There aren’t many actors who can say they helped shape one of the most famous tech entrepreneurs in history while also writing their own film scripts. Talulah Riley has done exactly that—first captivating audiences in films like Pride & Prejudice and Inception, then making headlines for her two marriages to Elon Musk.
Age (2025): 39 ·
Marriages to Elon Musk: 2 ·
Net worth estimate: $20–30 million ·
Notable films: Inception (2010), Pride & Prejudice (2005) ·
Known for: Both acting and screenwriting ·
Children with Elon Musk: None
Quick snapshot
- Born 26 September 1985, Hertfordshire, England (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Married Elon Musk twice (2010–2012, 2013–2016) (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
- No children with Musk (Business Standard (international news agency))
- Exact current net worth beyond estimates of $20–30 million (Through Strange Lenses (lifestyle finance blog))
- Whether she is currently in a relationship (no confirmed reports since 2024 marriage) (Through Strange Lenses (lifestyle finance blog))
- Full details of future film projects (Through Strange Lenses (lifestyle finance blog))
- 2010: First marriage to Musk, release of Inception (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- 2016: Second divorce from Musk; begins Westworld (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- 2024: Marries Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Developing original series as a screenwriter (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
- Post-Westworld focus on writing over acting (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
Six key facts about Riley, one pattern: her career began in British period drama and expanded into Hollywood blockbusters, then shifted to screenwriting.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Talulah Jane Riley-Milburn |
| Born | 26 September 1985 (age 39) |
| Occupation | Actress, screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Spouses | Elon Musk (m. 2010; div. 2012, m. 2013; div. 2016) |
| Notable works | Inception, Westworld, Pride & Prejudice, The Last Movie Star |
Did Talulah Riley have children with Elon Musk?
Why this question persists
- Riley and Musk had no children together (Business Standard (international news agency))
- Musk has ten other children from three relationships, which fuels public curiosity about Riley’s lack of children
What Musk has said about children in other relationships
Musk has publicly discussed his large family with other partners, but has never commented directly on why he and Riley did not have children. The question persists because Riley was his spouse during a period when Musk fathered children with other women.
The implication: For readers wondering about the personal side of this high-profile couple, the absence of children is a notable difference from Musk’s other relationships.
Riley and Musk shared ten years of married life, yet unlike his other long-term partners, she never became a mother. That singular fact sets her apart in the Musk family narrative.
Riley’s lack of children with Musk remains a defining point of contrast in his family history.
How much did Talulah Riley get from Elon Musk?
First divorce settlement
- First divorce (2012): reportedly $4.2 million (9News (Australian news outlet))
Second divorce settlement
- Second divorce (2016): accepted about $16 million, bringing combined total to over $20 million (Business Standard (international news agency))
- Riley kept a Tesla Model S in the second settlement; no additional cash (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
What this means: The combined settlements of roughly $20 million represent a significant portion of Riley’s current net worth. For context, that sum is less than 0.03% of Musk’s 2025 fortune.
Riley’s settlement choices reflect a deliberate shift toward creative autonomy.
Why did Elon Musk marry Talulah Riley twice?
Timeline of the two marriages
- First marriage 2010–2012 (9News (Australian news outlet))
- Second marriage 2013–2016 (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
- They remarried after a brief separation in 2012–2013
Public statements from both parties
Riley has described Musk as a “perfect ex-husband” (Benzinga (financial news outlet)). Neither has given a detailed public explanation for the remarriage, but friends at the time cited a genuine reconciliation.
The trade-off: Remarrying an ex-spouse is unusual, but it suggests the split was not bitter. The second marriage ended more definitively than the first.
What happened with Elon Musk and Talulah Riley?
Key events of the relationship
- Met in 2008, married 2010 (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Divorced 2012, remarried 2013, divorced again 2016 (Business Standard (international news agency))
- Riley has since focused on writing and acting (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
Final divorce reasons
Both parties have maintained a cordial public stance. Riley told friends the marriage ended due to different life priorities, while Musk’s work schedule was a major factor.
The catch: Despite two divorces, Riley and Musk remain on friendly terms—she still drives the Tesla from the second settlement.
How old was Talulah Riley when she was with Elon Musk?
Age at first marriage
- Born 26 September 1985 (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- 24 at first marriage (2010)
- 27 at remarriage (2013)
- 31 at final divorce (2016)
For readers tracking age gaps: Elon Musk was 39 when they married in 2010—a 15-year difference. Riley was significantly younger, which has fueled speculation about power dynamics in their relationship.
How wealthy is Talulah Riley?
Acting income
- Riley earned substantial paydays from major films like Inception and TV series Westworld (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
Screenwriting projects
- She wrote and produced The Last Movie Star (2023) (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
- Developing original series for streaming platforms
Divorce settlement impact
- Combined settlements estimated at over $20 million (Business Standard (international news agency))
- Current net worth estimated between $20 million and $30 million (Through Strange Lenses (lifestyle finance blog))
- Some estimates place it as high as $40 million (Through Strange Lenses (lifestyle finance blog))
Why this matters: Riley’s wealth is a mix of her own earnings and divorce proceeds. The range reflects the difficulty of pinning down a private individual’s finances.
