Elon Musk, the billionaire mastermind behind Tesla and SpaceX, has always been known for living life at full throttle, whether launching rockets or navigating his famously complex love life. One of the more unusual chapters in Musk's romantic history involves actress Talulah Riley, whom he married and divorced not once but twice, eventually paying her over $20 million in settlements.
Despite the public drama of their on-again, off-again relationship, Riley and Musk have managed to maintain an extraordinary friendship, with Musk even attending her third wedding in 2024.
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The story began in 2008 when a recently divorced Musk met Riley in a London bar. Their connection was instant. Within 10 days, the couple was engaged and two years later, they married in a grand ceremony at Scotland's Skibo Castle.
Fireworks lit up the sky as the couple celebrated their union in the same cathedral where Madonna once had her son baptized. But the marriage was intense and short-lived like much of Musk's life. By 2012, they were divorced. Musk announced the breakup on social media, writing, "It was an amazing four years. I will love you forever. You will make someone very happy one day."
Yet, the story didn't end there. The pair reconciled in 2013 and decided to remarry. Riley later explained their decision, saying it felt odd to be together without the formalities of marriage after being married. "It was like a habit," she said in a July 2022 interview with The Independent. But by 2016, they were divorced for a second and final time. Riley, however, had no regrets, calling Musk the "perfect ex-husband" and describing their bond as deeply loving and supportive despite the romantic split.
During their time together, Riley embraced Musk's extraordinary world, stepping into the chaos of rockets, electric cars and life with his five children from his first marriage. She clarified that her life wasn't confined to trophy-wife clichés, describing her experience as a stimulating family effort where everyone, including Musk's kids, played a part in the whirlwind of innovation around him.
Their second divorce settlement in 2016 granted Riley $16 million, following the $4.2 million she received after their first split, bringing the total to over $20 million. Despite the financial agreements, the two remained close and Riley continued to champion Musk publicly, even urging him to buy Twitter in a series of private messages. She saw him as an entrepreneur, trusted confidant and lifelong friend.
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In 2024, Riley married actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, with Musk present as a guest at the wedding. In an interview, Riley refused to rank her multiple marriages, saying each was equally meaningful in its own way.
In an August 2024 interview with The Times, she was asked why her view of him seems so different from the public's often critical perception. She responded, "Well, you know more than anyone how what we read in the mainstream media is not necessarily an absolute truth." She compares it to "kayfabe," a wrestling term for a staged performance where everyone buys into the illusion. So, does that mean we aren't seeing the real Musk? Riley reflects, "I loved/love the guy, so I'm incredibly subjective in my opinion, cannot be unbiased and shouldn't be expected to be either. I'm sure, well … You know what being in love is, right?"
For all the ups and downs, Musk's enduring friendship with Riley stands as a testament to their unusual but lasting connection. It proves that even amid the chaos of billion-dollar empires and high-profile divorces, some relationships transcend convention.
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