Answer: Elizabeth Taylor married eight times
Elizabeth Taylor was married eight times to eight different partners between 1950 and 1991. Her unions spanned just under four decades and included actors, producers, and designers such as Conrad Hilton Jr., Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton, John Warner, François Reichenbach, and Larry Fortensky. Below we break down each marriage, the years, and the context that frame her relationship history in a clear, factual sequence.
Overview of Elizabeth Taylor's marital timeline
Taylor’s marriages are best understood as a sequence of partnerships rather than overlapping chapters. Her early unions reflected Hollywood-era romances and quick celebrity marriages; later bonds formed amid personal history and public scrutiny. The table that follows captures the core attributes of each marriage for quick reference. Subsequent sections explore each relationship with verified dates, partners, and duration where documented.
Fact table: Elizabeth Taylor's marriages at a glance
| Marriage number | Partner | Years married | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conrad Hilton Jr. | 1950–1951 | Brief marriage, early career |
| 2 | Michael Wilding | 1952–1957 | Longer first marriage, two sons |
| 3 | Mike Todd | 1957–1959 | Dramatic honeymoon plane crash; his death |
| 4 | Eddie Fisher | 1959–1964 | Noted public and media attention |
| 5 | Richard Burton | 1964–1974 | First marriage, high-profile union |
| 6 | John Warner | 1976–1982 | Later Hollywood marriage |
| 7 | François Reichenbach | 1981–1982 | Short marriage, separation quickly |
| 8 | Larry Fortensky | 1991–1996 | Final marriage, ended in divorce |
Conrad Hilton Jr. (1950–1951)
Taylor’s first marriage took place in 1950 when she was 18 and Hilton Jr. was in his early 20s. The marriage was widely covered but short-lived, ending in divorce the following year. This early union illustrated the speed and scrutiny that often surrounded celebrity weddings in that era. Details about how the couple met and the exact grounds for the divorce are part of the public record but rarely elaborated beyond the timeline itself.
Michael Wilding (1952–1957)
Wilding, a British actor, became Taylor’s second husband. The marriage lasted five years and produced two sons, Christopher and Michael. This period is often cited as one of relative stability compared with some of her other marriages, though it also ended in divorce amid personal and professional changes. The family dynamic during these years drew considerable media attention given Taylor’s star power and expanding family.
Mike Todd (1957–1959)
Producer Mike Todd married Taylor in 1957, only for the union to be cut short by his death in a 1958 plane crash. Todd was known for high-energy projects and extravagant productions, and his relationship with Taylor remained intense and public. The sudden nature of his passing profoundly affected her personally and influenced her approach to future relationships, adding a layer of public grief to her private life narrative.
Eddie Fisher (1959–1964)
Fisher, a singer, became Taylor’s fourth husband after her marriage to Todd ended by death. Their relationship attracted immense media coverage and coincided with some of her most prominent film work. The marriage ended in divorce amid personal disclosures and public judgment, contributing to ongoing conversations about celebrity privacy and media ethics. The fallout was widely discussed in entertainment reporting of the time.
Richard Burton (1964–1974)
Arguably Taylor’s most high-profile union, her marriage to actor Richard Burton captivated audiences and tabloids alike. The couple, first married in 1964, divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, then divorced again in 1976. This on-again, off-again relationship became emblematic of both their professional synergy and personal volatility. Their joint appearances and joint work in films kept them in the public eye like few other Hollywood pairs.
John Warner (1976–1982)
Warner, a former naval officer, brought a very different background into Taylor’s life. Their marriage lasted six years and included periods of relative calm as well as intense public disputes. The later years of this relationship were often marked by legal and property matters in the press, reflecting how celebrity divorces could extend well beyond the marriage itself.
François Reichenbach (1981–1982)
A French documentary filmmaker, Reichenbach married Taylor in 1981. The marriage was brief, lasting roughly a year, and was overshadowed by health and lifestyle differences. Public coverage remained modest compared with her earlier unions, though it remained part of the broader narrative of her relational history.
Larry Fortensky (1991–1996)
Taylor’s final marriage was to Fortensky, a construction worker, in 1991. The ceremony was notably private, occurring while she was already dealing with significant health challenges. The marriage ended in divorce in 1996, and details about their later interactions remained largely private. This last union concluded a sequence of high-publicity bonds that collectively defined much of her personal story in the media.
Frequently asked questions
- How many husbands did Elizabeth Taylor have? She had eight husbands, spanning from 1950 to 1991.
- Which of her marriages lasted the longest? Her marriage to Michael Wilding lasted five years (1952–1957), one of the longer unions.
- Did she marry any of her co-stars? Yes, she married Richard Burton, her co-star, twice, and Eddie Fisher, who was previously married to actress Debbie Reynolds.
- Were any of her marriages widely televised? No. The 1991 wedding to Larry Fortensky was notably private, though earlier marriages received substantial press coverage.
- What influenced the frequency of her marriages? A combination of personal relationships, career timing, cultural context, and her health circumstances shaped the pace and nature of her unions.