Inside the life of a global superstar: Love, loss, and the fight to keep performing

”When I finally understood what was in that deal, I said, ‘No f**king way—I’m in a hospital bed and you’re shedding crocodile tears and bringing me a contract that completely screws me?’” he recalled.

Inside his brain disorder

Later, while married to another wife, he discovered that her brother, whom he had appointed as manager, had stolen nearly $30 million of his earnings. He sued and recovered a fraction but said the betrayal was more emotional than financial. Subsequent marriages were less financially devastating but still complicated, including a divorce that cost him a Manhattan townhouse worth millions.

Even amid personal chaos, he found love again with his current wife, Alexis Roderick. In 2023, he bought a home in Florida and announced he would step back from performing, though he did not stop making music.

In May 2025, he revealed a serious health diagnosis: Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that can damage the brain. His team posted on Instagram, “Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).”

Support came flooding in from family and fans. His daughter shared, “We love you and we got you, Pop!”