What Is Elon Musk’s Wife’s Net Worth and How She Earned It

What is Elon Musk’s wife’s net worth, and how did she earn it? That question opens the door to two different answers, depending on which woman you’re referring to. Elon Musk was married twice to actress and author Talulah Riley, and though they’ve since divorced, she is the only person legally tied to him through marriage. However, he also had a long-term relationship with musician Grimes (Claire Boucher), with whom he shares three children. Both women are high-profile, financially successful individuals, but their wealth has very different origins. Below, we explore the net worth of each woman and how they built their fortunes.

Understanding the Timeline: Who Is “Elon Musk’s Wife”?

When discussing Elon Musk’s wife, it’s important to clarify who is being referenced. Talulah Riley was Musk’s legal spouse—first married to him in 2010, divorced in 2012, then remarried in 2013 before divorcing again in 2016. She is widely acknowledged as his wife in the public and legal sense. On the other hand, Grimes was Musk’s long-term partner from 2018 to 2021 and is the mother of three of his children. Though never officially married, Grimes is often associated with Musk as a “wife figure” due to the depth of their relationship and shared parenthood. This article will cover both women due to their prominent connections to Musk and public interest in their financial status.

Talulah Riley’s Net Worth

Talulah Riley, Elon Musk’s ex-wife, has an estimated net worth between $25 million and $40 million as of 2025. Much of this wealth stems from her two high-profile divorce settlements with Musk. According to legal filings and media reports, Riley received approximately $4.2 million in the first divorce finalized in 2012 and an additional $16 million in the second divorce completed in 2016. These combined settlements—totaling over $20 million—laid the foundation for her financial security.

However, Talulah Riley is far more than a former spouse. She has maintained an active and successful career as an actress, writer, and director. She starred in major films such as Pride & Prejudice (2005), St. Trinian’s (2007), Inception (2010), and appeared in popular TV series including Westworld and Doctor Who. Her roles in high-budget productions likely earned her significant paychecks, while ongoing royalties and syndication deals contribute passive income. In addition to acting, she published her first novel, Acts of Love, in 2016 and directed the film Scottish Mussel, demonstrating a diverse creative portfolio.

Her lifestyle and assets reflect this financial standing. Riley previously owned a Bel-Air home in Los Angeles, sold for nearly $2.4 million in 2017, and reportedly kept luxury items such as high-end jewelry, designer fashion, and a Tesla Roadster following her separation from Musk. Despite the media attention, Riley leads a relatively private life and continues to act, write, and direct—showing that her wealth is not only maintained but actively built through ongoing professional work. While the divorce settlements with Musk contributed greatly to her net worth, her sustained career in entertainment ensures her financial independence remains strong.

Grimes’ Net Worth

Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, is Elon Musk’s former partner and the mother of three of his children. Though never legally married to Musk, Grimes is often mentioned in discussions about his personal life due to the significance of their relationship. As of 2025, Grimes’ estimated net worth sits around $10 million, entirely self-made through her work in music, digital art, and creative technology.

Grimes began her music career in the early 2010s and rose to prominence with her critically acclaimed albums Visions (2012), Art Angels (2015), and Miss Anthropocene (2020). These records, paired with her signature ethereal sound and futuristic visual style, helped her build a dedicated global fanbase. Her income stems from a combination of album sales, streaming royalties, merchandise, and live performances. Streaming alone, through platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, generates hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for artists at her level.

In 2021, Grimes entered the tech-art scene in a major way by releasing a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which sold for nearly $6 million in under 20 minutes. This massive digital art drop catapulted her into a new income bracket and cemented her status as a tech-savvy creative. She also lent her voice to the popular video game Cyberpunk 2077, co-created a podcast focused on AI and futurism, and participated in several fashion and brand collaborations—all of which supplement her music-based earnings.

While Grimes’ net worth may be lower than Riley’s, it is notable for being built entirely on her own terms. She has consistently pushed the boundaries of music, art, and digital innovation. Her fortune reflects not just artistic talent but also business foresight—embracing new platforms and monetization strategies that few musicians have leveraged as successfully.

Comparing Their Financial Profiles

Talulah Riley and Grimes present two very different financial stories. Riley’s net worth, estimated between $25–40 million, is primarily driven by the sizable divorce settlements she received from Musk, supplemented by a stable and visible career in film and television. Her financial base is secure and diversified through creative projects, royalties, and real estate holdings. She has earned additional wealth through her novels, directing, and investments in UK-based projects, further affirming her ability to generate income independently of her past relationship.

Grimes, with an estimated $10 million net worth, stands as a strong example of self-made creative success. Her career is fueled by music royalties, digital art innovation, and collaborative ventures in entertainment and tech. She may not have the financial windfall of divorce settlements, but she compensates with entrepreneurial vision and a broad digital presence. Her NFTs, brand work, and involvement in cultural tech trends position her not only as an artist but also as a business figure adapting to evolving digital economies.

In short, Riley’s wealth is a hybrid of settlement capital and creative success, while Grimes’ net worth is born from innovation, artistry, and adaptability in a rapidly shifting landscape.

Why Estimates Vary

Net worth figures for both women vary widely in public sources due to the private nature of their finances and the speculative modeling often used in celebrity wealth reporting. Talulah Riley’s settlements with Elon Musk are well documented, but her current investments and asset holdings are less transparent. Meanwhile, Grimes’ income fluctuates based on album releases, digital sales, and tech projects—some of which are hard to track or value accurately.

Additionally, differences in reporting—some sites include real estate, royalties, and art holdings; others focus strictly on liquid income—mean that the same person can appear to have very different net worth estimates depending on the source. This is particularly true for creative professionals whose earnings are nontraditional and often episodic.

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