Everyone’s a sucker for a good love story. You must have heard phrases like 'head over heels' and 'defy the world for the person you love'. Well, “millionaire hermit” Marcel Amphoux and beautiful Parisienne Sandrine Devillard had the makings of a romance just like that. One might even say that theirs is a tale made for the movies!

As for which genre, now that’s where things get complicated. When Devillard first came into Amphoux’s sleepy village in the French Alps, his neighbors were immediately wary. Still, he saw the good in the young woman. What he didn’t realize right away is that she isn’t who she appeared to be.Not Your Typical Millionaire

Flashy clothes, fast rides, beautiful mansions---those are the first things that come to mind when thinking about what makes up a typical millionaire’s lifestyle today. With seemingly endless resources, the wealthy are privileged to afford luxuries most of us can only dream of.

Not Amphoux, though. Although he was rich, he’s not one to show off his status with extravagant material possessions. In fact, you might not even realize that he’s a well-to-do man by simply looking at him. He didn’t act like an arrogant person either, and perhaps that’s why he was so well-liked by his neighbors.

It’s Not About The Money

 

Social media is rife with images of people flaunting extreme wealth these days. And in a world of flex culture, having a lot of money (or simply appearing that you have a lot of it) raises one’s status. So, Amphoux's story is really a breath of fresh air.

He didn't dwell much on matching up his appearance with the content of his coffers. His toothless grin and disheveled demeanor proved that. See, riches weren't the be-all and end-all for Amphoux. What he desired was something that couldn't be bought: a companion to share life with.

The Hermit Of The Alps

A farmer by profession, Amphoux spent his days living in a humble hut in the small village of Puy-Saint-Pierre in the Alpine region of France. As you can see, it’s as basic as basic can get. A roof over his head and walls to protect him from the elements. What else was there to ask for?

His home didn’t even have running water or electricity. But it had everything he needed. In fact, Amphoux rarely even left his residence, causing people to label him the hermit, a nickname that the media often used as well.

Real Estate 101

Despite his simple lifestyle and unkempt appearance, Amphoux was quite literally sitting on a large fortune. See, his wealth wasn’t tied up in businesses or the stock exchange. It was all in the land. He had valuable real estate situated near the luxury ski resort of Serre Chevalier.

And you know what they say about properties. It’s all about finding the right location! Because of that, Amphoux’s tract of land was believed to be valued in the millions. Selling it to a developer would’ve meant a huge payday for him, no doubt.

Going A Different Route

Of course, Amphoux didn’t go that route. Instead, he maintained a couple of shepherd’s huts on his property and rented them out to locals. He was content with being the largest landowner in the village and giving people a place to live.

Ignoring lucrative offers, he kept a tight hold on his land and kept it in his name. It seems like nothing could have budged him to ever part with it, which is understandable. It’s possible that Amphoux himself inherited the plot from his family and was trying to pass it on to his own, too.

A Generous Landowner

The only issue was Amphoux never did get around to starting his own family. Perhaps that’s why he was so generous to his neighbors and tenants. He only asked for a small fee from those living in his huts. And in turn, they looked out for the elderly man.

That’s how life was for Amphoux for the longest time. He made a living from his tenants’ rent payments, which likely supplemented his income as a farmer following his retirement. But at 67 years old, he was entering old age without any immediate family to care for him more closely.

The Not-So-Eligible Bachelor

Finding love in old age isn’t impossible. There are many stories of those who met their soulmate in their 50s and even well into their 60s. Still, Amphoux didn’t have much luck when it came to romance. And it didn’t help that his unkempt appearance might have turned away any potential partners.

There’s also the issue of his village’s small dating pool. With a community of only 520 people, we reckon it was hard for the not-so-eligible bachelor to look for a match near him. Fate had plans for Amphoux, though.

