Everything to Know About Arne Næss Jr. : Meet the Late Father of Actor Evan Ross
In May 1985, fresh off his Everest triumph, Næss took a vacation to the Bahamas. There, mutual friends introduced him to Diana Ross. The chemistry was instantaneous. Næss, unbothered by American celebrity gossip, treated Ross simply as an intriguing, charismatic woman. Ross found solace in his grounded humor and European calm.
Their October 1985 civil ceremony was followed by an elaborate February 1986 religious blessing in Romainmôtier, Switzerland. The international press went wild. Global media dubbed them one of the ultimate power couples of the decade. The pairing merged Motown royalty with European high commerce.
Ross and Næss welcomed two sons: Ross Arne Næss in 1987 and Evan Olav Næss in 1988. Næss introduced the boys to high-altitude skiing, rough camping, and Norwegian nature early. Diana Ross famously told interviewers that Næss was the supreme love of her life. Yet keeping a home across three continents proved grueling. Between his shipping headquarters in Europe and her recording and touring schedule in the United States, the distance widened. The couple officially divorced in 2000, but they maintained a warm parental bond until his death.