Grace Jones’ Ex-Husband Atila Altaunbay: What Really Happened to Him?

Atila Altaunbay was not a famous actor or singer when people first heard his name. He was just a regular guy with a simple job. But everything changed when he married one of the most famous women in the world — Grace Jones.

Grace Jones is a well-known singer, model, and actress. So when she married a much younger man, everyone wanted to know: Who is this man? That man was Atila Altaunbay.

Today, Atila is remembered not just for being Grace Jones’ husband but also for his quiet life, his kind heart, and his mysterious death in 2021.

Atila Altaunbay Quick Bio

Atila Altaunbay’s Life Before Fame

Atila Altaunbay was born in 1976 in Turkey. He came from a Muslim family and followed a simple, traditional lifestyle. Later, his family moved to Belgium, where he spent most of his early years.

He didn’t grow up rich or famous. In fact, before he met Grace Jones, he worked regular jobs — including delivering pizzas. He didn’t go after the spotlight. He lived quietly and followed his own path.

Even though he later became connected to a superstar, his roots were always humble. That’s one reason why his story feels so different from most celebrity love stories.

How Atila Altaunbay Became a Bodyguard

Atila wasn’t just a strong man — he was smart and trained, too. He learned CPR, AED, and martial arts, which helped him become a certified bodyguard. His job was to protect people, especially those who were famous or important.

He was also very fit. At about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a strong body and sharp skills, he was perfect for the job. He was serious, focused, and always alert — just what celebrities needed in a bodyguard.

But Atila also had a creative side. He loved to sing, and he even took singing lessons. He performed at weddings, joined theatre shows, and tried modeling and acting too. He once acted in a film called Mind Games. So, even before fame, Atila was exploring many talents.

When Atila Met Grace Jones

Atila’s life changed forever when he met Grace Jones in the late 1980s or early 1990s. At that time, he was working as a bodyguard at a club in Belgium.

Grace Jones — already a global star — noticed Atila. He was tall, calm, and serious. He did his job well, and that made a strong impression. Soon, she offered him a better job with better pay and conditions. Their work relationship turned personal.

They spent more time together. And not long after that, love started to grow. It surprised many people, but for Grace and Atila, the connection felt natural.

The Wedding That Shocked Everyone

Grace and Atila fell in love fast. During a trip to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival, something unexpected happened — Grace proposed to him.

Yes, the world-famous star asked him to marry her.

They tied the knot on February 24, 1996, in a private ceremony. But what really shocked people was the age gap. Grace was 48 years old. Atila was just 20 or 21. That’s a 27 or 28-year difference.

The wedding wasn’t just surprising because of their ages. It was also done in a rush, and the man who performed the ceremony wasn’t officially licensed. So they had to redo the wedding later in New York, this time with Grace’s father as the officiant.

Still, the world couldn’t stop talking about it. Everyone wanted to know more about this mysterious man who had suddenly become Grace Jones’ husband.

A Marriage Full of Differences

While Grace and Atila were happy at first, their relationship was never easy.

One big problem came from Atila’s family. In his Muslim culture, younger sons aren’t allowed to marry before their older brothers. So when Atila married Grace, his family did not accept it.

Not only was she much older, but she was also a world-famous celebrity. Atila’s marriage broke traditions, and he was cut off from his family. He lost contact with them completely.

Even so, Atila tried to build a new life. He took on the role of a stepfather to Grace’s son, Paulo Goude, from a past relationship. Paulo wasn’t his biological child, but Atila cared for him deeply and helped raise him during their marriage.

Their world was full of fame and pressure. But at home, they tried to live quietly. For a while, it worked.

Trouble Behind Closed Doors

From the outside, things looked fine. But inside the relationship, problems were growing.

Grace later said that Atila was very jealous. He didn’t like her talking to other men, even if it was harmless. As Grace kept working in the spotlight, this became a serious issue.

Over time, Atila started acting more controlling. His anger became harder to manage. Grace wrote in her memoir that their personal differences, including the age gap and cultural clash, started to pull them apart.

What once felt like a perfect match began to fall apart piece by piece.

The Scary Fight That Ended It All

And then, one day, everything changed.

Grace said that during an argument in the kitchen, Atila pulled a knife on her. It was a frightening moment, and it made her realize the relationship could not continue.

That was the final breaking point. After that incident, Atila left and never returned. Their marriage was over. They separated in 2004, about eight years after they got married.