A City Woman Comes To Town

In the end, Amphoux didn’t have to look far to find love. It came to him with the arrival of a beautiful younger woman named Sandrine Devillard. She came all the way from the French capital of Paris, a seven-and-a-half-hour trip from Puy-St-Pierre.

Apparently, the blonde-haired Devillard was in town looking to buy some properties. She was a real estate agent by profession and specifically had her eyes on Amphoux’s valuable tract of land. She came a long way to be declined, though, as he refused her offers to buy his estate.

Rejection Turns Into A Date

Seeing how steadfast Amphoux was in his rejection of the idea of selling his land, Devillard did the unexpected. She asked the millionaire hermit out for a date, instead! The invitation came as a welcome surprise to Amphoux. It’s been a while since he caught the attention of a woman, let alone someone as glamorous as Devillard.

And so, he accepted her offer to go out, and their romance began. The couple seemed happy as can be despite appearing to be an unlikely pair. Who knew two people from two drastically different backgrounds could fall so in love with each other so quickly?

Too Good To Be True

Given how fast everything happened, Amphoux’s neighbors grew suspicious of his newfound love. One second she was trying to buy off his land. And then the next, she shifted her sights to dating him instead. Things were simply too good to be true!

Soon, Sevillard was branded a gold digger, and the villagers trailed a watching eye on her. They were simply trying to watch out for Amphoux. He was a kind man, too kind even, and they didn’t want him to fall for someone who only wanted him for all the wrong reasons.

Opposites Attract?

From the outside looking in, you’d be inclined to give the couple the benefit of the doubt. Opposites attract, after all, don’t they? Perhaps Amphoux and Devillard’s differences would prove to be the secret weapon to a lasting romance. Hey, it’s happened in romantic movies before!

Being 25 years younger and more worldly, she could have influenced him to go out more and enjoy his riches while he was alive. Meanwhile, he could have taught her the value of living simply without her designer outfits and luxuries. They could have been the perfect match.

Nothing Can Get In The Way Of Love

Thus, Amphoux continued to pursue a relationship with Devillard. That, despite the warnings and concerns of his neighbors. The millionaire hermit had fallen for the Parisienne’s charms. It seemed like nothing could get in the way of their love.

Their courtship consisted of dates spent in Amphoux’s isolated hut. Without electricity or running water, they got to know each other over wine and cold soup. The experience was a far cry from the fancy restaurant dining experience Devillard was used to in Paris. But she, too, seemed to be growing fonder of him by the day.

Trumped Expectations

Perhaps hoping that their romance would fizzle out on its own, the villagers stepped back. If Devillard truly only wanted to con Amphoux out of his land, she wouldn’t last long in Puy-Saint-Pierre. And when she gave up, the millionaire hermit would finally see that her intentions were not pure, they thought.

The couple proved them all wrong. Their connection only grew stronger, and the villagers were left with trumped expectations. Soon, Amphoux was expressing his intentions of spending the rest of his life with Devillard. Their story was getting closer and closer to a fairytale ending.

Popping The Ultimate Question

Sure of his Parisienne lover, Amphoux drew the courage to pop the ultimate question to her. Devillard said yes to the proposal. Their unconventional romance appeared to be turning out a different way than everyone thought it would. But not even their engagement was able to convince some of the villagers.

They were still wary of Devillard’s true intentions. Being married to Amphoux would give her a more legitimate right to his estate. And with prodding, she might still convince him to sell the land as was her original plan. The villagers could not do anything but watch.

The Dreaded Nuptials

With the couple betrothed, the village bated its breath until the date of the wedding they dreaded arrived. Many still saw Devillard as nothing but a gold digger. And so, they were afraid of what she’d do when she becomes Mrs. Amphoux.

The tenants residing in the huts on the millionaire hermit’s land were particularly on edge. They could very well be kicked out of their homes when Devillard decided to take the estate. Their fears were a stark contrast to Amphoux’s happiness, though. In his mind, he was marrying the love of his life.

