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Emily Martin

Elton John and David Furnish: How the stars met, life with their two young sons, highs and lows and how much they're worth

They're one of the most high-profile couples in showbiz - and one of the longest-lasting.

In an industry that sees plenty of break ups, Sir Elton John and David Furnish have been together almost three decades and are raising two young sons.

They have plenty of celebrity friends, including the Beckhams, and are often pictured at glitzy events.

Read more: BBC The Graham Norton Show: Daisy Edgar Jones' teen pregnancy in Cold Feet, 'surprise' success in Normal People and real-life split from actor boyfriend

But as well as their high-profile careers in music and film, respectively, they are also known for supporting good causes and Sir Elton has his AIDs charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

As the pair throw their support behind the people of war-torn Ukraine, we take a look at their lives and work together...

How did Elton and David meet?

David Furnish, 56, and Elton John, 72, met in 1993 at a dinner party at Elton's house held after he told a friend he wanted to meet new people.

Elton had recently stopped drinking and told Parade magazine in 2010: "I rang up a friend in London and said, ‘Could you please rattle some new people together for dinner here Saturday?'”

Reportedly, David was reluctant to go later saying he expected the night to be a total bore (we're not too sure why... see the section on the notorious White Tie and Tiaras Ball) but anyway, the pair hit it off with an instant attraction.

In May 2005, Elton proposed to David at a dinner party with friends and they were married in a Civil Partnership on the first day it was possible (December 21 2005).

Elton said at the time: "Having our civil partnership was an incredible breakthrough for people that have campaigned for a long time - through the '60s and the '50s in England when it was so hard to be gay and hard to be open about it. And it was a criminal act."

The wedding was a star-studded affair with celebrity friends in attendance, including David and Victoria Beckham, Ed Sheeran, Hugh Grant and Gary Barlow.

They have two sons born through surrogacy - Zachary, 11, and Elijah, 9 who have brought more joy to their lives than anything else with Elton saying to The Mirror in 2018: “Before we had the children we just had our lives and we would spend money because we didn't have anything else to focus on.

"I've learned that the simplest things in life, like having a minute with them, are worth more than any painting, any photograph, any house or hit record."

What does David do for a living?

David Furnish is from Toronto. An advertising executive, when he was recruited by Ogilvy and Mather (an advertising agency) he was transferred to the London.

He's the co-chief (together with husband Elton) of Rocket Pictures, a film company founded by the pair in 1996.

He's also on the Board of the Elton John Aids Foundation.

And he's a contributing editor at Tatler magazine and regular columnist for Interview and GQ.

Sir Elton John with his husband David Furnish (PA)

Where do the pair live?

The short answer is they have many homes all over the world.

When in America, they spend time at their Beverly Hills mansion in the 90210 zip code.

The luxury home has 10 beds, 22 bathrooms and was purchased from Guess co-founder Armand Marciano in 2015 for $32.6 million.

They also have a home in nearby Los Angeles, located in the Trousdale Estates and purchased for a snip of the Beverley Hills home at $7.2 million.

Their L.A home is adorned with spectacular artworks by David LaChapelle, Tracey Emin and Keith Haring.

They also have a luxury high-rise condo in Atlanta in the Park Place building where he shares a stairwell (or elevator shaft) with the likes of Oprah Winfrey.

Moving the UK now and Elton's main Blighty residence is in Windsor. Woodside in Old Windsor to be exact which he refers to as "the hub".

He also has a smaller place in Queensdale, London.

And we're not done yet.

Elton and David have a home in Venice and a place in Nice referred to as his "summer house".

Celebrity friends

Elton's star-power is such that he can count some of the world's most famous profiles as his actual BFFs.

Some of the names of people he's been seen out with or are known to be close friends with include Cindy Crawford, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley, Victoria and David Beckham, Princess Diana and Ed Sheeran.

The friendship between Eminem and Elton John began in 2001 when the pair performed Stan together at the Grammy's.

