success at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time up until that point.
It’s been a long time coming. For years, people have been saying that the “twilight” and “snow white” trends would eventually die out. But here we are, years later and the trends continue to this day.
The second “Twilight” movie was released in 2013 and became the highest-grossing movie of all time until the following year, when “Minions” took the throne.
Pattinson And “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”
Pattinson had a small, but crucial, role in the 2013 movie, “Beauty And The Beast,” which is now considered one of the greatest Disney classics of all time. His character, LeFou, serves as the “mascot” for the charming Beast’s carnival-themed dreamland and manages to crack several jokes while wearing a ridiculous outfit that would befit a circus dwarf: yellow hair, bulbous nose, pointed ears and a red suit with yellow trim.
Pattinson is also the face of the new generation of men as a result of a change in social mores brought about by the #MeToo movement. In 2017, he caused a stir when he took a break from promoting “Twilight” nostalgia and instead promoted a feminist message, starring in campaigns for the Women’s Equality Party and She Works.
Is Pattinson The Most Influential Man You’ve Never Heard Of?
It’s fair to say that, even now, people aren’t quite sure how to feel about Pattinson. Some love him, some hate him and most are firmly in between, which is the way most people feel about most super-famous people. The only thing that’s for certain is that he’s an interesting character whom we’re all just eager to see more of.