And just like that, Atila Altaunbay disappeared from the public eye.

Where Did Atila Altaunbay Go After That?

After the fight and sudden split from Grace Jones, Atila Altaunbay disappeared from public view. He didn’t give any interviews. He didn’t appear in the media. It was like he had vanished.

But he didn’t disappear completely. Atila returned to Belgium, the place where he had spent most of his early life. He didn’t go back to acting or music. Instead, he chose a quiet life, far from cameras and fame.

Later, it was discovered that he had joined a small charity group called Helping Hands Belgium. There, he worked to support poor and struggling families, showing a different side of his personality — one that cared about helping others.

Atila Altaunbay’s Mysterious Death in 2021

In October 2021, sad news appeared on the Facebook page of Helping Hands Belgium. They announced that Atila Altaunbay had passed away at the age of 45.

The post was respectful and full of praise. It called Atila their chairman, a brother, and a true helper of the people. It showed that, even though he was once part of a famous love story, he had become someone who worked quietly to do good.

But there was one big problem — no one said how he died. There was no official cause of death, and no clear details were ever shared. This left many people confused, sad, and even suspicious.

His funeral took place at the Mehmet Akif Mosque in Antwerp, Belgium. It was a simple, private event with only close family and loved ones present.

To this day, the reason for Atila Altaunbay’s death remains unknown. Many fans still ask what really happened, but no answers have been given.

Atila Altaunbay’s Net Worth

At the time of his death, Atila Altaunbay’s net worth was estimated to be around $800,000. This money didn’t come from just one thing — he had many different jobs throughout his life.

He worked as a professional bodyguard, which can pay well, especially when working with celebrities. He also earned money through modeling, singing, and small acting roles, like in the movie Mind Games. And later, he worked in the nonprofit world, which likely gave him a steady income, even if it wasn’t huge.

By comparison, his ex-wife, Grace Jones, has a net worth of around $7 million, thanks to her long career in music, fashion, and film.

Still, Atila’s $800,000 net worth showed that he built something meaningful on his own, not just because he was married to someone famous.

The Story He Left Behind

Looking back, Atila Altaunbay’s life was full of big changes. He started as a regular guy from Turkey, working small jobs in Belgium. Then suddenly, he was the husband of a global superstar.

That kind of attention can be hard for anyone, especially when there are age gaps, cultural clashes, and family tension. Even though their love seemed strong at first, the pressure was too much. Their marriage ended, and Atila chose to live a much quieter life afterward.

He could have chased fame, but he didn’t. Instead, he focused on helping people, stayed away from the spotlight, and lived in peace. Sadly, his life was cut short, and his death still leaves many questions with no answers.

But one thing is clear: Atila Altaunbay was more than just Grace Jones’ ex-husband. He was a man who lived in his own way, made big choices, and tried to do good in the world — even when nobody was watching.

Final Thoughts

The life of Atila Altaunbay is both inspiring and mysterious. From a pizza delivery boy to the husband of Grace Jones — and later, a quiet helper of the poor — his story is full of twists.

Though his time in the spotlight didn’t last long, his life reminds us that fame is not everything, and sometimes, the most meaningful moments happen far from the public eye.

Even now, in 2025, people are still asking: What really happened to Atila Altaunbay? Maybe we’ll never know the full answer. But his story will always remain unforgettable.

(FAQs)

Who was Grace Jones’ husband, and did she remarry after Atila Altaunbay?

Grace Jones married Atila Altaunbay in 1996, shocking many with their 27-year age gap. After they split in 2004, she never officially divorced him, and she hasn’t remarried since.

Where is Atila Altaunbay now — is he still alive?

No, Atila Altaunbay died in October 2021 at the age of 45. His cause of death was never shared, making his passing a mystery that still confuses fans today.

What was Atila Altaunbay’s net worth before he died?

At the time of his death, Atila Altaunbay had an estimated net worth of $800,000, earned from work as a bodyguard, singer, model, and actor.

How old was Atila Altaunbay when he died — and how did he die?

He was only 45 years old when he died in 2021. Shockingly, no cause of death was ever made public, and his passing remains unexplained to this day.

What was Atila Altaunbay like when he was young?

In his younger years, Atila was just a regular guy working jobs like pizza delivery in Belgium. He later trained as a bodyguard and never imagined he’d one day marry a global superstar like Grace Jones.

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