Olivia Rodrigo, the Gen Z pop icon, recently reignited dating buzz after being spotted multiple times with a mystery man. The Grammy winner was seen spending time with the guy on multiple occasions in New York City, but neither has addressed the speculation.
Now, the internet sleuths believe they have identified the man as Julian Croonenberghs, a former U.S. Hockey player with an impressive resume. Here’s everything to know about the man who has been linked to the Vampire singer.
Is Julian Croonenberghs the mystery man rumored to be dating Olivia Rodrigo?
Dating rumors first gained traction after Olivia Rodrigo was reportedly seen with the same man three times in Brooklyn within a single week. Celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi initially reported that the pair were spotted having lunch in the Clinton Hill neighborhood, and fans soon started to dub him the “Clinton Hill mystery man.”
Later, the duo was allegedly seen enjoying dinner at a Brooklyn restaurant and wine bar, where eyewitnesses said they appeared affectionate throughout the evening.
However, speculation intensified recently after Rodrigo and her date were reportedly seen together at Nightmoves, a members-only Brooklyn nightclub known for its no-phone policy. If eyewitness accounts are to be believed, the pair allegedly shared kisses on the dance floor.
Photos circulating online show the Driver’s License singer alongside a tall brunette man. Soon after, social media users identified him as Julian Croonenberghs, although neither Rodrigo nor Croonenberghs has confirmed the claims.
So, who exactly is Julian Croonenberghs?
While he definitely does not belong to the entertainment circle, he has built an impressive identity for himself. According to his LinkedIn profile, Julian works in private equity and is currently an Associate at Hg Capital, a New York-based investment firm specializing in software and technology companies.
Before joining Hg Capital, Croonenberghs was an investment banking analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Goldman Sachs (2022-2024). On the academic side, he holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Brown University.
The online buzz surrounding Olivia Rodrigo and Croonenberghs largely stemmed from an X (formerly Twitter) user who claimed the mystery man was Croonenberghs, alleging they attended Brown University together through mutual acquaintances.
The post also implied that Rodrigo and Croonenberghs were socially connected, and some fans have suggested his sister, DJ Jade Croonenberghs, could be a connection between the pair. However, the claims are unverified, and many social media users called out the user for attempting to breach an individual’s private life.
Has Olivia Rodrigo confirmed her new man’s identity?
The singer has neither confirmed nor denied the linkup rumors, and neither party has publicly commented on their relationship status. The reported romance follows speculation that Rodrigo quietly ended her relationship with British actor Louis Partridge earlier this year after the pair stopped appearing together publicly.
If rumors are true, Croonenberghs would be a far cry from Rodrigo’s previous high-profile love interests, as the singer has previously been linked to fellow entertainers and high-profile celebrities.
Olivia Rodrigo’s dating history includes several high-profile relationships. She first dated her Bizaardvark co-star Ethan Wacker, with the pair confirming in 2019 that they had been together for six months. Rodrigo later found love with High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett after meeting on set in 2019. The couple reportedly split in 2020, with fans speculating that some of Rodrigo’s songs referenced their breakup, though she never confirmed it.
