When people talk about Billy Joel, they usually think about his music, his voice, and classic songs like Piano Man and Just the Way You Are. But behind many of those songs was a woman named Elizabeth Ann Weber. She was Billy Joel’s first wife, his early business manager, and his quiet but powerful muse.
Most fans know her name, but very few know her real story. She stayed private for many years, avoided interviews, and rarely appeared in public. Yet she had a major impact on Billy Joel’s personal life and played a key role in his rise to fame.
This is the story of Elizabeth Ann Weber—her background, her complicated love story with Billy Joel, and the lasting influence she left on his music.
Quick Bio
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Ann Weber |
| Birth Year | 1942 |
| Age (2025) | 83 years old |
| Birthplace | New York, USA |
| Current Residence | New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Green |
| Education | New York University (Business/Management) |
| Profession | Business Manager |
| Known For | First wife of Billy Joel; Muse for many of his early songs |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Husband | Billy Joel (married 1973–1982) |
| First Husband | Jon Small (musician and Billy Joel’s early bandmate) |
| Children | One son, Sean Small (Sean Weber-Small) |
| Famous Songs Inspired By Her | “Just the Way You Are,” “She’s Got a Way,” “She’s Always a Woman,” “The Stranger,” “Until the Night,” “Big Shot” |
| Role in Billy Joel’s Career | Former manager; influencer of early career deals |
| Major Events | Affair scandal, Marriage to Billy Joel, 1982 divorce, 1989 Frank Weber financial scandal |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | $1–5 million |
| Recent Appearance | 2025 HBO Documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” |
| Personality | Private, confident, strong-minded, business-focused |
Who Is Elizabeth Ann Weber?
Elizabeth Ann Weber was born in 1942 in New York. As of 2025, she is 83 years old. She has always been a private person, even during the years when Billy Joel was becoming a major star. She rarely spoke to the media and preferred to keep her personal life out of the spotlight.
People who knew Elizabeth often described her as smart, confident, and very sure of herself. She stood out because she didn’t act like most women of her time. Billy Joel later said she seemed “almost like a European-type, not a typical American girl.”
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Her Early Life and Education
Not much is known about Elizabeth’s early childhood because she never shared many personal details with the public. She went to a private high school, later studied at New York University, and developed strong business and management skills.
Even before meeting Billy Joel, she already had a calm but powerful presence. She was the type of woman who didn’t want fame. She wanted privacy, stability, and control over her own life.
These qualities would later make her both a strong partner and a complicated one.
Her First Marriage: Jon Small
Before Elizabeth ever became connected to Billy Joel romantically, she was married to Jon Small, a drummer and Billy’s close friend. Both men were members of a band called The Hassles, and later formed a two-man rock group called Attila.
Elizabeth and Jon had a son together named Sean Small (also known as Sean Weber-Small). They lived in New York and were part of a close music circle.
Because they were so close, Billy Joel often spent time with the Small family. In fact, he eventually moved in with Jon and Elizabeth. That decision changed everything.
How Billy Joel Fell in Love With Elizabeth
It was 1969. Billy Joel and Jon Small had just created the duo Attila, and Billy moved into the home Jon shared with Elizabeth. Spending so much time together, Billy became drawn to Elizabeth’s personality. She was different—mysterious, smart, and confident.
He later admitted that he fell deeply in love with her. And over time, Elizabeth developed feelings for him too.
But there was one major problem: she was still married to Jon.
Their relationship became a secret romance that soon changed all of their lives.
The Affair That Shattered Everything
When Jon Small discovered the truth, everything collapsed.
This is what happened next:
- Jon and Elizabeth divorced
- Billy and Jon’s friendship ended
- The band Attila broke up
- Elizabeth left both men
- Billy Joel fell into a deep depression
Billy blamed himself for the chaos. He felt guilty for hurting Jon, for breaking up a family, and for ruining the band. He was also struggling with his music career, and everything felt like it was falling apart.
The guilt pushed him into one of the darkest periods of his life.
Billy Joel’s Depression and Suicide Attempts
During this difficult time, Billy Joel tried to take his own life twice. He drank heavily, felt hopeless, and could not see a way forward.
