Massimo Marone

Storylines

Massimo Marone was a childhood friend of Stephanie Forrester and an apprentice of her father, John Douglas, who was a powerful Chicago businessman. Massimo went to college at Northwestern University with Eric Forrester, Stephanie Douglas, Beth Henderson, and Stephen Logan. He dated Stephanie before she met Eric and while on a trip to Lake Geneva they slept together and conceived Ridge. Stephanie soon met and began dating Eric Forrester and when she realized she was pregnant she used it to get Eric to break up with Beth Henderson and marry her. Massimo, like Stephanie's father, didn't want Stephanie to marry Eric but everyone thought that Eric was the father of Stephanie's baby, so Massimo relented.

Massimo went on to build an international shipping company, Marone Industries, and ran it with an iron fist. Marone Industries earned a reputation as a very conservative company and Massimo became a very wealthy and powerful man with a reputation as a ruthless businessman that always got what he wanted. After Eric and Stephanie's first divorce Massimo became a confidant to Stephanie and continued as such in the years since then.

Massimo came to L.A. to pursue Stephanie and this caused animosity with Eric and Ridge. Under the influence of his feelings for Stephanie, Massimo collaborated to make arrangements for Brooke to leave and move to Paris. In Massimo's office Ridge cut his hand and needed a blood transfusion. Blood tests revealed that there was no way for Eric Forrester to be Ridge's father. Massimo reminded Stephanie of the time they were once together in college. Stephanie concluded that Massimo was Ridge's father. Stephanie asked that Massimo keep Ridge's paternity a secret. Massimo did for a year but was overheard by Bridget talking about Ridge being his son and soon Massimo told Ridge the truth about his paternity.

Once the truth was finally out, Massimo was overjoyed when the initially devastated Ridge soon opened his heart to his new father and left Forrester Creations to become Vice Chairman of Marone Industries. Massimo was even more excited when he learned he had a second son, Dominick "Nick" Payne, from a long ago relationship with Jacqueline Payne. Things were just starting to come together for Massimo and his children when both his sons fell in love with Brooke Logan. Brooke married Ridge and on their honeymoon Ridge, Nick, and Brooke were kidnapped by Sheila Carter and a gang of thugs and Ridge was thought to have fallen into a furnace and burned alive. Brooke was seduced by Nick at the furnace on the night Ridge died. Ridge turned out to be alive and Massimo saved them all but Sheila escaped and revealed that Massimo fathered a daughter Diana Carter. Brooke turned out to be pregnant but was not sure if Ridge or Nick fathered her child.

Brooke told Ridge about her night with Nick and a paternity test revealed that Nick was the father. After Massimo, Jackie, and Stephanie urged Brooke to end her marriage to Ridge and raise her child with Nick. Brooke annulled the marriage and decided to be with Nick and raise their child together. Massimo supported his grandchild being raised by his father but Ridge took this as Massimo choosing Nick over him and left Marone Industries and told Massimo that he wasn't a Marone. When Brooke gave birth and it was revealed that Ridge was the father not Nick they reunited but everyone, especially Massimo, was furious when it was revealed that Jackie had known there was a chance that Ridge was the father and she hid this because she wanted Brooke to be with Nick. Massimo blamed Jackie for Ridge turing his back on Massimo and when he learned that Jackie had an affair with Deacon Sharpe he suffered a massive stroke that left him confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak, Massimo was forced to watch the manipulative Deacon Sharpe try to steal his wife right in front of him.

Massimo finally regained control of his life and made a full recovery with the help and support of his sons Nick and Ridge, who reopened to Massimo after realizing Massimo was deceived by Jackie. Massimo hired Heather Engels to make sure the recovered alcoholic Deacon Sharpe began drinking again and was checked into rehab. Massimo and Jackie briefly reconciled but soon divorced. Massimo began getting closer to Stephanie again, even wondering if they could have a future together, and was instrumental in her finding the documentation that proved she was the rightful owner of Forrester Creations.

Massimo left L.A. for an unknown destination. Recently Nick and Stephanie told each other that neither of them knew of Massimo's whereabouts and neither has heard from him.