Elon Musk's Ex-Wife Says He Forgot To Buy Her A Christmas Gift – But When He Realized, He Walked Barefoot In A Snowstorm To Find Flowers

Elon Musk, known for his ambitious ventures and relentless work ethic, once found himself in a very human predicament … he forgot to buy his wife a Christmas present. Talulah Riley, Musk's ex-wife and a British actor, shared the story in The Elon Musk Show, a 2022 BBC documentary exploring the tech entrepreneur’s personal side.

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The couple was living in Boulder, Colorado, at the time, surrounded by "loads and loads of snow," Riley recalled. Christmas had arrived, but one crucial detail had slipped Musk's mind: a gift for his wife. When he realized the oversight, Musk didn't try to hide it. Instead, he admitted, "It's not that I don't love you – I do really, really love you. It's just that my brain is exploding."

For most people, this might have been the end of the story – a missed gift, an apology, maybe a promise to make it up later. But Musk, as Riley described, doesn't conventionally approach problems. That night, he disappeared without a word.

Two hours later, Musk returned, his T-shirt and shorts soaking wet, his bare feet red from the cold. He'd ventured into the Colorado snowstorm, walking through Boulder to find and handpick flowers. "He came back with a little bouquet," Riley said, "and he was like, ‘I just wanted to show you how much I loved you.'"

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The gesture, though improvised, reflected a side of Musk that Riley said is often misunderstood. While his public persona is sometimes seen as detached or unfeeling, Riley described him as deeply emotional. "People think he's emotionless and cold," she explained, "but nothing could be further from the truth."

During this time, Riley explained he was under "incredible stress" and she was worried he would have a heart attack. "I just kept thinking, God, I've got to keep this guy alive," she added. 

Musk has also spoken openly about the extreme struggles he faced during Tesla's early days, even recalling being on the verge of a nervous breakdown in 2008. When Tesla was struggling years later, in 2012, he even had a verbal agreement in place to sell the company to Google, but was able to call it off.

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Riley shared other anecdotes about Musk, illustrating his unique approach to life and relationships. Early in their courtship, he invited her back to his hotel room – not for what she assumed was a romantic gesture, but to show her videos of rockets. "We did get into his hotel room and he just showed me rocket videos," Riley said, laughing.

The couple married twice, from 2010 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2016. Despite their divorces, Riley holds no grudges. She's described Musk as a "great friend" and someone with an unmatched capacity for feeling deeply.

The Christmas gift story is just one moment from a relationship that was anything but ordinary. Musk may forget a holiday now and then, but when he does, he's willing to walk barefoot in the snow to make things right.

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