Commenting on his friendship with Em, Elton had revealed in an interview, "We became friends. We've been amazing friends ever since."

Elton and Princess Diana first met at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle in 1981.

Writing of the late royal in his memoir, Me, Sir Elton recalls: "She was blessed with an incredible social ease, an ability to talk to anybody, to make herself seem ordinary."

And the Beckhams have been friends with Elton John and David Furnish for years. Elton is godfather to Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham.

Elton, Victoria and David on their summer hols (Internet Unknown)

Low points

Elton John has had some public struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and is very proud of his sobriety.

On stage he was a flamboyant performer, but off stage he was shy and turned to cocaine to help him overcome his anxieties.

His addictions were represented in the biopic Rocketman starring Taron Egerton as Elton John.

In 2015 he announced on Instagram that he'd been 25 years sober.

In 2012 he told NPR: "I still dream, twice a week at least, that I’ve taken cocaine and I have it up my nose, it’s very vivid and it’s very upsetting, but at least it’s a wake-up call.”

How much is Elton John worth?

The Royal Mint's Elton John 2020 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin - part of the Music Legends series (PA)

In the Sunday Times Rich List last published in May 2021, Sir Elton John came in as the fourth richest musician with an estimated wealth of £375 million, after Sir Paul McCartney, U2 and Lloyd Lord Webber.

It is reported that most of his money was made through music, and despite the pandemic hitting the music industry hard, with Elton also having to postpone his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour due to hip surgery, his net worth still went up £15 million on the previous year.

In October 2021, John was named in the Pandora Papers which alleged a secret financial deal of politicians and celebrities using tax havens to avoid the payment of owed taxes.

Elton career highlights

Elton Hercules John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25 1947.

His music career has spanned six decades with highlights including selling more than 300 million records and making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

His rewritten version of his 1974 single Candle in the Wind, dedicated to Princess Diana, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is to date the best-selling single of all time.

To raise money for his AIDS charity, John annually hosts a White Tie & Tiara Ball on the grounds of his home in Berkshire, to which many celebrities are invited.

He wrote the music for the musical version of Billy Elliot and is well known for composing several songs for Disney's 1994 animated film, The Lion King, including Circle of Life, I Just Can't Wait to Be King, Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight, with English lyricist Tim Rice.

Former Watford owner Sir Elton John in the stands with sons Elijah Furnish-John and Zachary Furnish-John before the Sky Bet Championship match at Vicarage Road, Watford (PA)

Football

Elton became chairman of Watford F.C 1976, after supporting the team since his youth.

He sold the club in 1987, but remained president. and then 10 years later he repurchased it, finally stepping down in 2002.

Although no longer the majority shareholder, John still holds a significant financial interest.

White Tie & Tiara Ball

To raise money for his AIDS charity The Elton John Aids Foundation, he annually hosts a celebrity studded White Tie & Tiara Ball on the grounds of his home in Berkshire.

Set amongst the 37 acres of rolling English countryside Elton and David call home, the White Tie & Tiara Ball is always a spectacular evening (think Met Gala but with fields), raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

It is an annual event hosted by Elton and David and one of the premier fundraising events of the UK.

David Furnish, Naomi Watts and Elton John at the 14th Annual White Tie and Tiara Ball to Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation (WireImage for Chopard)

Support for the Ukraine

In the wake of huge global distress and fear, caused by the unfolding situation in Ukraine, the Rocket Man singer posted on Instagram:

"For over 20 years, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has supported some of the most vulnerable people in Ukraine with access to HIV services and care, as part of our commitment to communities across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

"We are heartbroken and appalled to see this conflict unfold and our hearts are with the people of Ukraine who do not deserve to live through this nightmare.

"During these devastating times, we stand for an end to the violence and suffering in Ukraine so that life-saving services and humanitarian aid can reach those desperately in need."

The musician’s husband David Furnish also shared the image and caption on his own Instagram page.

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