The Fast and Furious Star’s Heartwarming Gesture for a Couple Shopping for an Engagement Ring
A couple shared a touching story about a celebrity who made their engagement ring shopping experience unforgettable. In 2004, Kyle and Kristen Upham were engaged and visiting a jewelry store in Santa Barbara.
As they browsed the rings, another customer unexpectedly joined them in their quest for the perfect piece. Kyle was preparing for his second tour of duty in Iraq, and they wanted something special before he left.
The stranger provided suggestions, encouraging them to explore more expensive options, while Kyle was focused on staying within their budget. “I noticed someone else in there, but didn’t think much of it,” Kyle recalled in a 2013 CBS interview. “We started looking at rings, and he kept saying, ‘Go bigger,’ while I was insisting, ‘No, look at the prices.’”
Although the couple left the store empty-handed and feeling somewhat disheartened, they later received a delightful surprise. They discovered that the helpful mystery shopper was none other than Paul Walker, the beloved star of the Fast and Furious franchise.
“When we were talking, we exchanged names and discussed what we each did,” Kyle recalled. Kristen added, “When he learned that Kyle had just returned from Iraq, I remember the look on his face—it was like he transformed.”
After leaving the store, they received a call from a salesperson asking them to come back.
Kristen described the moment: “One of the ladies came out holding a bag and simply said, ‘Here’s your ring.’ I think both of our mouths dropped.” She continued, “To this day, it’s the most generous thing anyone has ever done for me.”
Initially, the couple believed the store staff had conspired to gift them the ring. It wasn’t until later that they recalled the mystery shopper, Paul Walker. Their suspicions were confirmed when a clerk at the store shared the details with CBS.
Irene King was working that day and recalled her colleague mentioning that Paul Walker was in the shop while Kyle and Kristen were browsing for rings. “She saw something she really liked, but he said, ‘Honey, I can’t afford that,'” King told CBS in 2013.
She continued, “He [Walker] called the manager and said, ‘Umm, the ring that those people are looking at—put it on my tab.’ Shortly after that, he just left.”
The store informed Kyle and Kristen that the ring was an anonymous gift, keeping the secret for ten years. They shared their story, along with King, after Walker’s tragic death in a car crash in 2013.
“When we pass down the ring through generations, there will always be a story to tell,” Kyle said.
Kristen added, “His real life speaks volumes about his character. He truly put his money where his mouth is and did good in this world.”