Elon Musk and AmberHeard have known each other for over a decade — but while the SpaceX founder’s interest in the Aquaman actress dates back to 2012, they didn’t actually get together until years later.
The former couple was first spotted out together several times throughout 2016, sparking romance rumors, and later went official with their relationship in April 2017.
Their budded romance turned heads at the time as both Heard and Musk were weathering public breakups. The actress and Johnny Depp finalized their divorce in January, while the tech mogul filed for divorce from Westworld actress Talulah Riley in early 2015.
Musk and Heard were in a relationship for four months before calling it quits in August 2017, but dated on and off in the months that followed before breaking up for good in 2018.
Despite Musk publicly stating that there’s no bad blood between himself and Heard, controversy has followed in the wake of their split. Depp referenced Musk and Heard’s relationship in his defamation trial in May 2022, and most recently, the actress’ Twitter account disappeared in the wake of Musk purchasing the social media company.
Here’s everything to know about Musk and Heard’s history together over the years.
In August 2016, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that Musk had asked a mutual connection to introduce him to Heard around the time of the 2013 film Machete Kills, in which they both appeared.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Musk showed interest in the actress despite never sharing a scene with her and sent emails to director Robert Rodriguez and others asking for an introduction.
“If there is a party or event with Amber, I’d be interested in meeting her just out of curiosity,” Musk wrote, according to a snippet of the email obtained by THR. “Allegedly, she is a fan of George Orwell and Ayn Rand … most unusual.”
According to the report, a dinner was set up but Heard, who was dating Depp at the time, did not show up. Musk was reported not looking for a date, as he often likes to meet “interesting people from all different industries,” the source told PEOPLE.
During Depp and Heard’s defamation trial in May 2022, the actress implied that she got acquainted with Musk at the 2016 Met Gala after the actor “stood [her] up” on the red carpet.
“I didn’t recognize [Elon] until we started talking and he reminded me we had met once before,” she said, adding that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO “was with his mother,” Maye Musk, at the event.
“He seemed like a real gentleman,” Heard continued of Musk. “He was really nice. He sat at a nearby table and we got to speak that night and eventually became friends.”