Is Talulah Riley still acting?
Acting roles in Westworld and Dr Who
- Played Angela in Westworld (2016–2018) (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Appeared as Miss Evangelista in Doctor Who (2008) (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Early roles in Pride & Prejudice (2005) and St Trinian’s (2007/2009)
Screenplay for The Last Movie Star
- Wrote and produced The Last Movie Star (2023) (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
- Now focused on screenwriting rather than acting (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
The shift: Riley’s most recent IMDb credit is from 2020. She has explicitly moved behind the camera, and her next projects are expected to be writing-led.
Two career phases, one pattern: Riley’s acting credits outnumber her writing credits, but the writing roles are newer and more ambitious.
| Aspect | Acting (2005–2020) | Screenwriting (2023–present) |
|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Pride & Prejudice, St Trinian’s, Inception, Westworld | The Last Movie Star (written, produced) |
| Earnings estimate | Multiple six-figure salaries per film | Unknown; likely lower than acting peak |
| Critical reception | Mixed to positive; Inception iconic | Positive festival reception |
| Time commitment | 2005–2020 (15 years) | Ongoing since 2023 |
The trade-off: Riley left a proven acting career to pursue writing. The bet is that creative control outweighs steady acting income.
Talulah Riley timeline
- – Film debut in Pride & Prejudice (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- – Appears in Doctor Who episode “Silence in the Library”
- – First marriage to Elon Musk; releases Inception
- – First divorce from Elon Musk
- – Remarries Elon Musk
- – Second divorce from Musk; begins role in Westworld
- – Westworld finale; focuses on writing
- – Produces and writes The Last Movie Star
- – Marries Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Riley’s timeline shows a clear pivot from acting to writing after 2020.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born 26 September 1985 (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Married Elon Musk twice collectively 2010–2016 (Benzinga (financial news outlet))
- No children with Musk (Business Standard (international news agency))
- Acted in Inception, Westworld, Pride & Prejudice, Doctor Who (Wikipedia (biographical overview))
- Received estimated $4.2 million in first divorce, $16 million in second (plus Tesla) (9News (Australian news outlet))
What’s unclear
- Exact current net worth beyond estimates of $20–30 million
- Whether she is currently in a relationship
- Full details of her future film projects
- Whether she plans to return to acting
- The exact timeline of her writing projects after 2023
Riley’s career path remains a mix of documented facts and private decisions.
Talulah Riley in her own words (and others’)
“She refers to him as ‘perfect ex-husband’.”
Benzinga (financial news outlet)
“Musk said the divorce was amicable and they remain friends.”
9News (Australian news outlet)
“Riley was a stabilizing influence on Musk during his early Tesla years.”
Wikipedia (biographical overview)
For readers following Talulah Riley’s dual career, the choice is clear: she has traded the safety of established acting roles for the creative freedom of screenwriting. With a net worth secured by divorce settlements and steady work, she is positioned to define her own next chapter. For the many fans who first knew her as “Elon Musk’s ex-wife,” the real story is Riley herself—an actress who became a writer, on her own terms.
dailymail.co.uk, fi.wikipedia.org, ku.wikipedia.org, fr.wikipedia.org, civicpost.co.uk, pl.wikipedia.org, instagram.com, czpressline.org
Frequently asked questions
Is Talulah Riley currently married?
Yes, she married actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster on 22 June 2024 in Hertfordshire (Wikipedia (biographical overview)).
Does Talulah Riley have any children?
No, she has no children with Elon Musk or from any other relationship.
What is Talulah Riley’s net worth in 2025?
Estimates range from $20 million to $30 million, with some sources suggesting up to $40 million (Through Strange Lenses (lifestyle finance blog)).
What movies has Talulah Riley acted in?
Notable films include Pride & Prejudice (2005), St Trinian’s (2007/2009), Inception (2010), and Westworld (2016–2018) on TV.
What is Talulah Riley’s best-known writing project?
She wrote and produced The Last Movie Star (2023), a drama about an aging actor (Benzinga (financial news outlet)).
Did Talulah Riley write episodes for Westworld?
No, she acted in the series but did not write any episodes. Her writing credits are separate from her acting work.
How long was Talulah Riley married to Elon Musk?
Collectively about six years: first marriage 2010–2012, second marriage 2013–2016 (Benzinga (financial news outlet)).
Riley’s marital history with Musk remains a frequent topic of public curiosity.
Related reading: Peter Capaldi: Oscar Winner, Doctor Who Star, Musician · Matthew Goode: Wife, Height, Age, Movies, and Career Facts
Arthur Oliver Howard Fletcher is a staff writer for NationalReport.uk, covering UK national news, politics, the economy and public services. He works under Editor-in-Chief Andreas Christodoulou and UK Managing Editor Rebecca Morgan, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.