An Investigation Ensues

With tensions being high in the town of Puy-St-Pierre, we could totally see the villagers being shaken even at the sight of Amphoux’s wedding invitation in the mail. Having that piece of paper in their hands would’ve made things feel more real. They were not alone in their fears.

The news of Amphoux’s impending nuptials reached the ears of Puy-St-Pierre’s mayor Jean-Marius Barnéoud as well. Suspicious of the entire thing, he ended up requesting an investigation to look into the matrimonial intentions of both parties. The prosecutor, however, found nothing wrong with the case.

The Big Day Finally Comes

Amid objections and investigations, Amphoux and Devillard’s nuptials pushed through in September 2011. They exchanged vows in the town’s marriage hall with her wearing a lavish gown and him looking dapper in a suit. Though, the newspaper Aujourd’hui likened the retired farmer to a scarecrow.

At this point, the unusual pair had gotten the attention of the local press. Amphoux and Devillard’s ceremony even resulted in articles written about them, some talking about other things than their union finally becoming official. See, the marriage hall was filled with jeers instead of cheers for the newlyweds that day.

It Was (Almost) A Riot!

Some of the villagers came to the venue to witness the nuptials. And let’s just say they weren’t afraid to let Devillard know what they thought of her. The onlookers whistled and hurled curses at her as Mayor Barnéoud officiated the ceremony.

Things might have even turned into a riot if not for Barnéoud restoring order by slamming his hand on a table. Any bride would have shed tears at that point. But not Devillard. It was one of the most important days of her life, and here were people booing her. Yet, she remained composed throughout the ordeal, as photos show.

What’s Done Is Done

Besides, she emerged the winner that day in her battle against the villagers of Puy-St-Pierre. She and Amphoux were finally married, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Her husband also appeared happy to finally call her his wife after everything they’ve been through.

For the locals, though, they had finally accepted the fact that there was a new Mrs. Amphoux in town. What’s done is done, as the saying goes. All they could do was watch how things would turn out in the long run.

Same Old Gold Digger

While her last name had changed, the villagers’ feelings about Devillard hadn't. In their eyes, she was still a gold digger trying to take advantage of her husband. It also didn’t help that some tenants report unsavory visits from her.

A local told a French newspaper that Devillard came to see the people who lived in Amphoux’s huts and threatened them with eviction. They also said that she claimed to own the land. Safe to say, it seems like she did end up getting what she wanted from the get-go: a stake in Amphoux’s valuable estate.

A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing?

All of these accusations made Devillard look like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Beautiful and sophisticated as she was, the villagers felt like her intentions were the total opposite. To them, she used her charm to dupe her husband into marrying her. But was this really the case?

Of course, there was also the possibility that Devillard had genuine feelings for Amphoux. Stranger couples than them have fallen in love and made it through. And if that’s the case, then we could only imagine how hard it was for them to defend their love to everybody else.

An Unexpected Development

Life went on in Puy-St-Pierre; the newlyweds even arranged to have their honeymoon in Paris. It was bound to be a nice change of pace for Amphoux, who lived a hermit-like life before his wife came. However, he returned home within days of leaving.

When questioned, he said that he hated the city. And he wasn’t lying. An unexpected development came when the couple decided to live apart. Ampoux staying in Puy-St-Pierre and Devillard in the French capital. This raised eyebrows, as expected. Won’t a newly pronounced husband and wife want to spend as much time together?

 There’s Something About Sandrine

With the way things were going, it seemed like the villagers were indeed correct to be wary of the glamorous Parisienne. There was something off about the couple’s living arrangement, and with Devillard herself, too, they thought.

At the end of the day, she was still a real estate agent with a nose for sniffing out valuable properties. The villagers grew more worried for Amphoux as time went on, but there was nothing they could really do. He was old enough to make and stand by his own decisions in life.

Sandrine, The Career Woman

As it turns out, Devillard had many reasons to continue living in Paris, where she was busy running four businesses in the real estate industry. The image of the modern businesswoman, she was determined to make her own living despite being married. We can’t really blame her for wanting to be independent, right?

