After Grigore IV Ghica was removed from the throne, Ştirbei was a candidate for the office in the only elections carried under the Regulations provisions, but renounced his votes in favour of his brother, Gheorghe Bibescu.
He was Gheorghe Ghica's oldest surviving son, born in Constantinople from a relationship he had with Ecaterina Vlasto, a Catholic from Pera.
On 29 August 1922 in Paris, he married princess Alexandre Ghica, with whom he had one daughter, Marie-Élisabeth (wife of Irisarri; died in 2006) and later divorced on 25 March 1931 in order to marry on 31 October 1932 Aliki Diplarakou (Miss Europe of 1930) from whom he was also divorced.