Jayne Posner is best known as the first wife of legendary singer Neil Diamond, but her own life tells a very different story from the world of fame and music. Born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, she chose a quiet path as a teacher and built her life around family and education rather than public attention. While Neil Diamond went on to become an international star, Jayne stayed out of the spotlight and focused on raising their two daughters. Her decision to live privately makes her story unique, and even today, many people remain curious about the woman who was by Neil Diamond’s side before his fame.

Profile Summary

Early Life and Background

Jayne Posner was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a typical New York neighborhood during the post-war years. Although details about her parents and family background remain private, what is known is that she attended Abraham Lincoln High School, a well-regarded public school in Brooklyn, where she would later meet Neil Diamond. From a young age, she valued education and chose a path that led her into teaching, which would remain her profession throughout her life. Unlike many connected to celebrities, Jayne always preferred a quiet, private existence and kept her early life away from the media spotlight.

Age and Looks

Jayne Posner was born in 1940, which makes her about 85 years old today. Over the years, she has stayed away from public attention, so there are very few recent photos of her, and details about her appearance are not widely available. In the past, she was often described as having a simple and graceful style, reflecting her preference for living privately rather than seeking the spotlight. While her physical features are not documented in detail, what stands out most is how she has carried herself with dignity and privacy throughout her life.

Life before Neil Diamond

Before her marriage, Jayne Posner was already building her career as a schoolteacher. Teaching was demanding but meaningful work, and she dedicated herself to it. Unlike the music industry, where success was uncertain, teaching provided her with a steady role in shaping young lives. She lived in Brooklyn, surrounded by community and family, and there is no record of her seeking fame or recognition. This pattern of living quietly would follow her throughout her life. Even later, when she became connected to one of the biggest music names in the world, she never used that connection to change her path.

How She Met Neil Diamond

Jayne Posner met Neil Diamond while they were both students at Abraham Lincoln High School, and their relationship began like any other teenage romance. Neil was part of the school’s fencing team and already had dreams of writing music, though at that time he was just a regular student and not yet a star. Their bond grew over the years, and by 1958, they had started dating seriously.

They remained together through their college years, supporting each other as they transitioned into adulthood. By the early 1960s, after about five years of dating, they decided to get married. Their story was one of young love, built on simple beginnings rather than the fame and wealth that would later define Neil Diamond’s career.

Marriage to Neil Diamond

In 1963, Jayne Posner and Neil Diamond were married, beginning a chapter of their lives that was marked by both love and struggle. At that time, Neil was still trying to make his mark in the music industry, writing songs and hoping for a breakthrough, while Jayne worked as a schoolteacher to help support their household. Their life was modest, with financial challenges and long work hours, but it was grounded in genuine partnership.

Unlike celebrity marriages that begin under the spotlight, their marriage was about two young people trying to build a life together. While Neil was chasing his dreams, Jayne was the steady presence who provided balance and stability, showing that their relationship was rooted in more than just ambition.

Who Is Neil Diamond?

Neil Diamond is an American singer and songwriter born on January 24, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York. He became one of the most popular and successful musicians of the 20th century, selling more than 125 million records worldwide. Known for his rich voice and heartfelt lyrics, he created timeless hits like Sweet Caroline, Cracklin’ Rosie, Song Sung Blue, and I Am… I said. Over his long career, he released dozens of albums, earned Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond the fame, Neil Diamond is also remembered for his powerful live performances and his ability to connect with audiences around the world.

Family Life and Children

During their six years of marriage, Jayne and Neil Diamond welcomed two daughters who would remain central figures in both of their lives. Their first child, Marjorie, was born in 1965, and she later became the inspiration for Neil’s song Beautiful Noise after a day they spent together at a parade in New York. Marjorie went on to live privately like her mother, but she did become a parent herself, giving Jayne a grandson named Alexander in 1995.

Their second daughter, Elyn, was born in 1968, and she became the founder of the Children Who Never Forget Foundation, which helps children who have experienced abuse. Elyn later married Mitchel Resnick, and in 2004, they had a daughter named Avery Max. Through her daughters and grandchildren, Jayne’s legacy continues quietly, showing that even away from fame, family life remained her greatest accomplishment.

Separation from Neil Diamond

By 1969, the marriage between Jayne and Neil had reached its end. The pressures of a fast-rising music career, constant travel, and the changes that fame brings became too much for their relationship. They divorced on November 25, 1969, after six years of marriage. Around this same time, Neil Diamond married his second wife, Marcia Murphey, which made the timing of his divorce and remarriage a subject of curiosity for fans and media. While Neil’s personal and professional life stayed in the public eye, Jayne once again chose a different road.

