Who is Thelma Riley? The Untold Story of Ozzy Osbourne First Wife

Who is Thelma Riley? She is an English woman who is most popular as the first wife of Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic rock star. The couple walked down the aisle in 1971 and had three kids during that span. Like any other couple, their marriage had its own fair share of tests which resulted in them parting ways in 1982. Thelma Riley and Ozzy Osbourne have been through many ups and downs. In this blog post, we will provide you with all the details about Thelma Riley.

Birth, Parents, and Education

Thelma Riley came to this world on May 17, 1954 in Hertfordshire, England. As for the present time in 2024, she is seventy years old. There is no information available to the public about her parents or any siblings she might have.

As for her studies, Thelma Riley was a student and working as a waitress at the Rum Runner Nightclub in 1971 where she met Ozzy Osbourne, and later she worked as a school teacher in Leicestershire, UK. There is no information available about her education.

Love Story of Thelma Riley and Ozzy Osbourne

The love story of Thelma Riley and Ozzy Osbourne commenced in 1971 when Thelma was employed as a waitress at Rum Runner nightclub in Birmingham. Ozzy was escaping his wild past and was working his way into the limelight as the lead singer of heavy metal band Black Sabbath.

Despite his rising career, he was still a young man navigating the early stages of fame.

The relationship advanced quickly. They met in 1971 and went on to date for a couple of months before getting engaged.

They exchanged vows in July that year. Thelma also had a son Elliot Kingsley from a previous relationship. After her marriage to Ozzy, Elliot Kingley was adopted by Ozzy.

The couple had two children together: Jessica Starshine Osbourne, daughter who was born in 1972, and Louis John Osbourne, son who was born in 1975.

However, the joy of marriage that this couple enjoyed was indeed quite short lived as many incidents cropped up in their matrimonial life such as infidelity and substance abuse by Ozzy .

These problems resulted in their separation and transition to divorce in the year 1982.

Ozzy Osbourne: Thelma Riley Husband

Ozzy Osbourne was born as John Michael Osbourne on December 3, 1948, and hails from Marston Green, England. As of 2024, he is 75 years old. He belonged to a working-class family in Aston, Birmingham.

His artist career began in 1968 when he formed Black Sabbath along with the band members; guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.

In 1970, they released their first album The Black Sabbath which quickly became popular for its heavy and dark sound.

They further solidified their position with subsequent albums that included “Paranoid” (1970) ,” Master of Reality” (1971), “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath “(1973).

Because of his distinctive voice and captivating presence on stage, Ozzy was called the “Prince of Darkness”.

In 1979, Ozzy was expelled from Black Sabbath because he became an alcoholic and a drug addict. After this, he started a solo career that started with his first album “Blizzard of Ozz” released in 1980.

This album became a huge success having hits like “Crazy Train”. Over the years that followed, Ozzy proved that his fame was not a fluke, as he went on to produce hit after hit through the 80s and 90s.

Apart from enjoying a vivid musical career, Ozzy has also made a name for himself as a reality television star due to the show ‘The Osbournes‘, which aired between 2002 and 2005.

The show featured his family and showed fans how they lived their seemingly wonderful yet chaotic lives.

For that reason and as well as his prominent contribution to the genre of heavy metal music, he has won many awards and recognitions which include induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath.

Life After Divorce

After Ozzy Osbourne divorced Thelma Riley in 1982, she opted to be out of the public eye. There is no record of her marrying again or getting into another public romance. She remained in her job as a school teacher in Leicestershire, England.

On the other hand, Ozzy Osbourne was having a romantic relationship with Sharon Arden, daughter of the manager of Black Sabbath. Their wedding took place in Hawaii on July 4, 1982.

The couple have three kids; Aimee Osbourne on September 2, 1983, Kelly born on October 27, 1984 and Jack born on November 8, 1985. Sharon was directly involved in the overall management of Ozzy’s solo career which led to immense success.

Sharon and Ozzy can be said to be happily married, but their relationship has not been without its fair share of issues, including addiction, health and other personal matters that went public.

Their marriage, however, has endured all ups and downs. The pair also became celebrities through their reality TV show, The Osbournes, which ran from 2002 to 2005.

Social Media Presence

Thelma Riley seems to be focused on her own private life and is not active on any social media sites. She prefers face to face communication rather than being on public platforms.

Jessica Starshine Osbourne, her daughter, is not very active on social media and maintains a low profile.

Louis John Osbourne has been more active particularly in the music field and posts works connected updates every once in a while.

Elliot Kingsley does not seem to be active on the internet and does not have an active presence on social media.

Ozzy Osbourne has a significant social media presence. something he is not interested in. He is active on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where he shares updates about his music, personal life, and various projects.

His wife, Sharon Osbourne, often shares family updates, giving fans a glimpse into their lives. Ozzy’s social media accounts are followed by millions of fans who enjoy his posts and interactions.

Thelma Riley Net Worth

Thelma Riley, who has worked as a school teacher, has an approximate net worth of 600,000 USD dollars by the year 2024. Her primary source of income has been her teaching career in Leicestershire, England. The average teacher’s salary in the United Kingdom is between £21000 – £47000 annually.

Her ex-husband Ozzy Osbourne has an estimated fortune of about 220 million dollars. She has chosen to lead a private life away from media glare and publicity.

Bottom Line

Thelma Riley’s life has been a journey of ups and downs, from her marriage to Ozzy Osbourne to her quiet life as a teacher. Despite the challenges, she has maintained her privacy and focused on her family. Her story is a testament to resilience and strength.