Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton: Married Twice, Divorced Twice — The Greatest Love Affair in Hollywood History

What Happened

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's affair began on the set of 'Cleopatra' in 1962, while both were married to other people. The scandal was so enormous that the Vatican condemned their relationship as 'erotic vagrancy.' They each divorced their spouses and married in 1964, beginning a turbulent decade of extravagant living, legendary fights, and some of cinema's finest performances together.

Their lifestyle was staggering. Burton gave Taylor some of the world's most famous jewels, including the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond and the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton Diamond. They traveled with an entourage, owned homes in Switzerland, Mexico, and London, and reportedly spent $1 million per month on their lifestyle. But alcohol, jealousy, and explosive tempers destroyed the marriage. They divorced in June 1974.

Remarkably, they remarried in October 1975 in Botswana. The second marriage lasted only nine months before they divorced again in July 1976. Burton later wrote that Taylor was 'the only woman I ever truly loved,' while Taylor called him 'the love of my life.' Their relationship became the archetype of the passionate, destructive Hollywood romance.

The legal complexity was extraordinary: two marriages, two divorces, properties in multiple countries, jewelry worth tens of millions, and ongoing financial entanglements. Taylor kept the famous jewels — Burton had given them as gifts, making them her separate property. The Swiss and Mexican properties were divided across both proceedings. The Taylor-Burton saga remains the ultimate cautionary tale about remarrying an ex-spouse without addressing the underlying issues.

Legal Breakdown: Prenuptial Agreements

What This Means for Your Divorce