Let’s face it, when most people hear the name Jill Tavelman, they think, ”Oh yeah, Phil Collins’ ex-wife,” right? And sure, that’s technically accurate. But, you see, Jill was Phil’s second wife, not his first. That gets lost a lot; I think the media likes a good divorce story and forgets the first part.
What piques the interest is not only the marriage or the very messy divorce that followed, but what she did after. Because while Phil was out winning Grammys or just having his own personal chaos, Jill was here in L.A., raising their daughter, Lily. Alone. And she did it without penning an acrimonious tell-all book or doing belligerent interviews every other week.
That takes a different kind of strength.
The Early Years: Before the Fame
Jill Tavelman was born on April 9, 1956, in Los Angeles. She’ll be 69 now in January of 2026, which seems insane when you check out how youthful she appears in photos with Lily. Her father, a Canadian Jewish immigrant, was the owner of a men’s clothing store in Beverly Hills. Her mother, Jane Hale, was a theatre actor. So creativity and business were sort of in the family DNA.
Before meeting Phil, Jill served as a schoolteacher in Los Angeles. Not quite the glamorous rock-and-roll life she would end up living. She was president of the Beverly Hills Women’s Club, taught in a couple of local schools, and led a pretty typical California life.
Then she walked into the Rainbow Bar in Hollywood in 1980.
Meeting Phil: Second Time’s the Charm (Or Not)
Here’s the part people forget: Phil Collins was already married when he married Jill. His first wife was Andrea Bertorelli, whom he had known since they were 11 years old in a drama class. The two re-established contact in adulthood and married in 1975; they had a son, Simon, and Phil adopted Andrea’s daughter, Joely. That marriage broke up in 1980, just around the time Phil met Jill.
So Jill was not some starry-eyed girl who didn’t know what she was getting herself into. She met Phil shortly after he had divorced. They dated for four years. Smart move, honestly. It is always a good idea to get to know someone before marrying them, especially when that someone is a touring musician who’s on the road all but two weeks of the year.
They were married in August 1984. Their daughter Lily was born in Guildford, Surrey, on 18 March 1989. Yeah, England. Not LA. That’s important for later.
The Cracks Start Showing
Being married to Phil Collins in the late ’80s and early ’90s meant being with someone who was often absent. Genesis was huge. Phil’s solo career was massive. He was everywhere except home.
And look, I get it. That’s the job. Musicians tour. But when you have a young kid at home, somebody’s got to be the parent. That person was Jill.
In 1992, with Phil away on tour with Genesis, he apparently became reacquainted with former girlfriend Lavinia Lang, whom he had dated during his days at the drama school. The affair got out. The British tabloids had a blast with that. And Jill Tavelman was stuck in England, dealing with the humiliation while trying to shield their daughter from the mess.
They separated in 1994. Lily was five years old.
The divorce was finalised in 1996. There were rumours that Phil sent Jill divorce papers via fax, which he later denied. But the damage was done to his reputation. Phil himself admitted years later that he was “a bit of a bastard” to Jill during their marriage. At least he owned it, I guess.
Jill Tavelman walked away with a £17 million settlement, which was about $25 million at the time. Not bad. But money can’t solve everything, especially when you’ve got a seven-year-old who just watched her family fall apart.
The Move to LA: Starting Over
In 1996, Jill packed up and moved back to Los Angeles with seven-year-old Lily. And I think this decision tells you everything you need to know about her priorities.
Why LA? Well, it’s where she was from. Her family was there. Her support system. When you’re suddenly a single mom after a public divorce, you don’t stay in a foreign country where your ex-husband is the famous one, and you’re just the American ex-wife.
But there’s more to it. LA is the entertainment capital of the world. Lily Collins had already appeared on the BBC series Growing Pains when she was two. If the kid wanted to act, and she did, LA was where that could actually happen.
It was also about creating distance. Fresh start, new chapter, all that. Away from the British press. Away from the constant reminders.
The thing is, Jill Tavelman could’ve stayed in England and used Phil’s money to coast. Instead, she chose the harder path: rebuilding in a place where she could be herself, not just Phil Collins’ ex.
Single Mother in the Spotlight
Here’s what nobody really talks about: being a single mom is hard. Being a single mom to the daughter of a rock star is a whole different level.
Lily Collins was five when her parents split. That’s kindergarten age. Kids that young don’t understand why dad isn’t around anymore. They just know he’s gone. And when your dad is literally on MTV and the radio, it’s not like you can forget about him.
Jill Tavelman had to be everything. Mom, Dad, emotional coddler, cheerleader and protector. She had to protect Lily from the media and also help her understand why her father wasn’t there for every school play or birthday party.
And this was not just an absence. In her 2017 book, Lily opened up about suffering from eating disorders, which were exacerbated by her parents’ divorce and the resulting feelings of abandonment. She said she was furious at dad but felt scared of telling him so, lest it push him away even further.