The shocking part is that the man who saved him was Jon Small—the friend he betrayed. Jon took him to the hospital and got him the help he needed.
Billy later said he felt “very, very guilty,” especially because Elizabeth and Jon had a child. He said he felt like a “home wrecker.”
But that time in the hospital made him rethink everything. It helped him realize that he could take all that pain and turn it into music. And that moment became the start of his career breakthrough.
Reconnecting and Marrying Billy Joel
After spending time apart, Billy and Elizabeth found their way back to each other. Their feelings were still strong, and in September 1973, they got married.
This time, their relationship became more than romance. Elizabeth became Billy’s:
- Wife
- Business manager
- Advisor
- Partner in his career
Billy also became a stepfather to her son Sean, though Sean later explained that Billy felt more like a fun, mischievous uncle.
During this period, Billy Joel’s career began to rise quickly. He was writing better music, performing more, and gaining attention. Elizabeth was by his side for many of the milestones.
The Woman Behind the Music
Elizabeth Ann Weber became the muse behind many of Billy Joel’s most famous early songs. Their relationship was complicated, intense, and emotional—and that energy appeared in his music.
Songs inspired by Elizabeth include:
- Just the Way You Are
- She’s Got a Way
- She’s Always a Woman
- The Stranger
- Big Shot
- Until the Night
“Just the Way You Are” was written as a birthday gift for her. Billy didn’t think it should be on the album, but Elizabeth insisted. It later won two Grammy Awards and became one of his most iconic songs.
Her son Sean said he could see how deeply Billy loved Elizabeth just by listening to the lyrics.
Who Are Billy Joel and Jon Small?
To understand the full story of Elizabeth Ann Weber, you also need to understand the two men whose lives were deeply connected to hers: Billy Joel and Jon Small. Both men were important in her past, and both played a major role in her life story.
Billy Joel is one of the most famous singer-songwriters in the world. He is known for his strong voice, his piano skills, and his classic songs that people still love today. Songs like Piano Man, Vienna, The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, and She’s Always a Woman made him a music legend. Billy started with small bands, played in local clubs, and slowly built his name. His early career was full of struggles, but his talent helped him rise to the top.
Jon Small was Billy Joel’s friend before fame ever arrived. They played in bands together, including The Hassles and later the rock duo Attila. Jon was a skilled drummer and someone Billy trusted deeply. In the early years, they worked side by side, shared dreams, and tried to build a music career together. Jon Small was also Elizabeth Ann Weber’s first husband, which made the connection between the three of them even more emotional and complicated.
The friendship between Billy Joel and Jon Small was strong, but it was hurt badly by the affair. Even though the relationship between Elizabeth and Billy changed everything, both men carried the experience with them for years. Their shared past became part of music history, and the events shaped the story of Elizabeth Ann Weber in ways no one expected.
Elizabeth Ann Weber’s Children
Elizabeth Ann Weber has one child, her son Sean Small, from her first marriage to Jon Small. Sean grew up during a very turbulent time. His parents were part of a tight music circle, and Billy Joel was close to the family long before he ever became Elizabeth’s husband.
When Billy Joel married Elizabeth, he became a stepfather to Sean. Sean has shared that Billy was not a strict parent, but more like a fun uncle. He said Billy did not try to replace his real father, Jon Small, but he was still part of his life in a warm and playful way. Sean and Billy often joked around, shared small adventures, and created memories during those years.
Later in life, Sean stayed out of the spotlight, just like his mother. But he did appear in small ways here and there. For example, he was on one of Billy Joel’s album covers as a child, which shows how connected their families once were. From interviews, Sean has made it clear that the family kept their private life quiet. He has also said that after the divorce, he and his mother lived very privately, almost like they disappeared from public view for a long time.
Today, Sean is an adult with his own family. It was actually his daughter — Elizabeth’s granddaughter — who encouraged Elizabeth to take part in the 2025 documentary. So even though the family stayed quiet for many years, the connection between generations helped bring Elizabeth’s voice back into the story.
