Marlene Knaus gained popularity after she married the Austrian Formula 1 racer Niki Lauda. Before her marriage, however, Knaus had her own livelihood, as she pursued a number of career paths. In the 1960s she was a popular society lady and also worked in fashion, as a designer and model. All this helped Marlene to build up her own portfolio, although after her divorce from Lauda in 1991 she decided to live an inconspicuous life. The unexpected development, which took place under very vague circumstances, kept both Marlene and Niki Lauda in the public eye. Here you will find everything you need to know about Niki Lauda’s ex.
Marlene Knaus Bio, Age
Although not verified, it is reported that Marlene was born in the United States in 1956. Later in her life, she received Austrian citizenship. Not much is known about her family background, but we do know that Marlene Knaus began her career at a young age. Knaus started as a fashion designer and worked with different brands and was really good at what she did.
Marlene’s popularity grew faster after she married Niki Lauda in 1976. The two had met years ago and started dating after their first encounter. Their relationship was received with great enthusiasm by the F1 racer’s huge fans. Marlene Knaus also gained more fans after she got engaged to Lauda. Reports that Niki had dumped his long-time girlfriend to be with Marlene was circulating at the time and therefore drew a lot of attention to the model.
ALSO READ: Adrienne Bankert Biography, Age, Parents, Wiki, Married, Family
The wedding of Marlene and Laud the year before was on everyone’s lips. Their relationship was impressive and their profiles became more and more popular. For Marlene, she rose to a higher platform in the model industry. This was to be expected; she married one of the best racing drivers in the world. The Formula 1 racer won the F1 World Championship of Drivers three times, in 1975, 1977, and 1984, and among his many successes is his title as the only driver to win the championship for both Ferrari and McLaren.
On the front pages of various magazines, Marlene became a popular face in the fashion industry and was soon considered a fashion icon. Laud and Knaus had two children. They adopted their first child, a boy named Mathias Lauda, in 1979, and in 1981 they welcomed another boy, Lukas Lauda.
In 1991, however, the couple separated. The news of their divorce was received with great shock by fans and media alike. No one could imagine that the once-beloved couple would ever think of going separate ways after 15 years of marriage.
Many tried to uncover the underlying factor that might have led to the split, but all efforts were in vain. This was due to the very mysterious nature of the couple. No one was able to find out a possible reason for their divorce.
Her Net Worth
Marlene not only earned money as a fashion model but also became rich through her divorce from Niki Lauda. Knaus counted millions of dollars in alimony and child support from her ex-husband. While Lauda’s net worth per estimate reached up to $100 million, Knaus had her own net worth estimated at about $40 million at that time. It cannot be said with certainty what Marlene or Niki have earned lately, as they are well past their glory days.
ALSO READ: Diane McInerney Bio, Age, Wiki, Married, Family, Other Facts
Other Facts About Niki Lauda’s Ex-Wife
Marlene Knaus received Austrian citizenship after her marriage to the Austrian F1 racing legend.
The former model did not marry again after her first failed marriage. Marlene has remained a single mother until today. Even more, due to her private nature, there are no reports about her relationship with another man. Niki on the other hand married Birgit Wetzinger, his second wife. With Wetzinger he also has two children, twins, Max and Mia. According to reports, Birgit was Marlene’s stewardess.
Since her divorce from Lauda, Marlene leads a secluded and inconspicuous life away from the public. According to reports, however, she remained in contact with Niki for several years after the divorce.
For someone who has excelled in the modeling industry, Marlene had exactly the right body in her active years. The numbers may have changed, but she averaged 5ft 8in and her body statistics were measured at 34-26-35 inches, which corresponded to her breasts, waist, and hips.
