Elizabeth Taylor Husbands In Order: All 7 Men She Married

Elizabeth Taylor walked down the aisle eight times with seven different men, turning her romantic life into a permanent fixture of twentieth-century pop culture. While her acting talent secured her two Academy Awards, her high-profile romances regularly eclipsed her box office triumphs.

If you want the complete, chronological list without the fluff, Elizabeth Taylor's husbands in order were Conrad Hilton Jr., Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (whom she married and divorced twice), John Warner, and Larry Fortensky.

Examining each marriage reveals how personal choices, public scrutiny, and shifting eras shaped the legendary actress's life from her teenage years in Hollywood until her final marriage in the late nineties.

1. Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr. (1950–1951)

At just eighteen years old, Elizabeth Taylor married hotel heir Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr. at a lavish ceremony orchestrated largely by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The studio funded the wedding as a massive promotional event for her film Father of the Bride. Further insight on this matter has been shared by BBC.

The union unraveled quickly behind closed doors. Hilton's heavy drinking and gambling shocked the young actress, who later stated that she discovered a harsh side of marriage almost immediately after the honeymoon. The couple separated within months, and their divorce was finalized in January 1951, leaving Taylor legally single before her twentieth birthday.

2. Michael Wilding (1952–1957)

Seeking stability after her turbulent first marriage, Taylor wed British actor Michael Wilding, who was twenty years her senior. The age gap provided a calming influence for the young star during a critical transition in her career as she shed child-stardom for mature roles.

They shared two sons, Michael Howard Wilding and Christopher Edward Wilding. As Taylor matured and her star power eclipsed his, the relationship cooled. They grew apart professionally and personally, leading to an amicable divorce in 1957.

3. Mike Todd (1957–1958)

Theater and film producer Mike Todd brought a whirlwind of passion and luxury into Taylor's life. Todd was bombastic, fiercely protective, and deeply devoted to her. They welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth "Liza" Frances Todd, during their brief marriage.

This chapter ended in profound tragedy. In March 1958, Todd's private plane, The Lucky Liz, crashed in New Mexico, killing everyone on board. Taylor was devastated, later describing Todd and Richard Burton as the two great loves of her life. Her grief paralyzed her for months, capturing global headlines and intense public sympathy.

4. Eddie Fisher (1959–1964)

In the wake of Mike Todd's death, singer Eddie Fisher—who had been Todd's best friend—comforted Taylor. Their subsequent affair triggered a massive Hollywood scandal because Fisher was married to America's sweetheart, Debbie Reynolds, at the time.

Public outrage was swift. Studios and fans turned against the couple, labeling Taylor a home-wrecker. Taylor and Fisher married shortly after his divorce was finalized. However, the romance burned out quickly once the initial shared grief and scandal faded. Taylor grew bored, and by the time she filmed Cleopatra, the marriage was effectively over.

5. Richard Burton (1964–1974 and 1975–1976)

No relationship defined Taylor's personal life more than her tempestuous romance with Welsh actor Richard Burton. They met on the set of Cleopatra in Rome, sparking an instant, explosive affair that captivated and scandalized international media, drawing even the Vatican's condemnation.

Their first marriage lasted ten years, characterized by staggering wealth, legendary diamond acquisitions (including the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton Diamond), volcanic public fights, and immense alcohol consumption. They divorced in June 1974, only to realize they couldn't stay apart. They remarried in October 1975 in Botswana, but old tensions resurfaced immediately, leading to a final, permanent divorce in July 1976. Despite the turmoil, they remained deeply attached until Burton's death in 1984.

6. John Warner (1976–1982)

Following her second breakup with Burton, Taylor pivoted away from Hollywood glamour into the political arena. She campaigned heavily for Republican politician John Warner during his successful run for the United States Senate in Virginia.

They married in late 1976. While the match provided security, life as a politician's wife in Washington, D.C., proved suffocatingly dull for a global icon. Taylor struggled with isolation, weight gain, and prescription pill dependency during this period. As Warner's political career consumed his time, they drifted apart, divorcing in 1982. This experience prompted Taylor to enter the Betty Ford Center, successfully conquering her substance abuse issues.

7. Larry Fortensky (1991–1996)

Elizabeth Taylor's final marriage was her most ordinary. She met construction worker Larry Fortensky at the Betty Ford Center, where both were seeking treatment.

They wed in a high-profile ceremony at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch in 1991, though the marriage itself was remarkably quiet compared to her past unions. Fortensky preferred a private life away from paparazzi, which ultimately created friction. They divorced amicably in 1996, though they remained close friends for the rest of Taylor's life, reportedly talking on the phone regularly until she passed away in 2011.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Elizabeth Taylor marry eight times if she only had seven husbands?

Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton twice. They divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, and divorced again in 1976, which brings her total number of wedding ceremonies to eight involving seven distinct men.

Which of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands was her wealthiest?

Mike Todd and Conrad Hilton Jr. both possessed immense fortunes for their respective eras. Hilton came from hotel royalty, while Todd amassed a vast independent fortune as a theatrical producer and film entrepreneur.

Did Elizabeth Taylor have children with all of her husbands?

No. Taylor had children with only three of her husbands: Michael Wilding (two sons), Mike Todd (one daughter), and Eddie Fisher (no biological children together, though Fisher helped raise her children, and she adopted Maria Burton with Richard Burton during their first marriage).

How did Elizabeth Taylor meet her final husband, Larry Fortensky?

They met in 1988 while undergoing rehabilitation at the Betty Ford Center in California, bonding over their shared struggles with addiction before marrying three years later.