Who is Elizabeth Ann Weber? Facts about Billy Joel's first wife

Who is Elizabeth Ann Weber? Facts about Billy Joel's first wife

Elizabeth Ann Weber is known for being Billy Joel's first wife. Even though she was never a mainstream celebrity, her whereabouts after divorcing the acclaimed vocalist, popularly known as Piano Man, became a matter of interest. Her biography highlights her life before she met the star, their marriage and what happened after.

Billy Joel and Elizabeth Weber
Billy Joel and Elizabeth Weber circa 1981 in New York City (L). Billy Joel and Elizabeth Weber, posing for a photo (R). Photo: Robin Platzer, Ron Galella (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Before she married Billy Joel, Elizabeth Ann Weber was Jon Small's wife. Her marriage to Joel significantly impacted the singer's career and finances. Find out how.

Elizabeth Ann Weber's profile summary

Birth nameElizabeth Ann Weber
Gender Female
Year of birth1942
Age82 years (as of 2024)
Place of birth New York, USA
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Height5'6" (168 cm)
Weight103 lbs (47 kgs)
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourGreen
Marital statusDivorced
Ex-husbandBilly Joel
Children1
EducationNew York University

Who is Elizabeth Ann Weber?

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Elizabeth Ann Weber came to public attention following her marriage to Billy Joel in the 70s. She was born in 1942 in New York. Elizabeth Ann Weber's age is 82 years. She has a brother known as Frank Weber.

After high school, Elizabeth enrolled at the University of New York. Neither is there information regarding her career before her role as Billy Joel's finance manager.

Is Elizabeth Ann Weber married?

Her current relationship status is a mystery. However, she has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Jon Small, the drummer of The Hassles rock band, and Billy was also a member of the same band.

Unfortunately, Jon and Elizabeth's marriage did not last long; Jon ended the union when he learnt that Elizabeth had an affair with Billy Joel.

Who was Billy Joel's first wife?

When news about the affair became known, Elizabeth disappeared from Billy and Jon's lives. Later, she resurfaced and continued her relationship with Joel, culminating in a marriage in September 1973. According to Page Six, Joel recalled his first encounter with Ann Weber stating:

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She wasn't like a lot of the other girls I knew at that time who had taken home ec and cooking classes. She was . . . intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind, but could also be alluring. Almost like a European-type — not a typical American girl.

At the time, the star was in his twenties while his wife was in her thirties with a son whom she had sired in her first marriage.

Billy was so in love with Elizabeth Weber that she inspired some of his timeless classics like Just The Way You Are, Piano Man, and She's Got a Way. However, the marriage would best be described as a rocky nine years.

Five facts about Elizabeth Ann Weber
Five facts about Elizabeth Ann Weber. Photo: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images (modified by author)
Source: Original

Elizabeth Weber and Billy Joel's divorce

The couple never let anyone in on the ups and downs of their marriage, although it is evident that Elizabeth filed for divorce in 1982. The star made several attempts to rekindle the dying embers of the union, including buying her a house worth $4 million, although his efforts bore no fruit.

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The union took a different twist when Billy was involved in an accident which left him hospitalised. During one of her visits, Billy Joel's spouse presented documents asking him to make her the beneficiary of all his fortunes.

This incident was the last stroke on the camel's back, and Billy decided to move on. Reportedly, the divorce settlement entitled Elizabeth to a significant percentage of Billy's earnings, costing the singer a substantial financial dent.

Where is Elizabeth Ann Weber now?

Elizabeth was never a mainstream celebrity, so there are unclear answers to the question of where Elizabeth Weber is today. In 2018, reports surfaced that the townhouse her ex-husband had purchased for her was listed for $20 million.

Joel originally bought the beautiful red-brick home for $4 million in 1982, following a rocky nine-year marriage. After their divorce, Weber continued to live there with her son until she sold the property in 1997 for $3.74 million.

