In a world where billionaire Elon Musk is known for pushing the boundaries of technology and ambition, a quieter, more personal story has emerged, revealing a side of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO rarely seen by the public. On August 10, 2025, during an emotional interview on The Today Show, Musk’s ex-wife, British actress Talulah Riley, shared a heartfelt revelation about a tradition that has quietly persisted since their divorce: Musk sends her a gift every year, each one carrying a poignant message of regret, gratitude, and enduring respect. Riley’s tearful disclosure about the meaning behind these gifts has captivated audiences, offering a glimpse into the complex heart of one of the world’s most enigmatic figures.
A Love Story That Defied Convention
Elon Musk and Talulah Riley’s relationship was anything but ordinary. The couple married twice—first from 2010 to 2012, and again from 2013 to 2016—weathering the highs and lows of Musk’s relentless pursuit of innovation. Riley, known for her roles in Pride and Prejudice and Westworld, was a steadfast supporter during some of Tesla’s most turbulent years, including near-bankruptcy in 2008 and the grueling Model 3 production ramp-up. Despite their divorces, Riley has consistently described Musk as a “great friend” and a man of deep emotion, a stark contrast to his often polarizing public persona.
Their story took a dramatic turn during a 2022 BBC documentary, The Elon Musk Show, where Riley recounted a memorable Christmas incident in Boulder, Colorado. Musk, overwhelmed by work, forgot to buy her a gift. In a moment of raw vulnerability, he confessed, “It’s not that I don’t love you. I do really, really love you. It’s just that my brain is exploding.” Determined to make amends, he ventured barefoot into a snowstorm, returning hours later with a small bouquet of handpicked flowers. “He wanted to show me how much he loved me,” Riley recalled, a story that first hinted at Musk’s capacity for heartfelt gestures.
What the world didn’t know until Riley’s recent interview was that this wasn’t a one-time act. Since their final divorce in 2016, Musk has sent Riley a gift every year—on the anniversary of their first wedding in 2010. These gifts, ranging from handwritten notes to small, meaningful tokens, carry a consistent theme: a reflection on their shared past and an acknowledgment of the sacrifices Riley made during their marriage.
The Shocking Revelation
During her Today Show appearance, Riley, now 39 and married to actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, opened up about the latest gift, received in September 2024. It was a simple silver locket engraved with the coordinates of the Boulder location where Musk had picked those flowers years ago. Inside was a folded note in Musk’s handwriting: “For the years you stood by me when the world didn’t. I’m sorry for the times I wasn’t there.” Riley, visibly moved, explained that each gift arrives with a similar message, revealing Musk’s lingering regret for the strain his relentless ambition placed on their relationship.
“What shocked me wasn’t the gifts themselves,” Riley said, her voice breaking. “It’s that he remembers, every single year, the promises we made and the moments we lost. He’s not the cold, emotionless genius people think he is. He carries those regrets deeply.” She revealed that the gifts often reference specific memories—like the time Musk sent two truckloads of flowers and champagne to the set of St. Trinian’s 2 for Riley and every female crew member, a gesture of support during their first long separation.
Riley’s disclosure painted a picture of a man grappling with the personal cost of his larger-than-life mission. “Elon’s brain is wired for the future—rockets, cars, AI—but these gifts show he’s still tethered to the past,” she said. “He’s trying to make peace with it, in his own way.” The revelation has sparked a wave of emotion online, with X users sharing their own stories of love and regret under hashtags like #MuskGifts and #TalulahSpeaks.
A Complex Man Behind the Headlines
Musk’s public image is a tapestry of contradictions: a visionary pushing humanity toward Mars, a provocateur unafraid to challenge norms, and now, a man quietly honoring a past love. His personal life, marked by two marriages to Riley, a first marriage to Justine Musk, and a high-profile relationship with Grimes, has often been overshadowed by his professional triumphs. Yet, Riley’s story highlights a thread of vulnerability that runs through Musk’s life. In a 2010 Marie Claire essay, Justine Musk described him as a man who “doesn’t take no for an answer,” a trait that fueled both his success and their eventual divorce.
Riley’s account adds nuance to this narrative. She described Musk’s annual gifts as a way of acknowledging the sacrifices she made, including pausing her acting career to support his ventures. “I was never a trophy wife,” she said, echoing sentiments from Justine’s essay. “Elon wanted me to have my own dreams, but his world was all-consuming. These gifts feel like his way of saying he sees that now.”
The gifts themselves are modest by Musk’s standards—no lavish jewelry or extravagant gestures. Past items include a first-edition copy of Pride and Prejudice, a nod to Riley’s breakout role, and a small model of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with their initials etched on the side. Each is accompanied by a note, often reflecting on a specific moment from their marriage. “They’re not about money,” Riley emphasized. “They’re about memory, about saying what he couldn’t say then.”
A Public Moved, A Debate Ignited
The revelation has resonated deeply, humanizing a figure often seen as untouchable. On X, fans have praised Musk’s thoughtfulness, with one user writing, “This shows Elon’s heart is bigger than his ego. We don’t see this side enough.” Others, however, question whether the gifts are a genuine act of remorse or a calculated move to soften his image amid recent controversies, such as his political involvement and a reported kidnapping attempt on his son, X Æ A-Xii. “Is this redemption or PR?” one skeptic posted.
Riley herself addressed the skepticism, insisting the gifts are private and never publicized by Musk. “He doesn’t do this for the cameras,” she said. “He does it because it matters to him.” Her words align with a 2022 BBC interview where she described Musk as “deeply emotional” despite public perceptions of detachment.
The story has also sparked broader conversations about love, loss, and the weight of ambition. Relationship experts on X have weighed in, noting that Musk’s gestures reflect a universal desire to mend past mistakes. “It’s rare for someone of his stature to keep reaching back,” said Dr. Laura Chen, a psychologist specializing in high-profile relationships. “These gifts are a form of emotional accountability.”
A Legacy of Connection
For Riley, now happily married and thriving in her career, the gifts are a bittersweet reminder of a transformative chapter. She has no contact with Musk beyond these annual deliveries, yet she cherishes their significance. “They’re not about getting back together,” she clarified. “They’re about honoring what we had and who we were.” Her new husband, Brodie-Sangster, has reportedly embraced the tradition, even joking that he admires Musk’s “commitment to the grand gesture.”
As Musk continues to shape the future—through SpaceX’s Mars ambitions, Tesla’s sustainable energy push, and his advisory role in the U.S. government—his quiet tradition with Riley reveals a man still tethered to his past. The gifts, small but laden with meaning, underscore a truth Riley shared in her interview: “Elon’s not perfect, but he feels everything. And he’s trying to make it right, one gift at a time.”
This revelation has moved millions, reminding us that even the world’s most driven visionaries carry regrets—and that sometimes, the smallest gestures can speak the loudest. As Riley put it, “These gifts aren’t just for me. They’re for the part of him that still believes in second chances.”
