Talulah Riley: When Elon Musk asked his ex-wife to come to his hotel room to watch ‘rocket videos’ | World News

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire behind SpaceX and Teslarecently reached an important milestone in its vision of reusable rocket technology. On Sunday, SpaceX successfully flew its 233-foot-long launch vehicle back to the launch site and caught it in the air with two giant mechanical arms – a breakthrough that represents a significant advance for the company. This system called “Mechazilla“was designed to capture the Super Heavy Boosters in mid-flight. Musk explained in a video how the custom-built tower, with its massive arms, was designed to capture the largest and heaviest flying object ever – about 250 tons – although he noted plans to make it lighter in the future.
Despite the technological achievement, Musk acknowledged the complexity of the task. The booster, which is still traveling at more than half the speed of sound, would have to be caught as it descends. He revealed that he had instructed the team to remove the tower’s legs and focus solely on the catching arms. The booster’s engines would slow its descent and allow the arms to close around it. This demonstration of Musk’s enthusiasm for rocket technology also revealed his more playful side, which his ex-wife Talulah Riley once experienced when he invited her to his hotel room to watch “rocket videos.” She later humorously shared that Musk had actually just shown her videos of rockets.

This successful test flight, during which SpaceX’s Starship made a remarkable splash of water in the Indian Ocean, was greeted with great congratulations. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised the breakthrough, noting that it would support ambitious missions such as landing on the moon’s south pole and eventually exploring Mars. With the launch of the spacecraft and the recovery of the Super Heavy Booster by Mechazilla, this achievement brings Musk’s dream of a fully reusable rocket system closer to reality.
Riley, Musk’s ex-wife, was often part of the public narrative surrounding Musk. The two met in 2008 and married in 2010 before divorcing in 2012. They married again a year later, only to divorce again in 2016. Despite their turbulent love story, they have maintained a close friendship. Riley has spoken about their relationship with deep respect and love, describing Musk as an emotional person who cares deeply about the family and the people he loves. She has even defended him against public perceptions that portray him as cold or distant, highlighting moments that show his softer side, such as the time he ventured into the snow at night to bring her flowers when he realized he hadn’t given her a Christmas present.
During their years together, Riley took an active role in Musk’s life and family, helping raise his five children from his previous marriage to Justine Wilson. She stepped away from her acting career to support Musk’s family and work environment, a decision she said was motivated by her desire at the time to prioritize family life. Although it wasn’t a traditional “housewife” role, Riley described it as a collective family effort, involving Musk’s children in his projects and blending his personal and professional lives.
Riley has built a successful career of her own, appearing in films such as “Pride and Prejudice” and “Inception” as well as the television series “Westworld.” She is also an accomplished author and has published two novels, “Acts of Love” in 2016 and “The Quickening” in 2018. Although her relationship with Musk has shaped much of her public narrative, she has remained active in both the entertainment industry and also established himself as an independent personality in literary circles.
In 2023, Riley married actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, marking a new chapter in her life. However, her bond with Musk remains strong. Both have publicly praised each other, with Riley acknowledging Musk’s immense passion for his work and his emotional depth. Their enduring friendship endures, reflecting the enduring connection they built during their years together, even when their romantic relationship ended. Even as she moves on, Riley’s time with Musk remains an important part of her personal story, intertwined with the public perception of her life and career.