Mathew Von Ertfelda
Born in Hong Kong, Matthew Von Ertfelda has traveled all over the world. He
was raised on a horse farm in Massachusetts and attended Middlesex School where
he graduated with honors and served as co-captain of the football team. He
received a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction at the School of Hotel
Administration at Cornell University in New York. In addition, he attended the
Taipei Language Institute where he studied Mandarin Chinese. He also holds a
culinary diploma with honors from L'Ecole de Gastronomie Française Ritz-Escoffier
in Paris. Von Ertfelda currently designs restaurants and bars for a global
lodging company. He has previously worked as a restaurant and bar developer in
Hong Kong, a print model in Asia and a chef's apprentice/cook in Paris.
Von Ertfelda enjoys screenwriting, foreign language study, cooking, rock and ice
climbing, weight lifting and hardcore adventure. In 1994, he successfully
crossed the Darien Gap, a storied stretch of jungle linking Panama and Colombia.
In the summer of 1998, he organized a deep jungle trek into unmapped areas of
New Guinea to track cannibals. He dove for sunken treasure off Saipan in the
Northern Mariana Islands and participated in Earthwatch research expeditions to
St. Croix and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. In the past, he has also competed
in sprint triathlons and marathons.
In 2002, Von Ertfelda was listed as one of People Magazine's Top 50 Bachelors.
He describes himself as unique, multi-faceted, hardworking, mentally and
physically strong and tenacious. He credits his older brother, Eric (a
bodybuilder and writer), with teaching him respect and humility at a very early
age. If Von Ertfelda could hold political office, he would like to be Director
of the CIA because he loves the cloak & dagger operations and the inherent
risks. If he wins the $1 million, he will buy a bottle of 1929 Chateau d'Yquem
to share with close family and friends. Von Ertfelda's favorite quote is
"The things you regret most in life are the risks you didn't take."
Currently single, Von Ertfelda resides in Washington, D.C., with his vivacious
fish, Reggie. His birth date is July 24, 1969.
