Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton divorced after 10 years, 3 months of marriage. The settlement was reportedly about $1M. See the full timeline.
Figures are reported estimates. Last updated Oct 2026.
They divorced, remarried, then divorced again. Hollywood's ultimate love saga.
Elizabeth Taylor, the film star who won two Academy Awards, and Richard Burton, the Welsh stage and film actor, met on the set of Cleopatra in 1962 and began a love affair that became one of the most famous scandals of the era. Both were married to other people at the time. They married on 15 March 1964 in Montreal, in what was Taylor's fifth marriage and Burton's second. Together they starred in many films, including Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, for which Taylor won an Oscar.
Taylor was the first actress to earn $1 million for a film, for Cleopatra in 1963, and Burton was one of the leading actors of his generation. Together they earned large fees, and their private lifestyle included expensive jewelry, such as the 69-carat Cartier-Burton diamond that Burton bought for Taylor in 1969. They also owned a private jet, a yacht and houses around the world. Much of their wealth was spent on a lavish lifestyle.
The couple married in 1964 and divorced in June 1974, after ten years. They then reconciled and remarried in October 1975 in Botswana, but the second marriage lasted only until 1976. Taylor later married the American politician John Warner, and Burton married Suzy Hunt and then Sally Hay. Burton died in 1984 at the age of 58. Taylor died in 2011.
The divorce settlement is not well documented, and the figure of about $1 million often seen in lists is an estimate. The couple divided their property, which included jewelry, art and houses, and reached an agreement without a long court dispute. They remarried soon afterwards, so the divorce was in practice a temporary break. Their second divorce in 1976 was also settled quickly.
The sum is modest by modern standards, and the reason it appears in lists is the fame of the couple. The marriage was long and both partners earned high fees, but they were also famous for spending heavily, so there was less to divide than might be expected. Taylor's jewelry collection, which she owned, was a major part of her assets.
Taylor continued her career in film and later became a pioneering activist for AIDS research, founding the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985. She also built a successful perfume business, beginning with White Diamonds in 1991. Her jewelry collection was sold at auction by Christie's in 2011 for more than $115 million. Burton's career continued until his death.
The Taylor and Burton marriage is one of the most celebrated in Hollywood history, and the divorces are among the earliest entries on this list. In terms of money, they were small, but their cultural importance is large. They anticipated the modern celebrity couple whose relationship is a public spectacle, as in the case of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
The couple married each other twice. Burton gave Taylor the Krupp diamond, which she wore for many years. Taylor was married eight times to seven husbands. The $1 million figure is an estimate.
Richard Burton's reported settlement was about $1 million.
They married in 1964 and divorced in 1974, a marriage of roughly 10 years.
No prenuptial agreement was reported.
Reported assets include: Cash, jewellery, film royalties.
The sum is modest by modern standards, and the reason it appears in lists is the fame of the couple. The marriage was long and both partners earned high fees, but they were also famous for spending heavily, so there was less to divide than might be expected.