Talulah Riley: Actress, Westworld, and Elon Musk Marriages

Talulah Riley has spent much of the past decade in headlines for her relationships, but her own creative career tells a quieter story. She married actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster in June 2024, and her two novels and HBO role in Westworld show a writer-actress who kept working through the noise. This update gathers what’s verifiable about her career, her financial settlement with Elon Musk, and where things stand now.

Full name: Talulah Jane Riley-Milburn ·
Date of birth: 26 September 1985 ·
Occupation: Actress, novelist ·
Marriages to Elon Musk: 2010–2012, 2013–2016 ·
Notable film/TV: Westworld, Inception, Pride & Prejudice ·
Estimated net worth (2025): $20 million (reported)

Eight key details about Riley, one pattern: they show a career spanning film, TV, and writing, with personal life frequently overlapping with public interest. For more on actresses with similar profiles, see Samara Weaving Biography: Husband, Children & Career and Annabelle Wallis Movies and TV Shows: Complete List.

What happened between Talulah Riley and Elon Musk?

First marriage and divorce (2010-2012)

Riley met Musk in 2008 and married him in 2010 at Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland. The marriage ended in divorce in 2012. Wikipedia records the split as amicable, with Riley later saying Musk was “a very special person.”

Remarriage in 2013

After reconciling, the couple remarried in 2013. The ceremony was held at the same Scottish location. Musk later said he never wanted a divorce and considered Riley his best friend (Rolling Stone, 2017).

Second divorce in 2016

The second divorce was finalized in 2016. Riley cited irreconcilable differences. No children were involved. According to reports, the split was driven by Musk’s extreme work focus and Riley’s desire for a more balanced life (AOL / The Times).

Post-divorce relationship

Both have maintained friendship. Musk attended Riley’s wedding to Brodie-Sangster in 2024. The AOL / The Times article quotes her saying they remain good friends.

The implication: their bond proved more resilient than the marriages themselves.

Why did Elon Musk marry Talulah Riley twice?

Reconciliation after first divorce

After the 2012 divorce, Riley and Musk remained close. They remarried in 2013. In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, Musk called her “my best friend” and said he regretted the divorce.

Shared values and interests

Riley has described Musk as “tingly, exciting” and said she “just liked him a lot” (AOL / The Times). The second marriage reflected a genuine emotional bond.

Absence of a prenuptial agreement

Both marriages were reportedly without a prenup. This became notable during the second divorce, when Riley’s financial settlement was reportedly smaller because she had built her own career by then (AOL / The Times).

The catch: without a prenup, California law shaped the financial outcome.

Did Elon Musk have any kids with Talulah Riley?

No biological children together

Reports confirm Riley and Musk had no children. Musk has 14 children with other partners (including Grimes and Shivon Zilis).

Riley’s role as stepmother

During the marriages, Riley helped care for Musk’s children from his first marriage. She has spoken positively about Musk’s parenting (AOL / The Times).

The pattern: Musk’s family growth continued outside their relationship.

How much money did Talulah Riley get from Elon Musk?

Divorce settlement details

The first divorce reportedly netted Riley about $20 million. The second divorce was smaller because Riley had her own income from acting and writing. The exact figures are not public, but Musk acknowledged the settlement in interviews (AOL / The Times).

No prenuptial agreement implications

Without a prenup, California’s community property laws meant Riley was entitled to a portion of Musk’s assets. The second settlement was reportedly less than the first because of the shorter marriage duration and Riley’s own earnings.

What this means: her career earnings, not just settlements, define her current wealth.

Are Elon Musk and Talulah Riley still friends?

Public statements from both

Riley has called Musk “a very special person” in a 2023 podcast interview (AOL / The Times). Musk said in 2017 that they remain friends. The strongest evidence: Musk attended Riley’s June 2024 wedding to Thomas Brodie-Sangster in England (AOL / The Times).

Continued contact after divorce

Both have avoided public criticism of each other. There is no evidence of animosity.

The consequence: their friendship became a rare post-divorce success story.

For Riley, the path forward is clear: she has built a career outside the shadow of her famous ex-husband, and with a new marriage and continued writing, she seems to have found a quieter but no less meaningful stage. For fans of her acting, the draw is to wait for her next creative move—film, novel, or something else.

For more context on her current marriage, the Thomas Brodie-Sangster biography offers a detailed look at the actor’s career and his relationship with Riley.

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