Paul Staehle is an American reality television personality best known for appearing on TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé franchise with his former wife, Karine Martins.
He became widely known after traveling from Kentucky to Brazil to meet Karine and later appeared with her across several 90 Day Fiancé series.
Paul Staehle Age and Background
Paul Staehle is from Louisville, Kentucky, and became a public figure through reality television rather than a traditional entertainment career. TLC introduced him to viewers in 2017 as a man from Louisville who was traveling to Brazil to meet Karine, his online girlfriend. At the time, TLC listed Paul as 34 years old.
His exact date of birth is not consistently documented by major authoritative sources. Several biographical websites list April 2, 1983, which would make him 43 years old in 2026, but that date should be treated as a reported biographical detail rather than a fact independently confirmed by TLC or another primary source.
Paul’s background before reality television was relatively private. Public biographical information identifies information technology as his pre-reality-TV occupation.
His early life received little attention on television compared with his relationship with Karine. Most public information about Paul comes from his time on TLC, interviews, social media activity, and reports about his relationship and family life.
Paul Staehle’s Career Before 90 Day Fiancé
Before becoming a reality television personality, Paul worked in the information technology field. His professional life before television was not extensively documented in the mainstream media, and he did not have a major entertainment career before joining the 90 Day Fiancé franchise.
That changed when he became part of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.
The series focuses on couples who have developed relationships before meeting in person. Unlike the main 90 Day Fiancé format, the couples in Before the 90 Days generally have not yet completed the process of beginning their lives together in the United States.
For Paul, the opportunity came through his relationship with Karine Martins, a Brazilian woman he had met online.
How Paul Staehle Met Karine Martins
Paul and Karine met online through a dating service. TLC reported that they communicated through translated text messages because they did not speak the same language fluently. Paul eventually traveled to Brazil to meet Karine in person.
Their first meeting became the central storyline of Paul’s debut on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.
The trip was unusual because Paul traveled a long distance from Kentucky to meet Karine in Brazil, including traveling toward her home region near the Amazon River. TLC presented the relationship as a major test because the couple had to deal with language differences, cultural differences, family concerns, and questions about whether their online relationship would work in person.
The couple’s relationship quickly attracted attention from viewers.
Paul Staehle on 90 Day Fiancé
Paul first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days in 2017 alongside Karine.
The series gave viewers a close look at their relationship as they tried to determine whether they could build a future together. Their story continued beyond the first season, making Paul one of the more recognizable early cast members of the franchise.
Paul and Karine later appeared in the second season of Before the 90 Days. Their story also continued in other 90 Day Fiancé programs, including The Other Way and Happily Ever After?
TLC described the couple as having a complicated history from the beginning. When Paul could not afford to bring Karine to the United States through the visa process, he considered moving to Brazil instead.
This became an important part of their storyline because it showed that their relationship involved more than a simple move from Brazil to the United States. They had to make decisions about where they would live, how they would support themselves, and how they would build a family.
Paul and Karine’s Marriage
Paul and Karine married in November 2017 in Brazil. Their marriage took place shortly after their first appearance on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.
Their marriage was not without difficulties.
The couple experienced repeated periods of separation and reconciliation. Their relationship also became the subject of significant public attention because both Paul and Karine discussed personal problems through television and social media.
TLC later documented their pregnancy and growing family.
Before the birth of their first child, the couple also discussed experiencing a miscarriage. Karine subsequently became pregnant again, and the couple announced that they were expecting a boy.
Paul Staehle’s Children
Paul and Karine have two sons, Pierre and Ethan.
Their first son, Pierre Martins Staehle, was born on March 22, 2019, in Manaus, Brazil. TLC reported that Pierre weighed 6.9 pounds and measured 19.7 inches at birth.
Paul and Karine welcomed their second son, Ethan, on February 5, 2021. The birth was reported by Us Weekly, which noted that Paul and Karine had become parents to two children.
Fatherhood became an important part of Paul’s public life. During interviews following Pierre’s birth, Paul spoke about being nervous and wanting to do his best as a father.
The children’s lives later became connected to the couple’s custody disputes, which received substantial media attention.
Paul Staehle’s Legal History
Paul’s past became part of his 90 Day Fiancé storyline after he disclosed that he had a criminal record.
Reports have stated that he was convicted of second-degree arson in Kentucky. Yahoo’s reporting on 90 Day Fiancé cast members with criminal records states that Paul was found guilty in 2014 and served a brief prison sentence.
A public record database also lists an arson-related case involving Paul Staehle, including an allegation involving burning personal property to defraud an insurer.
Paul discussed aspects of his past on the show while explaining his history to Karine.
This part of his biography is important because it was not simply an internet rumor. His criminal history was discussed publicly in connection with his television appearance and was reported by established entertainment publications.
However, claims about other alleged incidents should be treated carefully unless they are supported by court records or reputable reporting. Reality television discussions and social media posts can contain allegations that were never proven in court.
