Who Is Atila Altaunbay? A Look Into Grace Jones’ Ex-Husband

Atila Altaunbay is the ex-husband of Grace Beverly Jones (also known as Grace Mendoza), the iconic Jamaican-born model, singer, and actress.

Born in Turkey and raised as a Muslim, Atila Altaunbay initially entered Grace Jones’ life as her bodyguard. 

However, their professional relationship quickly turned romantic and the two eventually got married.

Their marriage, which lasted for 8 years, caught the media’s attention, as Jones was already a well-known and respected figure in the entertainment industry. 

Despite their time together, the couple did not have any children of their own. 

However, Atila did become the stepfather of Jones’ son, Paulo Goude, whom she had through her relationship with longtime collaborator, Jean-Paul Goude.

Although their marriage may have ended, Atila’s time with Grace Jones has left a lasting impact on his life, thrusting him into the spotlight. 

Today, we will explore the life of Atila Altaunbay, delving deeper into his past and uncovering what led him to become a part of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century.

Atila Altaunbay Bio

Born: 1976, Turkey

Birth name: Atila Altaunbay

Nationality: Turkish American

Parents: N/A

Known for: being married to Grace Jones (her ex-husband)

Marital Status: N/A

Children: Stepfather to Paulo Goude

Education: N/A

Occupation: Bodyguard

Net worth: N/A

Atila Altaunbay: Early Life

Atila Altaunbay was born in Turkey in 1976. However, little is known about his early life and background. 

There is currently no information available in the public domain about exactly where in Turkey he was born or about his family. 

It is not known if he has any siblings, and there is no information available about his parents or their professions. His upbringing and early life remain a mystery.

It is not known if he had any specific interests or talents growing up, or what led him to become a bodyguard, which is how he met and fell in love with Grace Jones. 

Atila Altaunbay: Education

Unfortunately, there is limited information available about the educational background of Atila Altaunbay. 

Despite extensive research, it appears that credible information about which schools he attended is not readily available in the public domain.

Atila Altaunbay: Career

What is known about Atila Altaunbay’s career is that he was a bodyguard for the renowned model, singer, and actress, Grace Jones. This is how the two first met and fell in love. 

However, beyond this information, there is little known about his professional background or any other career paths he may have pursued.

It is likely that he received training as a bodyguard, as this is a highly specialized field that requires specific skills and knowledge. 

It is possible that he completed a bodyguard training course, perhaps in the United States, where he was working when he met Jones. 

It is also unclear whether Atila Altaunbay has pursued other career opportunities or if he is currently employed.

Atila Altaunbay: Marriage To Grace Jones

Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones first met when he was working as her bodyguard, and after dating for some time, Jones made the decision to propose to him. 

In 1996, Atila married Jones in a private ceremony in Rio de Janeiro during the Carnival celebrations, with around 50 guests in attendance. 

The ceremony was officiated by a Presbyterian minister in a private house.

However, after the ceremony, Jones’ father also performed another marriage ceremony for the couple at their family home in Syracuse. 

The marriage was not without controversy, as Jones was in her mid- to late-forties at the time, while Atila Altaunbay was significantly younger. 

As Jones wrote in her memoir: 

“when we did the paperwork, I found out that he was a few years younger than I thought he was … It turned out my husband was 24.”

It is also worth noting that Atila’s family did not approve of his marriage to Jones, as they came from a Muslim background and Jones is not a Muslim. 

This caused a rift between Atila Altaunbay and his family, as he defied their wishes and customs by marrying a non-Muslim woman.

Furthermore, the age difference between him and Jones was not well received by his family either. 

But despite these challenges, Altaunbay’s love for Jones was stronger than any familial or cultural resistance, and he agreed to marry her.

During the time of their marriage, Atila Altaunbay assumed the role of stepfather to Paulo Goude, the son of Grace Jones and her longtime collaborator, Jean-Paul Goude.

Atila’s Separation with Grace Jones

Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones’ relationship came to an end in 2004 after eight years together. 

However, despite their separation, the couple is not legally divorced. 

This is something that Jones herself has acknowledged in her memoir, in which she wrote “We’re not divorced.” 

According to Jones, after their breakup, Atila Altaunbay returned to his family, who had never approved of her. 

She has also stated that despite her attempts, she has been unable to locate him in order to finalize the divorce. 

Here’s what she said:

“I can’t find him to get the divorce sorted.”

This lack of closure on their relationship may be a source of confusion and uncertainty for both Grace Jones and Atila Altaunbay. 

It’s unclear what the reason behind not finalizing the divorce, but it seems that their separation was not a clean-cut one. 

It could be that they both wanted to maintain some form of connection or that the process of divorce was not a priority to either party.

It’s worth noting that this lack of legal divorce may have legal implications, depending on the jurisdiction. 

But regardless of the legal standing of their relationship, it’s clear that Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones’ time together had a significant impact on both of their lives, and their story continues to be a part of pop culture history.

Atila Altaunbay: Personal Life

Atila Altaunbay, the ex-husband of renowned model, singer, and actress Grace Jones, has chosen to lead a private life, away from the spotlight of the media. 

As a result, there is limited information available about his current personal life, such as where he currently resides, whether he has remarried, or if he has any children.

It is possible that Atila Altaunbay values his privacy and has made a conscious decision to keep his personal life separate from the public sphere. 

Unfortunately, this lack of information about his current life and activities makes it difficult to know more about him beyond his past relationship with Jones.

We will continue to keep an eye out for any credible information that becomes available about him and will update this post accordingly. 

At this time, other than being known as Grace Jones ex-husband, there isn’t much information available about him online or in any other public sources.

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