Think about that. A little girl is being trained to swallow her feelings because she’s scared about losing the parent who’s already barely there.
Jill would also have to help her daughter through that. She didn’t have a co-parent in the toiling-every-day sense. Phil was away, in England, Switzerland or some such place, living his life. The day-to-day stuff? That was all, Jill.
But here’s what Jill did differently: Rather than just providing Lily with stability. She gave her experiences. In Lily’s collection of essays, she writes about how her mum carted her off across the globe so that she could immerse herself in cultures rather than learn about them from a book.
That’s not something money alone can do. That takes time, attention, and intention.
Jill spent about two decades primarily focused on raising Lily and doing charity work. She set her own career on pause. And not because she had to do this, but because that’s what she chose.
The Mother-Daughter Bond vs. The Father-Daughter Struggle
If you’re wondering whether Lily Collins is closer to her mom or dad, it’s not even a question. It’s Jill. By a mile.
The evidence is everywhere. Lily posts about her mom constantly. Birthday tributes. Matching outfits. Public appearances. In April 2023, Lily Collins wrote: “No matter how much time passes, where we are in the world or how much change comes our way, you’ll always have such a special place in my heart and in my life.”
Jill Tavelman shows up. She’s at premieres. She’s at award shows. She’s just… there.
The relationship with Phil? Way more complicated.
Lily shared in her 2017 autobiography: “Because my dad was away a lot when I was little, I never wanted to do anything that would make him stay away longer. I was extra careful about what I said and how I said it, worrying that he would think I was mad or didn’t love him. And the fact is, I was angry. I missed him and wanted him there.”
She even wrote a letter to her father in the book, addressing fathers everywhere, “who don’t truly listen to their daughters.” Pretty direct.
Now, to be fair, Lily and Phil have worked on their relationship in recent years. She posted a sweet tribute for his 70th birthday in 2021. In 2022, she wrote, “I may no longer fit in your arms or sit comfortably on your shoulders, but you continue to hug me tightly when I need it most.”
But notice what else she said: “We may not get to spend time together that often.” Even now. Even after reconciliation. The distance is still there.
Jill Tavelman never had that distance. She was always right there.
Building Her Own Thing
So what happened next, when Jill’s daughter Lily Collins grew up and got a career of her own? She opened Waverly on Doheny, an antique store in West Hollywood, in 2014. And frankly, it’s probably my favourite part of her story.
She told The Hollywood Reporter: “I just didn’t understand the concept of throwing things away. I’ve always matched people up with gifts that are really sentimental or hit the spot for them.”
After dedicating 20 years to the charity and raising Lily, Jill Tavelman explained: “I found myself with a lot of free time, because my daughter had grown up and was on her journey. I was thinking, ‘This is my turn to do something for me, that I’m strong at doing.’
The store address is 620-622 N Doheny Drive. Here’s open Wednesday to Saturday, 2 to 7. Still running as of 2026. She calls herself a “purveyor of resurrected oddities.” From vintage car doors repurposed into room dividers to antique pocket watches worn as steampunk accessories.
It’s quirky. It’s personal. It’s hers.
The store isn’t just a vanity project funded by divorce money. It’s a real business that reflects her actual interests and knowledge. She’d been collecting and appreciating antiques her whole life. Now she gets to share that.
Where She Is Now
Jill Tavelman is 69 as of January 2026. She resides in Los Angeles in a mansion she purchased for $12.4 million in 2016. The house was designed in the 1950s by John Elgin Woolf and includes a tennis court, library and four bedrooms. Very her aesthetic.
And the interesting thing is, she never married again. Never publicly dated anyone. It’s been nearly 30 years since the divorce, and so far as anyone can gather, Jill has remained single throughout.
Maybe she just wasn’t ready for another relationship. Perhaps she was too focused on Lily. She’s fine with being by herself, perhaps. We actually have no idea, since Jill doesn’t discuss her personal life in interviews. (She’s kept that part private, which is a bit of a power move after having your marriage dissected in tabloids.)
Then, in January 2025, the granddaughter was born to Jill. Lily and her husband, Charlie McDowell, welcomed their daughter, Tove Jane McDowell, through a surrogate. So now Jill’s got a brand new role.
She continues to operate her antique store. Still occasionally posts on Instagram (@waverlyondoheny), mostly featuring inventory. Accompanies Lily to events and premieres.
Her net worth is estimated to be in the range of £20-25 million, or approximately $25-30 million. That includes her divorce settlement, real estate and income from the business. Not bad for a one-time schoolteacher.
What Makes Jill Tavelman Different
Here’s what I find fascinating about Jill Tavelman: she could’ve been bitter. She could’ve been public. She could’ve written a book titled “My Life With Phil: The Real Story” and made millions more.
