Who Is Susan Brown, Michael Bloomberg's Ex-Wife?

Mike Bloomberg remains "best friends" with his ex, Susan Brown, although they divorced in 1993. He's been with girlfriend Diana Taylor since 2000.

With his former wife, Susan Brown, smiling at his side, Mayo
(Image credit: New York Daily News Archive)

As billionaire and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg continues his late-stage campaign for president in 2020, he's been on the campaign trail with his current partner Diana Taylor. She is not the mother of his two kids: Bloomberg was only married once, to Susan Brown. The two split in 1993, but if reports are to be believed, they still have a more-than-cordial relationship. The pair are, in fact, called "best friends" by those closest to them. Here's what we know about Brown, her union with Bloomberg, and where they stand now.

Bloomberg was married to Susan Brown between 1976 and 1993.

Susan Brown (maiden name Meyer) had been married before and divorced, according to the wedding announcement in the New York Times. She'd attended school in York, England and Neuchatel, Switzerland. The two have two children together, Georgina and Emma. Apparently they disagreed, often, about how much time he was spending away from his family.

"They were not getting along because their lives are not compatible," Emma explained. "My mother doesn't want to be social all of the time. She was perfectly happy to curl up with a book and not go out all week." But the pair remained friends after the divorce—Brown and her then-boyfriend campaigned for her ex and, as of 2001, were still celebrating holidays together.

Bloomberg also continued to support Brown after the divorce. In 2012, the New York Times reported:

"In 2011, Mr. Bloomberg helped his ex-wife, Susan, with at least two financial transactions: He provided a bridge loan of more than $500,000 so she could buy a new apartment, while she waited to close on the sale of her previous one, and he transferred more than $500,000 into a trust in her name."

According to Emma, "My parents are best friends...Nobody understands that until they actually see it." She was so positively impacted by the situation that she referenced it in her college essays, calling it "one of the best things that ever happened to me."

He's been with Diana Taylor since 2000.

The couple, who have been together for 20 years, met at a business lunch, and he asked her out at a restaurant later. She's worked on Wall Street since the 1980s, was appointed New York state’s superintendent of banks in 2003, and even had fleeting political aspirations of her own. “Her famous boyfriend may be the least interesting thing about her,” said Anna Wintour. “She’s intelligent, independent—and completely her own person. Michael is lucky to have her.”

They're not married, and don't seem to have any plans to be. Taylor says there really isn't a word for what they are—partner seems to be the closest. She's a "step-whatever...friend" to his kids, and fierce supporter of his political aspirations.

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Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York TimesParentsInStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLEHarper’s BazaarSeventeenGood Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeanshow sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.