How Aryna Sabalenka’s fiancé Georgios Frangulis built his own empire before becoming her biggest supporter

Long before he was cheering from the players' box at Grand Slams, Georgios Frangulis was building something of his own. The Brazilian entrepreneur dropped out of law school, founded an açaí brand called Oakberry in 2016, and grew it into a global business with more than 800 stores across 50 countries. Now 37, Frangulis proposed to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in March 2026, capping a relationship that began when she signed on as an Oakberry brand ambassador in early 2024.Who is Georgios Frangulis, Aryna Sabalenka's fiancé?Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Frangulis has Greek roots, with his family originally from Thessaloniki, Greece. He studied law at FAAP -- Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado -- in 2014, but never sat the bar exam."I always knew I wouldn't be a lawyer," he said. "What I really wanted was to be an entrepreneur."That clarity of purpose was rare at the time. Most people spend years hedging. Frangulis walked away from a law degree, moved to the United States, where he became infatuated with açaí, came back to São Paulo, and launched Oakberry in December 2016.How did Georgios Frangulis build Oakberry into a global brand?Co-founded alongside Renato Haidar, Oakberry was not just another smoothie shop. Frangulis positioned açaí as functional nutrition -- clean ingredients, no artificial syrups, and a strong link to fitness culture -- and built a franchise model designed from day one to scale internationally.The company raised $67 million in capital in late 2023. By mid-2026, Oakberry had grown to a 900-location global business, with stores in Dubai malls, Miami gyms, Australian beach towns, and European city centres -- all without compromising brand consistency.In June 2023, Frangulis graced the cover of Forbes Brazil. The profile explored not just his entrepreneurial arc but his spirituality and Greek identity. His bicep tattoo reads "Fight for us, Saint George the Warrior." His forearm reads, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." These are not the accessories of a brand persona.His net worth in 2026 is estimated between $75 million and $100 million -- built almost entirely from his equity in Oakberry, not from market listings or quick exits.When did Aryna Sabalenka and Georgios Frangulis start dating?They met in January 2024 when Sabalenka was hired as an ambassador for Oakberry. The couple were first spotted together in April 2024 -- a month after the tragic and untimely death of Sabalenka's ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, who died by suicide in March 2024.It was a difficult period, and Sabalenka has been open about what Frangulis meant to her during it. "There was a really tough period where I was really happy to have him by my side, always cheering me up, always making sure that we are doing some fun stuff," she told People. "His support means so much to me. Being on the road and having him support me, to make me laugh and to be able to work out together, makes life on the road feel more like home."How did Georgios Frangulis propose to Aryna Sabalenka?Sabalenka had been broadly hinting for months. After winning the Brisbane International in January 2026, she said in her victory speech: "Thank you to my boyfriend... Hopefully soon I can call you something else, right? Let's just put some extra pressure."Frangulis proposed to Sabalenka in Indian Wells, California, on March 3, 2026. The setting was candlelit, with rose petals arranged beside a pool -- a rental home the couple had spent time in since the early days of their relationship. Sabalenka, in jeans and a white t-shirt, had no idea it was coming."I always knew I wanted to propose to Aryna because I was 100% sure she was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with," he shared in a YouTube video about the moment.The ring was designed by Isabela Grutman, who worked with Frangulis for months to create the custom piece. It features a 12-carat, oval-cut diamond surrounded by emeralds set in platinum -- Sabalenka's favorite stone, and also her birthstone. Experts told InStyle the ring could be worth up to $1 million. They captioned their joint Instagram post: "You & me, forever."What is 'The Gride,' Georgios Frangulis's new fashion brand?Earlier in 2026, Frangulis launched his own fashion brand, named The Gride. The name honors his Greek heritage and mixes the words Greek and Pride. "My pride comes from my grandparents and has spread to my closest circle," the brand's website states. "The feeling is unmatched, and I'll do my best to make each and every one of you feel it too."Outside business, Frangulis races Porsche GT3 Cup cars. "Getting in the car and racing is one of the few moments when nothing else matters," he told Forbes Brazil. For someone whose professional life spans dozens of countries and time zones, that says something about how he recharges.What is clear is that Frangulis arrived in this relationship with his own story already written. He built a global company from a fruit most of the world had never heard of, then quietly showed up for the woman he loves at every stop on the tour. That is not a supporting role. It is just a different kind of ambition.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.