Elizabeth Taylor possessed several monikers throughout her life. Taylor was an Oscar-winning actress, dedicated philanthropist, a fashion icon and so much more. But her personal life sometimes eclipsed her accomplishments. The actress was married eight times — twice to the same person — and engaged 10 times.
Now, a new documentary releasing on HBO and Max on Saturday reveals details about those particular relationships in Taylor’s own words. Directed by Nanette Burstein, “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” features hours of unheard interviews from the Oscar-winning actress. “She was basically slut shamed,” Burstein said of Taylor’s relationships and personal life as depicted in the media during an interview with WWD. “People are more aware of those optics now. But there are many stories from the 1990s and early 2000s that are really not that different.”
Ahead, learn more about the various engagement rings and jewelry pieces men used to propose to Elizabeth Taylor.
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William D. Pawley Jr.
When she was just 17 years old and a burgeoning star, Elizabeth Taylor became engaged to William D. Pawley Jr., the son of a former United States Ambassador to Peru and Brazil. Pawley proposed to Taylor in 1949 with a cushion-cut diamond engagement ring. The couple did not marry and eventually Taylor and Pawley went their separate ways.
Conrad Hilton Jr.
Not long after her engagement to Pawley ended, Taylor became engaged to Hilton hotels heir Conrad Hilton Jr. Hilton proposed to Taylor with a four-carat diamond platinum-set engagement ring. Their wedding, held in June 1950, received the star treatment, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios funding the nuptials. The couple divorced after eight months of marriage.
Michael Wilding
British actor Michael Wilding was 20 years older than Taylor when he proposed to her with a dazzling diamond-studded large sapphire. The couple was married from 1952 until their divorced was finalized in 1957. Taylor and Wilding shared two children together.
Mike Todd
Mike Todd was a longtime film producer who proposed to Taylor under unique circumstances. Taylor was still married to Wilding when Todd gave her an emerald-cut diamond ring. The couple coyly referred to the piece of jewelry as a “friendship ring.” They married in 1957 — the same year her divorce from Wilding was finalized.
During their marriage, Todd lavished Taylor with jewels, including an antique tiara dating to 1880. Todd died in a plane accident in 1958.
Eddie Fisher
Roughly one year after Todd died, Taylor married singer Eddie Fisher, the husband of her longtime friend Debbie Reynolds. At the time, Taylor was still wearing several pieces of jewelry gifted to her by Todd. Instead of an engagement ring, Fisher gave Taylor a bracelet made up of a row of 50 diamonds. Fisher and Taylor divorced in 1964, after Taylor met her next husband.
Richard Burton
Among her most famous unions, Elizabeth Taylor was married to fellow actor Richard Burton twice, between 1964 to 1974 and 1975 to 1976. Instead of an engagement ring, Burton offered Taylor a Bulgari emerald brooch.
“Richard was so romantic that he’d use any excuse to give me a piece of jewellery,” Taylor wrote in her memoir “Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewellery.” Throughout their marriage, Burton purchased a number of jewels for his wife, including a 32 carat Burmese sapphire pendant, and the famous Krupp diamond, which he bought in 1968. Taylor later became the owner of the famous Taylor-Burton diamond, which is estimated at $1 million.
John Warner
The same year her divorce from Burton was finalized, Taylor wed Republican Senator John Warner. The ring featured three dazzling stones — rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Following their 1976 nuptials, Warner was elected to serve in the Senate. The life of a politician’s wife was not what Taylor had in mind for herself. She and Warner divorced in 1982.
Victor Luna
Lawyer Victor Luna presented Taylor with a 16-carat sapphire ring upon asking to marry her in 1983. By August 1984, the couple called off their impending nuptials. It was also around this time that Taylor’s former husband Richard Burton died at the age of 58.
Dennis Stein
Taylor’s next proposal came from businessman Dennis Stein. Stein proposed with a sapphire and diamond ring at the end of 1983. Just a few months later, however, the couple called off their engagement in February 1984.
Larry Fortensky
Taylor’s final engagement and wedding was to construction worker Larry Fortensky, who she met while staying at the Betty Ford Center in 1988. Fortensky proposed with a pavé diamond band. The wedding was held at Michael Jackson’s Neverland estate in October 1991. The couple divorced in 1996.
