Elaine Mason: Biography, Her Marriage to Stephen Hawking, and Where She Is Now

Few names are as closely tied to one of history’s greatest scientific minds as Elaine Mason. As the second wife of physicist Stephen Hawking, she went from working quietly as a nurse to becoming a subject of public fascination — and, later, public controversy. Her story is often reduced to a single headline, but there’s far more to who she is, how she met Hawking, and what happened after their marriage ended.

In this article, you’ll learn about Elaine Mason’s early career, how she came into Stephen Hawking’s life, the details of their marriage and divorce, and what is (and isn’t) publicly known about her today, including questions readers frequently ask, like whether she’s still alive and what her net worth might be.

Who Is Elaine Mason?

Elaine Mason is an English nurse best known as the second wife of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Before she became a public figure, she worked as a professional caregiver, including a period spent caring for children at an orphanage in Bangladesh. Her nursing background is central to her story — it’s the reason her life ever intersected with Hawking’s in the first place.

Mason was previously married to David Mason, an engineer who played a notable role in Hawking’s life himself: he helped design an early speech device that allowed Hawking to communicate after he lost his ability to speak following a tracheotomy. That connection is part of what makes the Mason-Hawking story so layered — her first marriage and her second were both, in different ways, tied to Hawking’s care.

Profile Summary

How Elaine Mason Met Stephen Hawking

Elaine Mason entered Stephen Hawking’s life in the 1980s, after he underwent a tracheotomy following a bout of pneumonia. The procedure left him unable to speak, and he needed round-the-clock nursing care. Mason was part of the team of nurses brought in to support him.

At the time, she was married to David Mason, and the two of them had a personal stake in Hawking’s wellbeing beyond the professional: David had helped build the early computer-assisted speech system that gave Hawking his now-famous synthesized voice. Elaine, working closely with Hawking day to day, went beyond standard nursing duties, and over time their relationship shifted from caregiver and patient to something more personal.

Hawking had already separated from his first wife, Jane Wilde, whom he’d been married to for over two decades and with whom he had three children — Robert, Lucy, and Timothy. As Hawking’s relationship with Mason deepened, both of their marriages came to an end.

Elaine Mason and Stephen Hawking: The Marriage

Stephen Hawking and Elaine Mason married in September 1995 at St. Barnabas Church in Cambridge, England. For Hawking, it was a second chance at partnership following his very public divorce from Jane Wilde. For Mason, it was a dramatic shift from private caregiver to the wife of one of the most recognized scientists in the world.

Their marriage lasted 11 years, ending in divorce in 2006. During that time, Mason’s role extended beyond that of a spouse — given Hawking’s condition, she remained deeply involved in his daily care and support, blurring the line between wife and caregiver throughout their relationship.

The Controversy Around Their Marriage

Elaine Mason’s marriage to Hawking wasn’t without difficulty. In the years surrounding their divorce, reports surfaced alleging that Mason had mistreated Hawking during their time together. Police in the UK opened an investigation into the claims. After reviewing the case, no charges were ever filed against her.

It’s worth being precise here: these were allegations that were investigated and not substantiated with charges, not proven facts. Much of the reporting at the time relied on anonymous sources close to the family, and Mason herself has largely stayed out of the public eye rather than responding publicly to the claims.

Elaine Mason’s Life Before Fame

Long before she became known internationally, Elaine Mason lived a relatively ordinary life centered on her nursing career. She trained as a nurse and spent time caring for vulnerable populations, including children at an orphanage in Bangladesh — experience that speaks to a career built around caregiving well before Hawking entered the picture.

She married David Mason and the couple had two sons together. Their marriage lasted over a decade before it ended, coinciding with the period when Elaine’s professional relationship with Stephen Hawking began to change.

Is Elaine Mason Still Alive?

This is one of the most common questions people ask about Elaine Mason, and it deserves a straightforward answer: there have been no public reports of her death. Unlike Stephen Hawking, whose passing in March 2018 was widely covered by international media, Elaine Mason has kept a low public profile since their divorce. She has not given frequent interviews, and there is no verified recent reporting confirming her current whereabouts or activities.

Because she stepped away from public life after her marriage to Hawking ended, detailed, up-to-date information about her is limited. Readers should treat any specific claims about her current location or activities with caution unless they come from a verified, reputable source.

Elaine Mason’s Net Worth

Elaine Mason’s net worth has never been publicly documented or verified through reliable financial records. Unlike public figures who disclose earnings or have assets tracked through public filings, Mason has not been part of any confirmed reporting on her personal finances. Any specific figures circulating online should be treated as unverified estimates rather than fact.

What is known is that her career was built in nursing and caregiving — not a field typically associated with significant public wealth — and she has not pursued the kind of public career (books, media appearances, endorsements) that would create a documented income trail after her marriage to Hawking ended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Elaine Mason Stephen Hawking’s first wife?

No. Elaine Mason was Hawking’s second wife. His first wife was Jane Wilde, whom he married in 1965; they had three children together before divorcing in 1995.

How did Elaine Mason and Stephen Hawking meet?

They met in the 1980s when Mason worked as one of his nurses following his tracheotomy, which left Hawking unable to speak without assistive technology.

Did Elaine Mason and Stephen Hawking have children?

No, the couple did not have children together during their 11-year marriage.

Why did Elaine Mason and Stephen Hawking divorce?

They divorced in 2006 after 11 years of marriage. Their split was accompanied by allegations of mistreatment, which were investigated by police but did not result in any charges.

What does Elaine Mason do now?

There is no verified, publicly available information about her current profession or activities, as she has largely stayed out of the public eye since her divorce from Hawking.

Final Thoughts

Elaine Mason’s story is inseparable from her marriage to Stephen Hawking, but her life extends well beyond that chapter — from her nursing career to her time caring for children in Bangladesh, to the personal choices that placed her at the center of one of the more talked-about relationships of the 1990s and 2000s. While much about her life today remains private, her role in Hawking’s personal history remains a well-documented part of his biography.

If you found this look at Elaine Mason’s life interesting, explore our other in-depth biography features to learn more about the people behind the headlines.