Besides, the not-so-welcoming attitude of Amphoux’s neighbors was finally started to get to her. Wracking her brain for ideas, she came up with a creative way to prove her love for her husband once and for all.

A Creative Way To Quell Suspicions

Months into their marriage in 2012, Devillard produced a pop song called The Call Of The Sun, complete with a music video. Both she and Amphoux appeared in the production, with him portraying an Alpine woodsman. The video is still up on YouTube to this day and currently has 1.2 million views.

It was shot in a location in Puy-St-Pierre with the help of four directors. Amphoux, who patiently stood in the snow for hours to shoot the video, seemed not to mind participating in his wife’s project. But despite this creative attempt to quell suspicions, the villagers’ opinion of Devillard didn’t change much.

Justifying Their Mismatched Love

Undeterred, Devillard used the song to further justify their mismatched love in the eyes of the public. She told the local press that even though Amphoux was a 'man of the Middle Ages' and she was a 'real Parisian', the two of them had the right to love each other.

As the couple neared their first anniversary, things continued as they were. They seemed content with their long-distance living arrangement. Amphoux even said that some villagers had begun telling him more positive comments about his marriage. Nobody expected the tragic event that happened next.

Things Take A Tragic Turn

One rainy evening in November 2012, things took a tragic turn. Amphoux was riding in a vehicle with two of Devillard’s friends when they veered off the road and fell into a ravine as they made their way to Puy-St-Pierre. The car initially suspended in a bush, plummeted some 328 feet more.

Rescuers soon arrived at the scene and brought the three injured passengers to a medical facility in the nearby commune of Briançon. But while Devillard’s two friends survived, Amphoux later passed away. This news sent shockwaves through his village, and an investigation was opened to find out what happened that night.

Who’s At Fault?

Wanting to see the site of the crash, the villagers visited the ravine en masse. Some workers gathered up the rest of the remnants of the destroyed vehicle. But as the initial shock wore off, the residents of Puy-St-Pierre began asking more questions about the tragic death of their beloved neighbor and landlord.

“Who was at fault here?” they wondered.“How could Amphoux die in a crash when he didn’t even have a driver’s license?” some asked. And it seems like the authorities were curious about this, too, as they turned their sights on Devillard’s friends.

Marcel Is Laid To Rest

Devillard, according to custom, was tasked to arrange her deceased husband’s funeral. But even his memorial didn’t go off without drama. The villagers accused her of trying to keep people out of the service. Some said she didn’t publish his death notice in the paper.

Speaking to the provincial paper, Le Dauphiné, one villager shared that Devillard blamed the local priest Father Bertrand Gournay and the funeral directors for the mix-up. Still, Amphoux’s burial was attended by many of his neighbors, who wanted to pay their final respects as their old friend was laid to rest.

The Grieving Widow

As for Devillard, she looked and played the part of the grieving widow well. Accounts of the funeral mention the glamorous Parisienne wearing an all-black outfit for the event. She even hurled herself towards Amphoux’s grave at one point, the British tabloid the Daily Mirror reported.

The villagers seemed unconvinced by her displays of grief, though. They had a hunch that she had something to do with the millionaire hermit’s untimely passing. They seemed sure that the car accident involved foul play. And their suspicions were only heightened because of what Devillard did next.

Sandrine Makes A Bold Move

Making a bold move, Devillard declared herself the sole heiress to her late husband’s properties. That announcement, understandably, did not sit well with the villagers. Her actions seemed to reveal what they had suspected all along. She was simply after Amphoux’s money. And with him gone, nothing could get in the way of her inheriting his estate.

This spelled bad news for the late millionaire hermit’s tenants. Devillard had threatened them with eviction before. She could easily follow through with the threat without kind Amphoux to stop her. Tensions further escalated when she revealed more details about her plans.