Paul and Karine’s Relationship Problems
Paul and Karine’s relationship went through several major conflicts during and after their time on television.
The couple separated more than once. Their relationship also involved restraining-order disputes and public allegations, which both became part of the broader media coverage surrounding the pair.
In 2020, Us Weekly reported that Karine had sought a restraining order after a dispute with Paul. The report described allegations made in court documents and also noted that Paul denied the allegations.
Because these matters involved allegations made by one party against another, they should not be presented as established facts without the appropriate legal findings.
The couple later reconciled for periods of time, including after the birth of their second child. Their repeated breakups and reconciliations became a recurring part of their public story.
Paul Staehle and Custody of Their Children
Paul and Karine’s family life later became involved in a child-custody dispute.
Reports have stated that the couple lost custody of their two sons in 2022. A 2026 report from Swooon, citing reporting and legal developments, stated that Paul and Karine had lost custody of the children in 2022.
The custody situation has been complicated, and information about the children’s current living arrangements should be treated carefully because custody cases involve private family and court matters.
The children have largely remained outside the public spotlight compared with their parents. That is significant because much of the information circulating online about their custody arrangements comes from entertainment reporting or social media rather than direct statements from a court.
Paul Staehle and Karine’s Divorce
Paul Staehle and Karine Martins are no longer married.
Karine filed for divorce in February 2026, according to court records reported by TMZ. The divorce was finalized on April 13, 2026.
According to the reported court documents, the judge determined that the marriage was irretrievably broken and that there was no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. The couple had also been separated for more than a year before the divorce was finalized.
Swooon likewise reported in April 2026 that the divorce had been finalized and confirmed that Paul and Karine had appeared together on multiple 90 Day Fiancé programs.
The divorce formally ended a relationship that had been part of the franchise for nearly a decade.
Where Paul Staehle Lives
Paul has been associated with both the United States and Brazil throughout his public life.
He originally came from Louisville, Kentucky, and traveled to Brazil to meet Karine. Later 90 Day Fiancé seasons documented his efforts to build a life in Brazil with her.
His connection to Brazil remained a recurring part of his public identity even after the relationship became unstable.
Because Paul’s living situation has changed over time, claims about his exact current residence should not be treated as permanent facts unless confirmed by a recent reliable source.
Paul Staehle’s Social Media Presence
Social media has played a major role in Paul’s public profile.
Unlike many reality television personalities who mainly use social platforms to promote television appearances, Paul has frequently used social media to discuss personal issues, relationships, family matters, and developments in his life.
This has helped keep him connected to 90 Day Fiancé viewers even when he was not appearing regularly on television.
At the same time, social media is not always a reliable source for establishing facts. Posts can be deleted, edited, misunderstood, or made during emotionally difficult situations. For that reason, claims about Paul’s current relationships, finances, employment, or legal status are best checked against independent reporting.
Paul Staehle’s Reality TV Career
Paul’s main claim to fame remains his work as a reality television personality.
His television appearances include:
- 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days
- 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way
- 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?
- Other related 90 Day Fiancé content and appearances
His original appearance on Before the 90 Days remains the most important part of his television career because it introduced viewers to his relationship with Karine.
TLC’s franchise follows international relationships and the challenges involved when couples try to build a life together. Paul’s story became one of the franchise’s more recognizable relationship arcs because it continued across multiple seasons and included marriage, children, separation, reconciliation, and eventually divorce.
What Paul Staehle Does for a Living
Paul Staehle is best known professionally as a reality TV personality.
Before television, publicly available biographical information lists information technology as his occupation.
His later income sources and employment have received considerable speculation online. However, there is no reliable public financial record that supports many of the specific net-worth figures frequently published on celebrity biography websites.
For that reason, it is better to describe Paul’s documented career as a combination of his earlier work in information technology and his later public career through reality television and social media.
Paul Staehle’s Net Worth
Paul Staehle’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Several celebrity websites publish estimates of his wealth, but those figures are often presented without financial documents or reliable evidence. There is no strong reason to treat those estimates as confirmed.
Reality television income can also vary significantly depending on contracts, episode appearances, promotional work, social media activity, and other private arrangements.
Therefore, any specific claim about Paul’s current net worth should be considered an estimate rather than a confirmed financial figure.
Paul Staehle’s Life After Divorce
The finalization of Paul’s divorce from Karine in April 2026 marks a major change in his personal life.
The couple’s marriage lasted for several years and included two children, multiple television appearances, periods of separation, custody disputes, and legal conflicts. The divorce formally ended their marriage after years of public attention.
Paul’s future career plans are less clearly documented than his earlier 90 Day Fiancé appearances. His public profile remains strongly connected to the franchise and to his history with Karine.
For readers searching for updates about Paul Staehle, it is important to separate confirmed developments from social media rumors. His television history, marriage to Karine, two children, and 2026 divorce are well documented, while many claims about his finances, relationships, and private life are less certain.