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What is Elizabeth Ann Weber's net worth?

According to Buzz Learn and NewsGater, Weber's estimated net worth is between $1 million and $5 million. Her wealth primarily comes from royalties tied to some of her ex-husband's early works, a divorce settlement, and her assets.

What happened to Elizabeth Ann Weber's brother?

In 1989, Billy Joel filed a lawsuit against his manager and former brother-in-law, Frank Weber, accusing him of fraud for secretly embezzling funds. According to People, Billy sought $30 million in actual damages and an additional $60 million in punitive damages.

However, after Frank declared bankruptcy, Billy ultimately settled out of court for approximately $3 million.

Billy Joel performs during the last show of his residency at Madison Square Garden
Billy Joel performs onstage during the last show of his residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Who is Billy Joel, Elizabeth Weber's ex-husband?

Billy Joel, born William Martin Joel, is an American songwriter, vocalist and pianist who started his career by joining several bands but later pursued a solo career.

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His career peaked between 1971 and 1993 when he released 12 pop and rock albums. He has remained among the best-selling musicians of all time.

Who are Billy Joel's ex-wives?

Since the divorce, Billy Joel has been married thrice. Three years after splitting from his first wife, Elizabeth, he married supermodel Christie Brinkley. The couple welcomed their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, in December 1985. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1994.

Following a decade of being single, Billy married Katie Lee, star of The Kitchen, in 2004. Their marriage lasted six years before they divorced in 2009, and they did not have any children.

After finalizing his divorce in 2010, Billy waited another five years before marrying Alexis Roderick in July 2015. The couple had a surprise wedding when Alexis was expecting their first child, Della Rose, who was born on August 12, 2015. They welcomed their second daughter on October 22, 2017.

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Billy and Alexis first met at a restaurant in Huntington, New York, while out with friends. After exchanging phone numbers, Billy called her from across the room, asking for a ride home. She agreed, and once they arrived at his place, he invited her inside.

Though initially hesitant, Alexis let him play a song for her. She recalled in a 2014 interview with The New Yorker:

It was like he couldn’t not be ‘Billy Joel’ at that moment.

Who are Billy Joel's kids?

Billy has three children: a daughter, Alexa Ray, with Christie, and two daughters, Della Rose and Remy, with Alexis. His eldest, Alexa Ray, not only closely resembles him but has also pursued a career in music, just like her father. In a June 2006 interview with Chorus & Verse, she shared her experiences:

I definitely believe that music is something that is in my blood, something that I was born to do, simply because it's the one thing that has come the most naturally to me for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to my dad write songs at the piano for hours, and watching him put the pieces of his ideas together for so many years gave me a unique inside-peek into the songwriting process.

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She released her debut single, For All My Days, in 2008 and has since released several more tracks, including a cover of her father's 1977 hit Just the Way You Are.

Della Rose and Remy also share their father’s love for performing and have joined him on stage at various concerts. In December 2023, they sang a duet of Jingle Bells with their father accompanying them on the piano at a Madison Square Garden show.

Fast facts

  • She met Billy through her first husband.
  • She was married to Billy Joel for nine years.
  • Elizabeth's brother sided with her ex-husband during the divorce.
  • She has a son, Sean Small, from her first marriage to Jon Small.

Elizabeth Ann Weber left an indelible mark on Billy Joel's finances, even though he has since moved on with his life and music. He is a father to three children and is married to Alexis Roderick. On the other hand, Weber's whereabouts are untraceable.

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Even though Courtenay Chatman made frequent public appearances alongside her ex-husband, Michael Jai White, she managed to keep her personal and professional life private. Information about their marriage is scanty, although these details about their divorce let you into their lives.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Priscillah Mueni avatar

Priscillah Mueni (Lifestyle writer) Priscillah Mueni is a lifestyle and entertainment content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019. In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019. Email: pshmueni@gmail.com

Jackline Wangare avatar

Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.