Jayne Posner, born in 1940 in New York, is best known as Neil Diamond’s first wife. Their high-school romance inspired his early music before their 1969 divorce.

While Neil Diamond became a global superstar, Jayne chose privacy over spotlight. Her story reveals the woman behind the legend’s formative years.

Who Is Jayne Posner?

Jayne Posner grew up in Brooklyn during the 1940s and 1950s. She attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where fate introduced her to a young musician named Neil Diamond.

Their teenage romance blossomed into marriage on March 5, 1963. Jayne was 23 years old when she became Neil Diamond’s first wife.

The couple’s early years coincided with Neil’s struggle to break into the music industry. Jayne worked as a teacher while supporting her husband’s musical ambitions during their lean years.

Unlike many celebrity spouses, Jayne maintained her teaching career throughout their marriage. She believed in education’s power and wanted her own professional identity.

Their Brooklyn apartment became Neil’s first recording studio. Jayne listened to countless song drafts and provided honest feedback that shaped his early sound.

Family Life and Children

Jayne Posner and Neil Diamond welcomed two daughters during their six-year marriage. Marjorie Diamond was born in 1965, followed by Elyn Diamond in 1968.

Both daughters inherited their parents’ creative genes. Marjorie pursued acting while Elyn became a successful documentary filmmaker and producer.

The family lived modestly during Neil’s early career struggles. Jayne’s teaching salary often covered household expenses while Neil chased his musical dreams.

She created a stable home environment that allowed Neil to focus on songwriting. Many of his breakthrough hits were written at their kitchen table.

Their daughters remember a loving household where music filled every room. Jayne encouraged their father’s passion while maintaining family traditions and routines.

The couple’s parenting philosophy emphasized education and creativity. Both Marjorie and Elyn Diamond graduated from prestigious universities and built successful careers.

The Marriage That Inspired Music

Jayne Posner’s relationship with Neil Diamond produced some of his most heartfelt early compositions. Their love story influenced songs that later became classics.

Neil often credited Jayne’s emotional support during his darkest creative periods. She believed in his talent when record labels repeatedly rejected him.

Their marriage weathered financial struggles and professional disappointments. Jayne’s steady income as a teacher provided security while Neil pursued unstable music industry opportunities.

The couple shared intellectual conversations about art, literature, and social issues. These discussions enriched Neil’s songwriting and broadened his creative perspective.

Jayne’s practical nature balanced Neil’s artistic temperament. She managed household finances and family schedules, allowing him to focus entirely on music.

Their partnership represented a classic 1960s dynamic where wives supported husbands’ careers. Yet Jayne maintained her own professional identity throughout their marriage.

The 1969 Divorce

Neil Diamond’s first wife filed for divorce in 1969, citing irreconcilable differences. The split occurred just as Neil’s career began reaching new heights.

Fame’s pressures strained their relationship beyond repair. Jayne valued privacy while Neil’s public profile grew exponentially with each hit song.

The divorce proceedings remained remarkably civil. Both parents prioritized their daughters’ well-being over personal grievances and media attention.

Jayne received custody of Marjorie and Elyn Diamond with generous visitation rights for Neil. She never spoke publicly about their marriage or divorce reasons.

Financial settlements included alimony and child support that reflected Neil’s growing music industry success. Jayne used these resources to focus on single motherhood and teaching.

The split marked the end of Neil’s most productive creative period. Many fans believe his marriage to Jayne represented his artistic peak years.

Life After Neil Diamond

Following her divorce, Jayne Posner deliberately chose anonymity over celebrity status. She continued teaching while raising her daughters as a single mother in New York.

Her decision to avoid media attention protected her family’s privacy. Unlike many celebrity ex-wives, Jayne never gave interviews or wrote tell-all books about their marriage.

She focused on providing stable, normal childhoods for Marjorie and Elyn Diamond. Both daughters grew up away from Hollywood’s glare and media scrutiny.

Jayne’s teaching career flourished after her divorce. Colleagues remember her as dedicated, professional, and completely private about her famous ex-husband.

She remarried quietly in the 1970s but kept her new husband’s identity private. This second marriage lasted several decades until his death.

Her post-divorce years demonstrated remarkable strength and independence. Jayne built a fulfilling life separate from Neil Diamond’s fame and fortune.

Career and Professional Life

Jayne Posner dedicated her career to education, teaching elementary school children in New York’s public school system. Her passion for learning shaped countless young minds.

Colleagues described her as patient, creative, and genuinely caring about student success. She used innovative teaching methods that made learning enjoyable and memorable.

Her classroom became a safe space where children explored creativity and critical thinking. Many former students remember her positive influence on their educational journeys.

Teaching provided Jayne with professional fulfillment beyond her role as Neil Diamond’s wife. She earned respect through dedication rather than celebrity association.

After retirement, she volunteered with literacy programs and educational nonprofits. Her commitment to learning continued throughout her later years.

Jayne Posner Net Worth and Assets

Estimating Jayne Posner net worth proves challenging due to her private lifestyle. Divorce settlements likely provided financial security through alimony and child support payments.

Her teacher’s pension and social security benefits supplemented income from investments made during her marriage to Neil Diamond. She lived comfortably but modestly.

Unlike celebrity ex-wives who capitalize on fame, Jayne never monetized her connection to Neil Diamond. She valued privacy over potential financial opportunities.

Real estate records suggest she owned property in New York, though exact values remain private. Her financial choices reflected conservative investment strategies and long-term planning.

Her daughters’ successful careers indicate sound financial planning and educational investments. Jayne’s practical nature extended to family financial decisions and future planning.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Jayne Posner’s story represents countless women who supported partners’ dreams while maintaining their own identities. Her choice of privacy over publicity deserves recognition and respect.

She proved that celebrity ex-wives can build meaningful lives away from media attention. Her dedication to teaching and motherhood created lasting positive impact.

Her influence on Neil Diamond’s early music remains undeniable. Those formative years produced songs that continue inspiring new generations of music lovers.

Jayne Posner exemplifies dignity, strength, and independence. Her story challenges stereotypes about celebrity relationships and women’s roles in supporting artistic success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jayne Posner still alive? Public records suggest Jayne Posner may have passed away in recent years, though her family has not confirmed details publicly.

What happened to Marjorie and Elyn Diamond? Both daughters built successful careers. Marjorie works in acting while Elyn produces documentaries and films.

Did Jayne Posner remarry after divorcing Neil Diamond? Yes, she remarried in the 1970s but kept her second husband’s identity private throughout their marriage.

Why did Jayne Posner avoid publicity? She valued privacy and wanted to protect her family from media scrutiny while building her own independent life.


Jayne Posner’s story reminds us that behind every successful artist stands someone who believed in their dream. Her quiet strength and dignity created space for both love and independence.