Albert Einstein. The man who unlocked the secrets of the universe, redefined our understanding of space and time, and gave us the world's most famous equation. He's a certified 10 on the genius scale. But when it came to his love life? Let's just say it was a hot mess.
This wasn't just a case of a few bad dates. We're talking about a man who married his first cousin, wrote a brutally cold contract to his first wife, and had so many affairs that his second wife just... accepted it. Forget the Nobel Prize—Einstein's romantic life deserves its own field of study.
Before he was a global icon, Einstein was married to Mileva Marić, a brilliant Serbian mathematician who was his intellectual equal. But as his star began to rise, his affection for her plummeted. He didn't just drift away; he handed her a list of cruel, contractual demands that would make a modern-day situationship look like a fairytale romance.
Here's a taste of the conditions he demanded she follow:
B. You will renounce all personal relations with me, except when these are required to keep up social appearances.
You will expect no affection from me... You must leave my bedroom or study at once without protesting when I ask you to."
He literally told his wife to be his maid and expect no love in return. Unsurprisingly, they divorced in 1919. He had already been having an affair with his cousin, Elsa, for years.
Yes, you read that right. His cousin. Elsa Einstein was not only his first cousin (their mothers were sisters), but they were also second cousins (their fathers were cousins). It was a family affair in every sense of the word.
But here's the kicker: before marrying Elsa, Einstein briefly considered marrying her 20-year-old daughter, Ilse, instead. Ilse was horrified, writing in a letter, "I know that A. loves me very much, perhaps more than any other man ever will... I can hardly believe it myself and feel very unhappy doing so as well. Help me!"
He eventually married Elsa, but monogamy was never on the table. He had numerous affairs, including with Elsa's own friend and his secretary. His justification? "One should do what one enjoys, and won't harm anyone else." He called monogamy "a bitter fruit for everyone involved."
Elsa, for her part, seemed to accept her role as the wife of a world-famous genius who couldn't be tied down. She managed his household, protected him from unwanted visitors, and tolerated his infidelities until her death in 1936.
So, was Einstein a 10? In the world of physics, absolutely. But in the world of love, he was a walking red flag. His messy, complicated, and often cruel romantic life is a powerful reminder that even the most brilliant minds can be absolute disasters when it comes to the human heart. And in a weird way, that's kind of comforting. 🔥
1.All That's Interesting - "Elsa Einstein's Cruel, Incestuous Marriage With Albert Einstein"
•A deep dive into the life of Einstein's second wife and cousin, and the complexities of their marriage. https://allthatsinteresting.com/elsa-einstein
2.HISTORY - "The Surprising Story of Albert Einstein's Wives and Lovers"
•An overview of Einstein's relationships, including his treatment of Mileva Marić and his many affairs. https://www.history.com/news/albert-einstein-wives-children-love-letters
3.Live Science - "Einstein in Love: Letters Illuminate Genius' Dark Side"
•An article that uses Einstein's own letters to reveal the chaotic and often messy nature of his romantic life. https://www.livescience.com/46061-einstein-chaotic-love-life.html
