Overview of Elizabeth Taylor’s Marital History
Elizabeth Taylor was married eight times to seven different partners. Her spouses included actors, producers, and a hotel executive. This article lists each husband in chronological order, the dates of their marriages, and core facts about each partnership to provide a reliable reference for her personal life.
Why Marital Details Matter in a Public Biography
For historical figures, precise records of relationships help separate verified information from rumor. With Elizabeth Taylor, fragmented timelines and sensational headlines have sometimes blurred the facts. This piece focuses on documented marriages, using widely reported and archival sources to clarify who her husbands were, when she was married to them, and what is reliably known.
Richard Burton: The First and Most Famous Husband
Richard Burton was Taylor’s first husband. Their first marriage lasted from 1964 to 1974, a highly publicized period that included both intense media attention and reconciliation after a highly publicized divorce. They remarried in 1975, making Burton both her first and second spouse. Key milestones include their initial meeting on the set of Cleopatra and joint philanthropic efforts later in life.
Marriage 1: 1964–1974
Their first wedding took place in 1964 amid extraordinary publicity. They had two children together, including actress Kate Burton. This period included career highs for both and the kind of intense public scrutiny that contributed to their split in 1974.
Marriage 2: 1975–1976
They remarried in 1975, but the reconciliation proved short-lived. They divorced again in 1976, though they maintained a close friendship until Burton’s death in 1984.
| Husband | Years Married to Elizabeth Taylor | Children Together | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Burton | 1964–1974; 1975–1976 | 2 (Kate Burton, Maria Burton) | Two ceremonies; highly publicized union; separated 1974, remarried 1975, divorced 1976 |
| Mike Todd | 1957–1958 (until his death) | 0 | Died in a plane crash in 1958; marriage lasted about two years |
| Eddie Fisher | 1959–1964 | 0 | Married after her divorce from Todd; later divorced |
| John Warner | 1976–1982 | 0 | British politician and businessman; divorced |
| Larry Fortensky | 1991–1996 | 0 | Married at a private estate near Neverland; divorced after years apart |
| John Taylor | 1971–1972 (brief marriage) | 0 | Often confused with John Warner; brief fling sometimes misreported as marriage |
| Mario Franchi | 1966–1967 | 0 | Brief marriage to an entertainer; annulled in 1967 |
| Joshua Powell | 2008 (never completed) | 0 | Engagement in 2008, never married |
Brief Profiles of Other Husbands
Mike Todd (m. 1957–1958, until his death)
Producer Mike Todd was one of Elizabeth Taylor’s early husbands. Their marriage ended with his death in a plane crash in 1958. Though short-lived, it was a significant chapter in her early public life.
Eddie Fisher (m. 1959–1964)
Fisher was a singer whose marriage to Taylor created major media headlines. Their union followed her marriage to Mike Todd and preceded her long partnership with Richard Burton.
John Warner (m. 1976–1982)
British businessman and former politician John Warner married Taylor in the mid-1970s. This period came shortly after her remarriage to Richard Burton ended. They divorced in 1982.
Larry Fortensky (m. 1991–1996)
Fortensky married Taylor in 1991 at a ceremony held at her Neverland estate. They lived separately for much of the marriage and divorced in 1996.
Note on Other Names
Occasionally, names such as John Taylor or Mario Franchi are mentioned alongside Taylor’s marital history. John Taylor is often confused with John Warner; Mario Franchi was an entertainer she married briefly. Joshua Powell was the subject of engagement rumors in 2008 but never married her.
Separating Documented Facts From Rumors
Over decades, media coverage has sometimes exaggerated or conflated relationships. Some reported marriages never occurred; others were engagements or brief flings. Reliable sources include marriage certificates, reputable biographies, and interviews from trusted outlets. When a name appears frequently but lacks official records, it is likely a case of mistaken identity or rumor.
Common Misconceptions to Clarify
- She was married to John Taylor: This usually refers to John Warner; Taylor was never married to anyone named John Taylor.
- She married Joshua Powell: She was engaged to Powell in 2008, but the marriage did not happen.
- Mario Franchi was a long-term partner: The marriage was brief and ended in annulment within a year.
Summary
Elizabeth Taylor’s marital history involves seven husbands across eight marriages, with Richard Burton being the most prominent. Documented timelines, children, and legal status clarify her personal life, while common misconceptions are best addressed through verified records.
FAQ
Reader questions
How many times was Elizabeth Taylor married and to how many people?
Elizabeth Taylor was married eight times to seven different individuals.
Who was her longest marriage?
Her longest marriage was to Richard Burton, spanning parts of 1964–1974 and 1975–1976, for a combined total of approximately 11 years across two unions.
Did she have children with all of her husbands?
She had two children with Richard Burton and no children with her other husbands.
Was she legally married to anyone after Larry Fortensky?
No. Following her divorce from Fortensky in 1996, she did not legally marry again.
Which husband was she with at the time of her death?
She was not married at the time of her death in 2011. Her last legal marriage ended with Larry Fortensky in 1996.