She didn’t. She could’ve used Phil’s fame to boost her profile. She didn’t do that either.
Instead, she just… lived. Raised her kid. Built a business. Maintained her dignity.
There’s no drama, revenge memoir, or reality TV show. And in an age where everyone monetises their trauma, that’s actually kind of remarkable.
The other thing? She let Lily have her own relationship with Phil, messy as it was. She didn’t trash-talk him publicly. She didn’t try to turn Lily against him. Yeah, Lily figured out her own complicated feelings about her dad, but that was Lily’s journey. Not something Jill imposed.
That takes restraint.
The Quiet Strength Thing
I think what people misunderstand about Jill Tavelman is that quiet doesn’t mean weak. She’s not out there making noise, so people assume she’s just coasting on divorce money or living in her famous daughter’s shadow.
But look at the actual facts. She moved to a foreign country for her marriage. Moved back when it ended. Raised a kid who went through eating disorders and father-issues. Put her own ambitions on hold for two decades. Then built a successful business doing something she genuinely loves.
That’s not coasting. That’s surviving and then thriving.
And she did it all while staying out of the gossip columns. No feuds with Phil’s other ex-wives, no public meltdowns and no desperate grabs for attention.
Just a woman living her life on her own terms.
The Lily Factor
Of course, a big, big part of Jill’s story is Lily. But here’s what I’ve observed: Lily constantly credits her mom for how successful she has become. Not in a bland “thanks, Mom” sense. In a real, specific way.
The travelling. The emotional support. The stability. Jill Tavelman was able to create a sanctuary away from the circus of Phil’s stardom.
Lily, currently 36 (and turning 37 in March 2026). She married, she’s a mother herself and she has had huge success with Emily in Paris, being renewed for a fifth season. And she still talks about her mom with genuine warmth and gratitude.
That doesn’t happen by accident. That happens because Jill showed up every single day.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Phil
Real talk for a second: Phil Collins is a musical genius. He’s also, by his own admission, not a great husband or father.
He’s been married three times. Divorced three times. He has five kids with three different women. And while he’s tried to make amends with Lily in recent years, the damage was done when it mattered most, during her childhood.
Jill Tavelman could’ve used that against him. She could’ve dragged him publicly. She didn’t.
But here’s what I find interesting: Jill never had to say a word. Lily told her own story in her book. The truth came out anyway. Jill didn’t need revenge because the reality spoke for itself.
Meanwhile, Phil ended up with his own health issues, his own regrets, his own messy third marriage and divorce from Orianne Cevey. Life has a way of working itself out. Jill just kept moving forward.
What We Don’t Know
Here’s the thing about Jill Tavelman: we don’t actually know that much about her inner life. We know the facts. The timeline. The public appearances.
But we don’t know if she’s lonely. If she wishes, she’d remarried. If she has regrets about anything. If she ever wanted more kids. If she resents Phil. If she’s truly happy or just good at appearing happy.
We don’t know because she’s never told us. And maybe that’s her right. Perhaps after having had her marriage and divorce dredged through the tabloids, she has earned the right to privacy for herself.
Or perhaps there is simply nothing dramatic to tell. Maybe she actually is just a woman who loves antiques, dotes on her daughter and lives quietly in LA. Sometimes the real news is that there’s no scandal.
The Final Word
Jill Tavelman is 69, single, running a successful antique store and looking after her daughter and granddaughter. She’s rich, well and as far as we can tell, happy.
She’s not trying to prove anything to anyone. She’s not writing books or giving interviews or creating a personal brand.
And maybe that’s the most interesting thing about her. In an age where everyone’s fighting for attention, Jill Tavelman just… isn’t. She raised her kid. Built her business. Lived her life. That’s it.
Is it the most exciting story ever told? No. But it’s real. And in a world full of manufactured drama and fake authenticity, real is actually pretty rare. So yeah. That’s Jill Tavelman. Not just Phil Collins’ ex-wife. Not just Lily Collins’ mom.
Just Jill.
Quick Questions People Actually Ask
How old is Jill Tavelman?
69 as of January 2026. Born April 9, 1956.
Was she Phil Collins’ first wife?
No, she was his second. Andrea Bertorelli was first.
How old was Lily when they divorced?
Five when they separated in 1994, seven when it was finalised in 1996.
How much did she get in the divorce?
About £17 million, roughly $25 million at the time.
What does she do now?
Runs Waverly on Doheny, an antique store in West Hollywood. Still operating as of 2026.
Is Lily close to her mom or dad?
Mom, definitely. The relationship with Phil is better now, but it’s been complicated.
What’s Jill’s net worth?
Estimated £20-25 million, about $25-30 million. Includes divorce settlement, real estate, and business income.