She did not give interviews, did not seek to tell her side of the story, and did not enter the spotlight. Instead, she focused on raising her daughters and continuing her private life.

Life after divorce

After the divorce, Jayne continued living quietly, raising Marjorie and Elyn mostly on her own. Some reports suggest that she later remarried and moved to New Jersey, though no public records confirm this information clearly. Unlike many ex-spouses of celebrities, she never wrote a book, never appeared on television, and never used her connection to Neil Diamond for financial or personal gain. Instead, she continued to work in education and provided a stable home for her daughters. Over time, as Neil Diamond’s fame grew to legendary status, Jayne’s name was mentioned only in passing in biographies or articles about his life. She stayed true to her choice of privacy.

Jayne Posner now

Today, very little is known about Jayne Posner’s current life, and that is by design. She has always chosen privacy, and that decision has followed her into her later years. She is believed to live somewhere in the United States, most likely retired and enjoying a life away from public view. Her estimated net worth has been reported to be around $1 million, though this number is speculative since her finances and lifestyle remain undisclosed.

She does not appear in interviews, documentaries, or on social media, making her one of the few people connected to a major celebrity who has managed to keep her life entirely her own. For fans of Neil Diamond who search “Jayne Posner now,” the answer is simple: she is still living privately, just as she always has.

Legacy and influence

Although Jayne Posner never became a public figure, her influence can be seen through her daughters and the choices she made in her own life. By raising her children outside the spotlight, she gave them the freedom to live independently. Elyn’s foundation is a clear example of how values of compassion and care can be passed down through family. Marjorie’s role as a mother and her connection to Neil Diamond’s work also show how Jayne’s presence shaped the family. More broadly, Jayne’s legacy is about showing another way of being connected to fame. Instead of chasing it, she stepped away, and that choice has become her defining story.

Public curiosity

The reason people still search for Jayne Posner is simple: she represents a part of Neil Diamond’s life that came before fame. She knew him before the records, before the shows, before the world called him a superstar. That makes her story interesting to fans who want to know the whole picture. At the same time, the fact that she has never spoken publicly adds mystery to her name. In today’s world, where privacy is rare and many people are quick to share their lives online, her silence feels unusual. It has made her more intriguing, because sometimes what is not said creates more interest than what is said.

Jayne Posner’s Net Worth

Jayne Posner’s exact net worth is not publicly known, but some sources estimate it to be around one million dollars. This figure is only a guess since she has always kept her personal and financial life private. Most of her income likely came from her career as a teacher and possibly from her divorce settlement with Neil Diamond. Unlike many people connected to celebrities, she never used her name or relationship for public gain, which makes her financial details hard to confirm.

Conclusion

Jayne Posner may never be as famous as her ex-husband, but her story matters for a different reason. She chose education, family, and privacy over fame. She represents the road not taken in celebrity culture, the life built away from cameras and headlines. For fans of Neil Diamond, she is part of the story of his beginnings, the woman who was there before the world knew his name. For others, she is an example of someone who valued her own path more than public recognition. In a culture where oversharing is the norm, Jayne’s commitment to privacy stands out as a reminder that sometimes the strongest choice is to stay quiet and live life on your own terms.

FAQs About Jayne Posner

Who is Jayne Posner?
Jayne Posner is best known as the first wife of singer Neil Diamond. She worked as a teacher and lived a private life away from fame.

When was Jayne Posner born?
Jayne Posner was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, which makes her about 85 years old today.

When did Jayne Posner marry Neil Diamond?
She married Neil Diamond in 1963 after dating him for several years. They met while both were students at Abraham Lincoln High School.

How many children does Jayne Posner have?
Jayne Posner has two daughters with Neil Diamond: Marjorie, born in 1965, and Elyn, born in 1968.

When did Jayne Posner and Neil Diamond divorce?
They divorced on November 25, 1969, after six years of marriage, just as Neil’s music career was starting to grow.

Did Jayne Posner remarry?
Some reports suggest she may have remarried after her divorce, but no public records confirm this, and she has kept her private life away from the media.

What is Jayne Posner doing now?
Jayne Posner lives a quiet life in the United States, most likely retired from teaching, and avoids public appearances or interviews.

What is Jayne Posner’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is unknown, but estimates suggest it is around one million dollars, mainly from her teaching career and possibly her divorce settlement.