Elizabeth Ann Weber’s Net Worth, Ethnicity, and Nationality
Even though she stayed out of the public eye for many years, people still wonder about Elizabeth Ann Weber’s net worth. As of now, she is believed to have around 1 to 5 million dollars. This money comes from a mix of things. She received assets after her divorce from Billy Joel, including a valuable New York townhouse. She also earned money during her years as Billy’s business manager. Some reports say she may still receive small royalties connected to older contracts, though this part is not confirmed.
Her net worth is not as high as many people expect, especially considering she was once connected to one of the biggest names in music. But Elizabeth never chased fame or wealth. She chose a quiet life. She sold the townhouse in the late 1990s and lived normally, without trying to stay in the spotlight or use her name for public attention. Her money has always been connected to her personal life and her business choices, not from seeking fame.
In terms of background, Elizabeth Ann Weber is American. She was born in New York in 1942 and lived most of her life there. She is also White and comes from a Christian family. Nothing about her ethnicity or personal background was ever used publicly because she preferred privacy above everything else. She kept her life simple, private, and away from public curiosity.
Even after her divorce, she stayed in New York and continued living quietly. She never remarried, never built a public career, and never tried to use her connection to Billy Joel to stay in the public eye. Her nationality, ethnicity, and personal details all show the same thing: she wanted normal life, not celebrity life.
The Marriage Begins to Fall Apart
Even though Billy Joel’s career was going up, things inside his marriage to Elizabeth Ann Weber were slowly breaking down. She wasn’t just his wife. She was also his business manager, the person handling his contracts, his deals, and his career decisions. This gave her a lot of influence, and over time, it created tension.
Elizabeth was a strong, confident person. Some people around Billy felt she was too controlling, while others believed she was simply protecting him. Either way, the stress of mixing business with marriage started to show. Arguments became more common, and the pressure of fame made everything heavier.
Money problems added fuel to the fire. Billy was becoming a star, and the business side of his life was growing fast. Not everything was organized, not everything was fair, and not everything was calm.
Then something happened that Billy later said he would never forget.
The Moment Everything Changed
Billy Joel was in a serious motorcycle accident and injured his hands, which were the most important part of his job as a musician. He had to rest in the hospital and focus on healing.
During that time, Elizabeth visited him. But instead of comfort or support, she brought legal papers for him to sign. According to Billy, these papers would have given her major control over his property and finances at a moment when he was hurt and vulnerable.
He said that was the moment he realized the marriage was over. He felt shocked, betrayed, and unsure about her intentions.
The relationship was already strained, but that moment pushed it past the point of repair.
The Divorce in 1982
After nine years together, Billy Joel and Elizabeth Ann Weber divorced in 1982. Billy tried to save the marriage by giving her gifts and even a four-million-dollar townhouse in New York, but nothing changed. The breakup was final.
After the divorce, Elizabeth disappeared from public life. Her son Sean said it felt like they went into “witness protection,” meaning they stayed away from attention and rarely spoke about those years.
For a long time, no one knew where Elizabeth was or what she was doing.
But the problems were not over yet.
The Financial Scandal Involving Frank Weber
Elizabeth’s brother, Frank Weber, had joined Billy’s team earlier and helped manage his finances. At first, this seemed like a smart idea. He was family, he was trusted, and he understood the business.
But a few years after the divorce, Billy discovered that Frank had taken millions of dollars from him. Billy learned that his money had been used for bad investments and personal lending deals he never approved.
In 1989, Billy Joel filed a forty-five-page lawsuit for ninety million dollars in damages. Frank responded by filing for bankruptcy. The case never made it to trial. Billy settled out of court and recovered only about three million dollars.
The betrayal hurt deeply, especially because Frank had once supported Billy during the divorce. This financial disaster left Billy with emotional pain and long-term trust issues.
Elizabeth Leaves the Spotlight
After the divorce and the financial drama, Elizabeth Ann Weber made a decision that very few people in the world of celebrity ever make: she walked away completely.
She sold the townhouse Billy had given her. Elizabeth moved on quietly. She avoided interviews, cameras, newspapers, and anything connected to her past.
For years, her name was barely mentioned. There were no new photos, no updates, and no public appearances. She chose privacy, peace, and a quiet life.
