Family Tree Tuesday – Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias

Singer and songwriter Enrique Iglesias has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling Spanish language artists of all time. He has had five Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, including two number ones, and holds the record for producing 22 number one Spanish-language singles on the Billboard’s Hot Latin Tracks. He won a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Latin Pop Performance. Iglesias shopped his first demo using the name Enrique Martinez, reverting to his true surname after signing with his first record company.

Julio Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias was born on May 8, 1975 in Madrid, Spain to Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and Filipina journalist, socialite, and television host Isabel Preysler. Julio Iglesias has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. He studied law in Madrid in the 1960s and was a goalkeeper for one of Real Madrid’s soccer teams. In 1963, he was involved in a car accident, resulting in an injury to his spinal cord. While in recovery he began playing the guitar which lead him to compose music.

Isabel Preysler

Isabel Preysler was born in Manila, Philippines to a wealthy family. Her father, Carlos Preysler, was the executive director of Philippine Airlines and on the Board of Directors for El Banco Español de Manila (Spanish Bank of Manila). Her mother Maria Beatriz Arrastia was the owner of a real estate company in Manila. Preysler’s first interviewee was Julio Iglesias when she began working as a journalist for Spanish magazine ¡Hola! in 1970. She resides in Madrid and is the national spokesmodel for Ferrero Rocher, Suárez jewelry, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Chrysler cars and Porcelanosa tiles.

Julio Iglesias, Jr.

Iglesias’ brother Julio Iglesias, Jr. is also a singer, model and actor. In 2008, Iglesias, Jr. was declared the winner of CMT’s reality Television show Gone Country. He appeared on the Spanish version of Dancing with the Stars called “¡Mira quien baila!“.

Enrique Iglesias’ grandfather Julio Iglesias was a gynecologist and he was one of the youngest gynecologists to work in the Spanish public health system. He helped to found the Madrid Maternity Clinic. At the age of 89, Iglesias became a father again with the birth of his son Jaime Iglesias with his second wife, then 40 year old Ronna Keitt. Iglesias died at the age of 90 and a few months later his last child, Ruth, was born.

Did you know Enrique Iglesias is related to The Vampire Diaries actor Steven R. McQueen? He is Enrique Iglesias’ second cousin!

Check out Enrique Iglesias’ family tree!