Laura Harrier appears to go Instagram official with controversial art dealer Helly Nahmad with links to Leonardo DiCaprio

Laura Harrier appears to have introduced a new man in her life, and the internet quickly started connecting the dots.

The actress and model marked her birthday with a celebratory Instagram post featuring friends, fashion moments and candid photos from the occasion. Among the images was one that caught particular attention online. Standing beside Harrier was art dealer Helly Nahmad, a figure well known in art world circles and among celebrity socialites.

While Harrier did not explicitly label the post as a relationship announcement, fans and observers quickly interpreted the appearance as a soft launch of a new boyfriend. The timing also raised eyebrows because Harrier’s personal life has remained relatively private since her split from French creative consultant Sam Jarou in 2025.

Nahmad is not just another society figure. He is a member of the wealthy Nahmad family, a dynasty of art collectors and dealers whose galleries have handled major works by artists such as Picasso and Francis Bacon. Nahmad himself founded the Helly Nahmad Gallery in Manhattan and has built a reputation as a high profile art dealer within the global market.

His past, however, has also drawn controversy. In 2013 federal authorities in the United States charged Nahmad with involvement in a large illegal sports betting operation that prosecutors said handled millions of dollars and involved wealthy international clients. Nahmad later pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business and in 2014 received a prison sentence of a year and a day. He ultimately served only a few months in federal custody and was also required to pay fines and forfeit millions of dollars linked to the operation.

Years later, Nahmad’s legal record resurfaced when Donald Trump granted him a full presidential pardon during the final hours of his presidency in January 2021. The decision drew attention because Nahmad had been one of dozens of high profile figures included in the final clemency list.

Despite that history, Nahmad has continued operating in elite art circles and remains connected to wealthy collectors, celebrities and international galleries. He has long been associated with high society events in New York, Europe and the art fair circuit.

Harrier herself has frequently moved in similar cultural spaces. The actress first rose to global attention after appearing in Spider Man Homecoming and later gained critical recognition for her role in BlacKkKlansman. Outside acting she has remained active in fashion and art communities, often attending major gallery openings and international art fairs.

That overlap may explain how the two met. Nahmad is also known to socialise with figures in celebrity and nightlife circles, including friends of Leonardo DiCaprio, which places him within the same social orbit as many Hollywood figures.

For now neither Harrier nor Nahmad has publicly confirmed the relationship.