Buftea became a favorite hangout of the Romanian elite from 1909, but Barbu lost Dărmănești to George and his wife, Elisabeta "Lysbeth" Băleanu; they rebuilt it using the architectural talents of Nicolae Ghica-Budești. A curator of the Royal Estates upon Ioan Kalinderu's death, the "White Prince" was famous as the lover of Queen Marie of Romania, and alleged father of Princess Ileana. He also had a friendly relationship with Marie's husband, now King Ferdinand, whom he reportedly convinced to side with the Entente Powers and join forces with them in the war of 1916. The wartime split the brothers Știrbei: before his death from typhus in December 1917, George supported the rogue Conservative faction formed by Marghiloman and Lupu Kostaki, and favored the Central Powers.