The relationship history of Elon Musk, who says he must be in love to be happy

Elon Musk and ex-wife Talulah Riley. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Elon Musk got candid about his personal life in a recent, in-depth Rolling Stone interview.

He spoke of his recent breakup with ex-girlfriend Amber Heard, expressing his heartbreak over their parting.

It's an usual move for Musk, who said in 2010 that he would "rather stick a fork in my hand than write about my personal life."

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX went on to discuss how difficult it is for him to meet people, saying he is looking for a long-term relationship -- and a soul mate. Musk even asked interviewer Neil Strauss if there was anyone Strauss thought he should date.

"If I'm not in love, if I'm not with a long-term companion, I cannot be happy," he told Rolling Stone. "I will never be happy without having someone. Going to sleep alone kills me. It's not like I don't know what that feels like: Being in a big empty house, and the footsteps echoing through the hallway, no one there -- and no one on the pillow next to you. F--. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that?"

Here's a look at some of the tech titan's past relationships:

Elon Musk arrives at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition II in California (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Musk told Rolling Stone he's struggled with loneliness since childhood. "When I was a child, there's one thing I said," Musk said. "'I never want to be alone.'"

Musk met his first wife, Justine Wilson, at Queen's University in Ontario. Writing in Marie Claire, Justine -- who uses Musk's last name -- recalled Musk invited her out for ice cream.

She decided to stay in to study, but he showed up with "two chocolate-chip ice cream cones dripping down his hands." Musk transferred to Wharton, but kept sending Justine roses. They went their separate ways, but reconnected as Musk started working on his first startup and Justine started working on her first novel after graduation.

The Canadian novelist said Musk wooed her by giving her his credit card to buy as many books as she wanted. The pair tied the knot in 2000.

The couple moved to Los Angeles and had a son named Nevada, whom they lost to SIDS. They ultimately had twins and triplets -- five sons in total. In her 2010 Marie Claire article, Justine said her children are "thriving."

And in 2013, Musk said he strives to spend time with his sons. In 2010, he called his children "the love of my life."

Picture: (Getty Images)

The couple split in 2008, and Justine kept her husband's last name for the sake of their kids. After his divorce, the tech mogul began dating actress Talulah Riley.

While Musk and his first wife became estranged, Justine wrote in Marie Claire that she and Riley ended up getting along very well. She even sent her ex-husband's girlfriend an email saying: "I would rather live out the French-movie version of things, in which the two women become friends and various philosophies are pondered."

Riley and Musk married in 2010. Two years later, news of their divorce became public when Musk tweeted: "It was an amazing four years. I will love you forever. You will make someone very happy one day" at Riley on Twitter.

The couple remarried in 2013. Musk filed for -- then withdrew -- a second divorce the following year.

In 2016, Riley filed for divorce from Musk, which was finalized in late 2016. The two are still on good terms, however -- Riley even made an appearance during Strauss' Rolling Stone profile of Musk. "We still see each other all the time and take care of each other," she told People.

Musk began dating actress Amber Heard in 2016, but they broke up a year later due to their intense schedules.

Amber Heard (Getty)

Commenting on one of Heard's Instagram posts, Musk said he and his ex were "still friends, remain close and love one another" and added "who knows what the future holds." He later told Rolling Stone: "I was really in love, and it hurt bad."

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