The “Piano Man” Billy Joel’s personal life has always been as interesting as his music, especially regarding marriage and relationships.
Across his several marriages, tabloid headlines have always followed him during his ups and downs. In 2015, he tied the knot for the fourth time to the American equestrian Alexis Roderick.
However, none of his relationships have sparked the same level of intrigue and controversy, at many times, as his first trip down the aisle.
Suppose you want to learn more about his marriage with his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Weber. In that case, this guide will cover everything you need to know, including how their relationship started and fell through. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Who Is Elizabeth Ann Weber?
Elizabeth Weber is an American set dresser and business manager, best known for being Billy Joel’s first wife.
Although her relationship with the world-renowned pianist didn’t last, she had a lasting impact on him. He often referenced her in his “Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography” autobiography.
Despite her relationship with Billy Joel, Elizabeth Weber has always been an elusive figure who remains a mystery to the public, so here’s a brief look at what’s known about her.
Early Life and Family
Unfortunately, not much is known about the life of Elizabeth Ann Weber before she came into Billy Joel’s life.
For example, it’s widely established that she was born in New York in 1949, meaning she should be 82 by the end of 2024. However, her exact birthday was never revealed to the public.
Although I couldn’t find any information about her early life and education, she has a brother called “Frank,” who was also affiliated with Billy Joel as his business manager during the 1980s.
Career
Elizabeth Weber spent most of her childhood in New York and even received her degree from New York University, although the information about her field of study remains unknown.
According to her page on IMDB, Elizabeth Weber had a career as an on-set dresser and worked on various movies and TV shows, including The Purge: Election Year and Species II.
She also briefly worked as Billy Joel’s business manager before recommending her brother to take her place.
Past Relationships
Since Elizabeth Ann Weber wasn’t famous for any reason other than her relationship with the renowned pianist, there’s not enough information about her romantic life.
That being said, she was previously married to a drummer and music producer called Jon Small, who used to work with Billy Joel back in the day.
Her Relationship With Billy Joel
Now that I’ve covered all the available information about Elizabeth Weber’s personal life before Billy Joel, here’s how their relationship went.
How They Met Each Other?
Billy Joel’s relationship with Elizabeth Ann Weber was far from your typical fairytale encounter, steeped in controversy before it began.
As previously established, when Elizabeth Weber met Billy Joel for the first time, she was already married to his previous bandmate and music producer, Jon Small.
Billy Joel even wrote about her unique and outspoken personality and her intelligence, which attracted him to her.
Sparks flew immediately between Billy and Elizabeth, leading to a scandalous affair as the couple started secretly dating while she was still married.
Marriage
Despite their attempts to keep their relationship a secret, both the media and her husband caught wind of their affair. As a result, her husband finally divorced her, which paved the path for Billy Joel to marry her on the 5th of September 1973.
However, the controversy of their beginnings followed them into the marriage. The public’s scrutiny, coupled with the tension from Billy’s ex-bandmate, put much strain on their relationship.
Many media outlets and newspapers discussed Weber’s intentions behind marrying Billy Joel, claiming she was only in it for the money.
Surprisingly, Elizabeth didn’t help suppress the rumors, as she rarely tried to hide her intentions to seek financial gain from her husband’s career and even held publishing rights to some of his works during their time together.
One notable example was her response to “Just the Way You Are,” a song Billy wrote for her as a birthday present. According to a 2015 report by the Washington Post, her reaction to the heartfelt gift was about receiving publishing rights rather than an emotional tribute.
Divorce
As previously established, Elizabeth was heavily interested in Joel’s wealth rather than being with him. She even made him hire her brother Frank as his business manager.
Weber and Joel’s relationship officially ended in 1982 after an eye-opening motorcycle accident that heavily injured his hand.
According to his biography, she brought a contract to claim a significant chunk of his assets, which was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Billy.
Even after the divorce, Billy Joel spent several years fighting her and her brother in court, accusing him of violating financial responsibilities and fraudulent activities during his time as his manager.
FAQs
How Much Is Elizabeth Ann Weber’s Net Worth?
Not much is known about Elizabeth Ann’s current net worth. However, since she still earns royalties from some of Billy Joel’s works, her net worth is estimated to be around $1 million. In contrast, Billy Joel’s net worth is approximately a whopping $225 million.
Did Elizabeth Ann Weber Marry After Billy Joel?
After Elizabeth and Billy Joel went their separate ways, he returned to her elusive nature and never made any public presence.
However, she was often credited in movies under the last name “McPherson,” which could be the name of her later husband or just an alias to avoid public attention.
