Atila Altaunbay Biography And Net Worth
Atila Altaunbay is popularly known as the ex-husband of Grace Jones, a famous Jamaican-American singer. Atila worked as a professional bodyguard, and also loved the performing arts, like acting and singing. Sometimes, he would sing at different events.
However, Atila became famous in the early 1990s when people found out about his relationship with Grace Jones. Even though he was a bodyguard, his connection to a popular singer brought him into the spotlight.
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Contents
Atila Altaunbay Early Life And Educational Background
Atila Altaunbay, born in Turkey in 1976 grew up in a Muslim family. When he was older, he moved to Belgium. In Belgium, he went to school to further his education.
After some time, he went back to Turkey. In Turkey, Atila trained in CPR, AED, and martial arts. These skills were important for his career, having worked as a model, singer, bodyguard, and philanthropist.
As we said, his relationship with famous singer Grace Jones brought him into the spotlight. Despite his fame, Atila kept his personal life private. He did not share information about his family, including his parents and siblings.
But we know that Atila was of Arab ethnicity and held Turkish nationality. His height was 5’7″ (170 cm), and he weighed around 150 pounds (68 kg). Sadly, Atila passed away in 2021 at the age of 45.
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Atila Altaunbay Career
Atila Altaunbay has had an interesting and diverse career, having started working as a pizza delivery driver in Belgium. This job helped him get started, but Atila had other interests and passions.
He loved the arts and wanted to explore different fields. Atila tried his hand at modeling, acting, and singing. He was quite passionate about these activities and gave them a good try.
In fact, he even sang at events like weddings. This shows that he wasn’t afraid to step out of his comfort zone and pursue what he loved. Despite his interest in the arts, Atila’s main profession was quite different. He was a professional bodyguard.
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Atila Altaunbay’s Marriage With Grace Jones
Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones had a relationship that started with a chance meeting and led to an eventful marriage. Atila met Grace while she was visiting Belgium, and they began dating.
They wanted to keep their relationship private, but Grace Jones’ fame made this very difficult. Grace is well-known for her career as a singer, songwriter, model, and actress.
She has been in the entertainment industry since 1973 and has been nominated for Grammy Awards twice. Grace is recognized for her hit songs like “Private Life,” “Demolition Man,” “My Jamaican Guy,” and “Walking in the Rain.”
However, Atila Altaunbay married Grace Jones on February 24, 1996. The wedding took place in Rio de Janeiro, and the couple wanted it to be private to avoid attracting public and media attention.
Yet, they encountered problems because the wedding did not follow the proper church norms, and the priest who performed the ceremony was gay. This caused issues, making their marriage unrecognized by some.
To fix this, they had to redo their vows in a more traditional ceremony. Grace’s father presided over this second wedding, which was held in Syracuse, New York. This ceremony was very private and only close family members attended.
Despite their efforts to keep the marriage private and official, Atila’s family did not approve of the union. Atila came from a family with strong Islamic traditions, and his marriage to Grace went against these traditions.
His family expected him to marry after his older brothers, but Atila did not follow this custom. This disapproval added strain to their relationship. Their marriage lasted about eight years, from 1996 to 2004.
During these years, they faced many challenges. One major issue was their significant age difference and different personalities, which caused tension between them.
A very serious incident also occurred where Atila allegedly threatened Grace with a knife during a dispute in the kitchen. This violent incident was a major factor in the breakdown of their marriage.
Although Grace and Atila separated in 2004, their divorce was not finalized. This means that legally, they remained married. Atila reportedly disappeared, and Grace could not contact him to complete the divorce process.
Grace mentioned in an interview with The Guardian that they considered themselves divorced, but legally, they were still married because the paperwork was never completed.
Grace Jones’ marriage to Atila Altaunbay was filled with ups and downs. From their initial meeting and secret relationship to their troubled marriage and eventual separation, their story is complex.
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What Was Atila Altaunbay’s Net Worth Before Death
Atila Altaunbay’s estimated net worth before his passing was approximately USD 800,000. He was known for his successful career as Grace bodyguard and entrepreneurial ventures, which contributed to his financial achievements.
