Elon Musk's Unconventional Romance: A Look Into His Relationship with Talulah Riley.
Elon Musk’s journey in both business and love has never followed the conventional route. From founding SpaceX and Tesla to courting controversy, his personal life has been equally unconventional. In a BBC documentary, his ex-wife Talulah Riley revisited their early romance, offering a glimpse into the eccentric side of Musk. While one might expect a romantic evening to include a candlelit dinner or a stroll in the park, Musk’s idea of a date was quite different.
Riley recalled a moment when Musk asked her to his hotel room, not for the usual reasons but to watch “rocket videos.” At first, she assumed it was a metaphor, but Musk was being quite literal. “I remember one evening he said, ‘Would you like to come back to my hotel room so we can look at rocket videos?’ I said, ‘Hmm … OK, yeah.’ And we did get into his hotel room, and he did just show me rocket videos,” Riley reminisced with a smile.
Musk’s obsession with space exploration has been an enduring part of his identity, but it didn’t stop Riley from being drawn into his world. Their relationship moved at an unprecedented speed. “It all happened very fast,” Riley admitted in a 2014 CBS interview. “We were engaged after, I think, sorta two weeks of knowing each other.” At just 22, she described Musk as “very charming” and the “most interesting and eccentric person” she had ever met. In 2010, they married, but after two years, they divorced. Yet, Musk’s persistence led them to remarry in 2013, only to divorce again in 2016.
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Despite their romantic separations, Riley always spoke highly of Musk. She called him the “perfect ex-husband” and noted that their relationship remained supportive. She wasn’t a passive observer in Musk’s high-powered world. Riley took an active role, even helping care for his five children from his first marriage. “It wasn’t like I was stuck in a mansion in Bel Air like a trophy wife,” she explained.
Their divorces came with substantial financial settlements — $4.2 million after the first split and $16 million after the second, totaling over $20 million. Nevertheless, the two remained close, with Riley even privately urging Musk to follow through with his purchase of Twitter.
Now remarried to actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Riley continues to defend Musk, even when the public perception of him is far from positive. In an interview with The Times in August 2024, Riley explained her differing views on Musk’s character. She questioned mainstream media portrayals, drawing a comparison to "kayfabe" in wrestling — a term used for scripted performances. While she didn’t confirm if Musk’s persona is a staged act, Riley’s affection for him remained evident. “I loved/love the guy, so I’m incredibly subjective in my opinion,” she acknowledged.
Elon Musk’s romantic relationships have been as unpredictable and publicized as his business ventures. His personal life has often made headlines, particularly given his stature as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Musk’s relationships are frequently scrutinized, with his eccentric behavior and frequent twists in his love life providing ample fodder for media outlets. As with his companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has rejected conventional norms, and this rejection extends to his personal relationships. His intense work ethic, coupled with his commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology, has shaped his personal and professional spheres.
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Musk’s unconventional approach to both his businesses and personal relationships highlights a broader trend in the modern tech world, where work-life balance seems secondary to innovation and ambition. Many prominent figures in Silicon Valley, like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos, have similarly had public and unconventional relationships, drawing parallels between their personal lives and larger-than-life careers. However, Musk stands out in part due to his highly publicized romantic life and his penchant for media controversy.
Looking forward, Musk’s relationships may continue to be a topic of public fascination. As he pushes forward with SpaceX’s missions to Mars, his personal life will likely remain under scrutiny. Given his drive and desire to be at the center of world-changing enterprises, Musk's romantic relationships may only become more unconventional and even more of a media spectacle in the future. For Riley, Musk may be the man who reshaped her life, both professionally and personally, and her ongoing defense of him reflects her unique perspective on one of the world’s most enigmatic figures.
Talulah Riley: Biography
Talulah Jane Riley-Milburn, born on 26 September 1985 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, is a British actress, writer, and director known for her roles in films like Pride & Prejudice (2005), Inception (2010), and the St Trinian's series. She has also appeared in the popular HBO series Westworld (2016–2018) and the 2022 FX series Pistol. Riley was raised as the only child of Una Riley, a businesswoman, and Doug Milburn, a former head of the National Crime Squad.
Educated at prestigious schools including Cheltenham Ladies' College and Haberdashers' Girls' School, Riley went on to study Natural Sciences at the Open University while pursuing her acting career. She began her career with early roles in British TV series such as Poirot (2003) and Doctor Who (2008). Her stage credits include a debut in The Philadelphia Story (2005) and a role in Summer and Smoke (2006).
Riley is also an accomplished writer, having authored her debut novel Acts of Love (2016) and The Quickening (2022). Beyond acting, she directed and starred in Scottish Mussel, a film based on a story by her father.
In her personal life, Riley was married twice to Elon Musk, first in 2010, then reconciling in 2013 before divorcing in 2016. She later married actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster in 2024.
