Elon Musk’s romantic life has always been a topic of public fascination, and his relationship with his second wife, Talulah Riley, stands out as particularly intriguing. The couple’s story, full of unexpected twists and turns, began shortly after Musk’s divorce from his first wife, Justine Musk, in 2008. As described in Ashlee Vance’s biography, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, Musk met Riley at an upscale nightclub in London. The actress also reflected on their first encounter, admitting that she thought Musk seemed nervous, assuming that he didn’t often talk to young actresses. She later discovered that Musk, in fact, had plenty of experience interacting with women. Despite the odd beginning, the two quickly formed a bond.
Their relationship developed quickly, and Musk’s behavior toward Riley won her over. Riley was particularly impressed by how little interest Musk showed in the models being introduced to him at the club, instead focusing solely on her. During a 2012 interview with The Standard, Riley revealed that she had only dated one man before meeting Musk and was still a virgin at the time. Musk’s romantic gestures, including sending 500 roses to her on the set of St. Trinian’s and organizing a surprise birthday greeting from a gospel choir, made a lasting impression, fueling their whirlwind romance.
Musk and Riley’s Unusual Christmas Experiences
Elon Musk proposed to Talulah Riley after only 10 days of dating in 2008, though they didn’t officially marry until 2010 at Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland. In a 2022 documentary The Elon Musk Show, Riley shared an amusing story about their first Christmas as a married couple. Despite Musk’s history of lavish gift-giving, he forgot to buy Riley a present that year. Musk awkwardly explained that his brain was “exploding” from work and stress but assured Riley that he truly loved her. The couple was stuck in their Colorado home due to heavy snow, but Musk braved the weather to find a bouquet of flowers for his wife, an effort Riley appreciated. However, she humorously teased Musk about his oversight by gifting him a stocking full of coal the following year.
Despite this lighthearted moment, the couple’s Christmases together were filled with both joy and challenges, including spending holidays with Musk’s children and a Labrador puppy at the luxurious Skibo Castle in Scotland.
Their Bizarre Reconciliation After Their Split
In January 2012, Elon Musk announced via Twitter (now X) that he and Riley had separated. Musk described their split as a result of growing apart but expressed that he would always love her. After a six-month separation, they surprisingly rekindled their relationship and remarried in 2013. Riley, in a 2022 interview with The Independent, explained that despite the odd nature of their on-again, off-again relationship, they both felt it made sense to get remarried. “We were saying, ‘This is my husband,’ ‘This is my wife,’ ‘Oh, wait, no, we’re not that anymore,’” she said, admitting that their decision to remarry felt more like a natural habit than a necessity.
However, their second marriage was not without its struggles. In 2014, Musk filed for divorce on New Year’s Eve, only to withdraw the filing seven months later. They tried a six-month trial separation before ultimately parting ways for good in 2016.
Talulah Riley’s Willingness to Reconcile Again
Following their final split in 2016, Riley expressed an openness to the possibility of reconciling with Musk. In a 2016 interview with the Daily Mail, she mentioned that although she was moving forward in her life, she still believed in the concept of marriage and considered Musk one of her best friends. Their bond remained strong, with Musk emotionally supporting Riley and even providing substantial financial settlements after their divorces. Riley walked away with $4.2 million after their first divorce and a whopping $16 million after their second. She defended Musk in the media, stating that the public often misunderstood him. In a 2024 interview with The Times, Riley confessed that she was unable to be unbiased when speaking about Musk due to her enduring love for him.
Musk’s Decision to Buy Twitter May Have Been Influenced by Riley
In April 2022, Musk began his infamous bid to purchase Twitter for $44 billion. It was later reported that Talulah Riley may have influenced his decision. She sent Musk text messages expressing her frustration with the platform’s issues, including the suspension of the Babylon Bee account and concerns about “woke-ism” on Twitter. Riley even texted Musk, asking him to “buy Twitter and then delete it.” These texts, and her strong opinions about the platform, could have played a role in Musk’s decision to acquire Twitter.
In 2020, Riley also defended Musk when rumors spread about his involvement with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking. Riley took to Twitter to dispel these rumors, clarifying that she had never met Maxwell and was 22 when she first met Musk.
Other Strange Aspects of Their Relationship
The unusual dynamics of Musk and Riley’s relationship were apparent from the start. After their first meeting in 2008, Riley called her father to tell him about her date with Musk, only to be met with disapproval. Riley’s father quickly discovered that Musk was still married to Justine Musk and had five children with her, leading him to warn his daughter that she was involved with a “playboy.” Despite his concerns, Riley decided to continue seeing Musk after confirming that his marriage had ended.
Another odd aspect of their relationship was the significant age gap—Musk was 14 years older than Riley. However, Riley later explained that she didn’t mind the age difference, attributing it to being an “only child.”
Elon Musk and Talulah Riley’s relationship was undoubtedly strange, filled with swift courtships, reconciliations, and bizarre moments. Despite the unconventional nature of their romance, Riley has always spoken fondly of Musk, and their connection remains an intriguing part of Musk’s complex personal life. Whether or not they ever reunite remains to be seen, but their relationship continues to captivate public interest.
