Olivia Wilde Reflects on Her “Romantic and Insane” Marriage to Italian Prince Tao Ruspoli

Olivia Wilde is opening up about one of the most unexpected chapters of her life: her whirlwind marriage to Italian-American filmmaker and aristocrat Tao Ruspoli when she was just 19 years old.

During a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the actress and director candidly reflected on the impulsive decision that led her to marry Ruspoli after only a few months of dating. Looking back more than two decades later, Wilde described the experience as both “romantic and insane,” a decision fueled by youth, spontaneity, and a desire to embrace the unexpected.

A Fast-Paced Romance

Wilde met Tao Ruspoli in 2002 through mutual family connections. At the time, she was still a teenager and years away from becoming a household name through projects such as The O.C., House, and later films including Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling.

Ruspoli came from a distinguished background. He is the son of the late Prince Alessandro Ruspoli, the 9th Prince of Cerveteri, giving him Italian noble heritage. Despite the aristocratic connection, Ruspoli built a career as a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and musician, embracing a creative and unconventional lifestyle.

After dating for only a few months, the couple decided to get married.

A Burning Man Love Story

Speaking on the podcast, Wilde recalled that the idea of marriage emerged during a trip to the famous Burning Man festival.

“It was at Burning Man. The decision was made at Burning Man, and I believe there was a Burning Man ceremony,” Wilde said.

The actress explained that after the festival, they completed legal paperwork in Los Angeles with the help of an officiant they reportedly found online.

“And then the paperwork was done back in Los Angeles with a man who I think we found on the internet and showed up, so we signed a paper that's probably invalid,” she joked.

While she initially felt excited about the decision, reality quickly set in.

“Then I was like, ‘All right!’ Then immediately was like, ‘Wait, what the f--- did I just do?’” Wilde admitted.

She explained that impulsive decision-making was something of a pattern during her youth.

“Because I had a pattern already at that point of spontaneous decision-making,” she said. “I think that is one of the beauties of youth, but I would get myself into a whole bunch of trouble all the time.”

Marriage as an Act of Rebellion

Interestingly, Wilde revealed that marriage itself was not something she had been actively seeking.

Instead, the idea appealed to her because it felt completely unexpected and dramatic.

“I think it seemed like probably the craziest thing to do, and it was so romantic and insane that I think I was like, ‘Yeah, let me do the most unexpected, insane thing,’” she said.

Her parents were understandably shocked by the sudden decision.

“Of course, my parents were like, ‘Oh my God,’” Wilde recalled.

She also described the marriage as a form of rebellion. While many young people rebel by rejecting traditional institutions, Wilde felt she was doing the opposite.

“Because I could have done anything, the way I rebelled at that point was to do this thing that was really traditional,” she explained.

An Unconventional and Bohemian Marriage

Although the act of getting married was traditional, the marriage itself was far from conventional.

Wilde described their relationship as deeply creative and bohemian. The couple spent much of the 2000s living an artistic lifestyle while maintaining a relatively low profile despite Wilde's growing fame and Ruspoli's aristocratic background.

“It was very bohemian,” Wilde said. “And I am grateful for it because it meant that I spent most of my twenties [that way].”

During those years, Wilde's acting career steadily gained momentum. She became widely recognized for her television roles and eventually transitioned into major film projects. Through it all, she and Ruspoli largely stayed out of the celebrity spotlight.

Why the Marriage Ended

After nearly eight years together, Wilde and Ruspoli announced their separation in February 2011. Wilde later filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and the divorce was finalized later that year.

Despite the end of their marriage, Wilde emphasized that the breakup was not dramatic or contentious.

“It was not a very tumultuous breakup,” she said. “It was just like, this is clearly… We have grown up, we're in very different stages of life.”

Having married as a teenager, Wilde said both she and Ruspoli changed significantly as they matured.

The realization that they had evolved into different people ultimately led them to end the relationship.

Remaining Friends After Divorce

One of the most notable aspects of Wilde and Ruspoli's split is that they managed to preserve a friendship afterward.

Reflecting on their relationship today, Wilde speaks warmly about her former husband and the years they spent together.

“And, you know, and it's funny now, like we're friends,” she said. “I mean, it seems like a hundred thousand years ago. It's crazy.”

Their amicable relationship stands in contrast to many high-profile celebrity divorces and highlights the mutual respect that remained after their marriage ended.

Life After Tao Ruspoli

Following her divorce, Wilde entered a long-term relationship with actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis. The couple became engaged and welcomed two children together:

• Otis Alexander Sudeikis, born in 2014

• Daisy Josephine Sudeikis, born in 2016

Although Wilde and Sudeikis never married, they were together for nearly a decade before separating in 2020. They continue to co-parent their children.

Wilde later had a highly publicized relationship with singer and actor Harry Styles. More recently, she has been linked to British art dealer Caspar Jopling.