Fans who knew she had inspired some of Billy Joel’s greatest songs often wondered what happened to her and where she went. But she gave the world no clues. She simply lived her life out of the spotlight.
Then, many years later, she surprised everyone.
Her Return in the 2025 HBO Documentary
In 2025, HBO released a two-part documentary called Billy Joel: And So It Goes. To the shock of many fans, Elizabeth Ann Weber agreed to appear in it.
After decades of silence, she finally spoke about her past, her marriage, and her life with Billy Joel. She said she first refused to take part, explaining that she valued privacy and had built a peaceful life. But her granddaughter encouraged her to do the interview, and the film team convinced her as well.
Elizabeth talked warmly about her years with Billy. She said the time was wonderful for her, that she remembers it fondly, and that she still thinks of it in a positive way. She also praised Billy for his hard work and dedication, saying she had never known anyone who worked harder during those years.
Even though they are no longer in each other’s lives, she said they remain on friendly terms. Her appearance surprised fans and added new depth to a story many people thought they already understood.
Where She Is Now
Today, Elizabeth Ann Weber lives quietly in New York. She has no public social media accounts, no interviews, and no desire for attention. She has kept her life private for decades and continues to do so.
Her son Sean is grown and has his own family. It was actually her granddaughter’s influence that brought Elizabeth back into the public eye for the documentary, even for a short time.
While Elizabeth does not seek the spotlight, her influence is still felt. Billy Joel’s most emotional and iconic songs were inspired by her. The stories behind those songs still fascinate music lovers, and her name remains connected to the early, powerful years of Billy Joel’s career.
Final Thoughts
Elizabeth Ann Weber was not a musician, not a performer, and not someone who enjoyed fame. But she left a lasting mark on music history. She was Billy Joel’s muse during his most important early years. Eliza helped guide his career. She inspired songs people still play today.
Their relationship had love, pain, drama, and creativity. It was complicated and emotional, but it changed the direction of Billy Joel’s life forever.
Even though Elizabeth chose to live quietly, the impact she made is still part of music culture. She remains one of the most mysterious figures connected to Billy Joel, and her story adds a deeper understanding to the songs millions of people continue to love.
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FAQs
1. Who is Elizabeth Ann Weber?
Elizabeth Ann Weber is best known as the first wife of Billy Joel. She played a major role in his early career, served as his business manager, and inspired many of his most famous songs. She was born in 1942 and lives privately in New York.
2. How did Billy Joel meet Elizabeth Ann Weber?
Billy Joel met Elizabeth when she was married to his best friend and bandmate, Jon Small. Billy lived with the couple during their early music years. Their close friendship slowly turned into a romance, which later led to her divorce and the breakup of Billy and Jon’s friendship.
3. What songs did Billy Joel write about Elizabeth Ann Weber?
Some of Billy Joel’s most iconic songs were inspired by Elizabeth, including “Just the Way You Are,” “She’s Got a Way,” “She’s Always a Woman,” “The Stranger,” “Big Shot,” and “Until the Night.”
4. Why did Billy Joel and Elizabeth Ann Weber divorce?
Their marriage ended in 1982 due to personal conflict, business pressure, and money issues. Billy later said that a moment in the hospital—when Elizabeth brought documents for him to sign—was the breaking point. Their business and personal lives were too tangled, and the relationship collapsed.
5. What happened with the Frank Weber financial scandal?
Frank Weber, Elizabeth’s brother, managed Billy Joel’s finances. Billy discovered that millions of dollars were missing and sued Frank for $90 million in 1989. Frank filed for bankruptcy and the case was settled, with Billy recovering only a fraction of the money.
6. Does Elizabeth Ann Weber have children?
Yes. She has one son, Sean Small (also known as Sean Weber-Small), from her first marriage to Jon Small. Sean grew up with Billy Joel as a stepfather during their marriage.
7. What is Elizabeth Ann Weber’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is between $1 million and $5 million. Most of her wealth comes from her divorce settlement, the sale of her New York townhouse, and money earned during her management years.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and online references. Some details may be unverified or subject to change. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not claim to represent official facts.
