Olivia Wilde recalls Burning Man wedding that led to ‘insane’ marriage to Italian prince at 19

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Olivia Wilde has opened up about her “insane” decision to marry Italian-American filmmaker Tao Ruspoli when she was just 19. The actor reflected on how quickly the relationship unfolded after a brief romance.

Wilde tied the knot in 2003, just months after they began dating. The marriage lasted until 2011, with the actor later describing it as impulsive but formative in hindsight.

Olivia Wilde says Burning Man wedding led to teenage marriage

During her appearance on ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, Olivia Wilde said the decision to marry Ruspoli came together in an unconventional setting tied to Burning Man.

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

She added that the legal paperwork was completed later in Los Angeles in a casual way. “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,” Wilde said.

Olivia Wilde recalls impulsive decisions in early adulthood

Looking back, Wilde said she often acted on instinct in her younger years and later recognised the pattern.

“And then, immediately, I was like, 'Wait, what the did I just do?’ Because I had a pattern already at that point of spontaneous decision making. And I think that is one of the beauties of youth, but I would get myself into a whole bunch of trouble all the time,” she said.

Wilde also said she had never seriously considered marriage before meeting Ruspoli.

Olivia Wilde calls teenage marriage to Tao Ruspoli ‘craziest thing to do’

The ‘Don't Worry Darling’ actor described the decision as both romantic and overwhelming in hindsight.

“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. Of course, my parents were like, ' Oh my God,’” she said.

She added that the experience shaped her twenties in unexpected ways.

Olivia Wilde says split from Tao Ruspoli was not tumultuous

Wilde said their separation came naturally as they grew in different directions rather than from conflict.

“It was just like, this is clearly… We have grown up, we're in very different stages of life,” she said.

She added that they remain on friendly terms today. “And, you know, and it's funny now, like we're friends. I mean, it seems like a hundred thousand years ago. It's crazy,” Wilde said.

Following her divorce from Ruspoli, Wilde later dated Jason Sudeikis, got engaged in 2013, and welcomed two children, Otis and Daisy, before their split in 2020.