True Colors Begin To Show

Devillard wanted to develop Amphoux’s property and throw all the people living in the huts out of their homes. Although it wasn’t stated exactly what she had in mind, it’s safe to assume that she wanted to take advantage of the land’s location in the Alps, a popular vacation destination.

Her true colors were beginning to show. But even though the villagers saw this coming from a mile away, they didn’t know what to do to stop Devillard’s scheme. She claimed that Amphoux didn’t leave a document instructing people of what to do with his assets. So, by French law, she was entitled to a portion of his properties as his spouse.

The Investigation Reaches A Conclusion

Meanwhile, the investigation into Amphoux’s death was underway. The driver of the doomed vehicle, Claude Ameline, was put on trial for manslaughter and unintentional injury. However, he was later acquitted and let go. The other surviving passenger was not pressed with charges.

It’s worth noting that Ameline, who was around the same age as Amphoux, was the person who introduced the late millionaire hermit to Devillard. A resident of nearby La Salle les Alpes, he also played the go-between role as the pair got to know each other at the beginning of their romance.

If There’s A Will, There’s A Way

Back to the brewing tensions between Devillard and the town of Puy-St-Pierre, the villagers were faced with a losing fight. She had the law on her side and was on the way to become an instant millionaire thanks to Amphoux’s wealth.

If only he had left a will, there would be a way to contest Devillard’s stake in his fortune. This is where our story takes another unexpected twist. As it turns out, Amphoux, the generous man he was when he was alive, kept his neighbors and tenants in mind until the very end.

The Missing Piece Of The Puzzle

Like a vital missing piece of a puzzle, Amphoux’s last will turned up a few months after his passing. It was written on the back of a yellowing envelope, which is probably why it took so long for it to be found. What was important, though, is that it came to light before it was too late.

The document was written by hand and bore Amphoux’s signature. It was later verified to be authentic as the people who knew the millionaire hermit identified his handwriting on the paper. Its contents shook Devillard to the core.

Did Marcel Know All Along?

Amphoux left his huts to the people who were renting them, as his lawyer confirmed. As for any other outbuildings and cash, he named a female cousin as the heir instead of his wife. It was the ultimate act of kindness he could show his neighbors and tenants!

And it appeared to be a total slap in the face for his widow. Could Amphoux have known of Devillard’s intentions all along? We wouldn’t rule that out, for sure. He was a humble man, but he was not clueless. He likely knew what could happen to his assets upon his demise and planned accordingly.

A Twist Of Fate

In a twist of fate, Devillard was left with nothing. It was pretty clear that she was intentionally cut out of the will. The document was reportedly written just shortly before his death in November 2012. Had he wanted her to inherit his fortune, he would’ve certainly stated so.

This devastated Devillard. She was so close to getting what she wanted. And then, the possibility of finally owning Amphoux’s prime piece of land was suddenly yanked straight out of her hands. Determined to follow through with her plans, she contested the document.

The Battle For Marcel’s Fortune

Not one to give up so easily, she fought for her stake of Amphoux’s estate. She claimed that the document that left her out of the inheritance was not in her late husband’s handwriting. What’s more, she said that he had been the victim of an abuse of trust.

Her case was heard in the justice hall of the nearby town of Gap. And so, the battle for Amphoux’s fortune ensued. The prosecutor presiding over the dispute said that evidence of Devillard’s claims must be presented to prove that the late millionaire hermit was indeed duped into creating the document.

The Final Nail In The Coffin

In the end, the prosecutor said that the evidence shown did not prove any abuse of trust in the writing of Amphpoux’s last will. The document's authenticity was upheld, and Devillard ultimately lost her claim to his fortune in 2016. This was the final nail in the coffin for her years-long attempt to take his land.

Devillard didn’t seem to question the verdict. Finally, the villagers of Puy-St-Pierre were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Their homes were saved from the clutches of the widow! What’s more, Amphoux’s properties went to their rightful heirs— just as he intended.