Meet The Muses: The Women Who Inspired Billy Joel’s Songs
Billy Joel has become one of the most prolific artists in music history. His albums have become best-sellers and his concerts are attended by millions from all over the world. Not only does Joel have a compelling career, but he's also had some unique romantic relationships.
Discover the women who inspired his songs, facts about his life, and which one of his hit songs he can't stand!
The Influence Behind "Piano Man"
![the piano man 543635819 Billy Joel and wife Elizabeth Weber circa 1981 in New York City](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/the-piano-man-543635819-50184.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=130&left=0&zoom=1.15107913669)
There are many songs in Billy Joel's collection, but the one he's arguably the most famous for is "Piano Man."
Released in 1973, Joel wrote about being in his early 20s and still not finding success as a musician. He had just married his first wife, Elizabeth Weber Small, who was the "waitress practicing politics."
Elizabeth Weber Small Also Inspired A Few Other Songs
![elizabeth weber small 86380800 elizabeth weber small with billy joel](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/elizabeth-weber-small-86380800-88124.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=59&left=0&zoom=1)
Not only was Elizabeth Weber Small mentioned in "Piano Man," but she also inspired more of Joel's songs. He wrote the ballads "She's Only a Woman" and "Just the Way You Are" about her.
He thought of these songs as a tribute to her and she even asked for publishing rights.
His Relationship With Elle MacPherson
![elle macpherson 603126026 elle macpherson posing for a photo in 2016](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/elle-macpherson-603126026-86685.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=47&zoom=0.838050314465)
One of Billy Joel's lesser-known romantic relationships was with supermodel Elle MacPherson. Joel felt intimidated dating a supermodel and wrote a song about it.
That song happened to be "And So It Goes." The lyrics were about him knowing the relationship wasn't going to last when MacPherson started getting more famous.
Who "Uptown Girl" Was Actually About
![uptown girl 1213531189 uptown girl music video with billy joel and christie brinkley](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/uptown-girl-1213531189-96260.jpg?width=800&height=533)
Most fans of Billy Joel probably thought "Uptown Girl" was about his second wife Christie Brinkley. She appeared in the music video, after all.
The song was actually about his relationship with Elle MacPherson, Brinkley, and other women he dated before them. The song was originally called "Uptown Girls," but he changed the title when he started dating Brinkley.
Christie Brinkley Won Over His Heart
![billy-joel billy-joel](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/billy-joel-66489.jpg?width=800&height=533)
After Joel's divorce from first wife Elizabeth Weber Small, he had two women competing for his affection. Supermodels Elle MacPherson and Christie Brinkley wanted to win over Joel's heart.
While he dated both, he ended up marrying Brinkley in 1985. She inspired the song "The Is the Time" and the entire album An Innocent Man.
Billy Joel's Current Net Worth
![net worth 1348375402 Billy Joel performing on the piano](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/net-worth-1348375402-97214.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=1&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Since Billy Joel is one of the best-selling artists of all time, he's bound to have a significant net worth.
Currently, Joel has a net worth of about $225 million. He has sold over 150 million records worldwide and recently earned millions for his residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
His Impressive Real Estate Properties
![real estate 1196193222 Billy Joel and his wife Elizabeth, with their dog on their property in Cove Neck in Oyster Bay](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/real-estate-1196193222-42124.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.781524926686)
Billy Joel owns a plethora of luxurious properties across the United States. He owns a 14,000-square-foot mansion in Oyster Bay that he bought for $22.5 million.
Also, Joel owns side-by-side properties across four acres of Manalapan, Florida that he bought for $12 million. Some of his previous homes sold to celebrities such as Jerry Seinfeld and Sting.
Marriage To Katie Lee
![katie lee 116940833 katie lee and bille joel photographed together](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/katie-lee-116940833-46476.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=9&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Billy Joel married third wife Katie Lee in 2004 and they divorced about five years later. At the time of their wedding, Lee was 23 and Joel was 55.
Lee is a chef, cookbook author, food critic, and novelist. Some may recognize her from Iron Chef America, The Kitchen, and Beach Bites with Katie Lee.
Tying The Knot To Alexis Roderick
![alexis roderick 479500272 alexis roderick and billy joel at their wedding](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/alexis-roderick-479500272-87154.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
On July 4, 2015, Billy Joel got married for the fourth time to Alexis Roderick. She is an equestrian and a former executive from Morgan Stanley.
The couple has a six-year-old daughter named Della Rose and a four-year-old daughter named Remy Anne. Joel also has a 36-year-old daughter named Alexa Ray from his marriage to Christie Brinkley.
Why People Can't Buy Front Row Seats To His Concerts
![concert 1170986941 Billy Joel performs at Madison Square Garden](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/concert-1170986941-99809.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
As of recent, Billy Joel is making the majority of his money performing live. However, audience members may wonder why they can't get front-row seats.
Joel started giving away all of his best seats to people who couldn't afford them. He thinks of them as his real fans.
He Used To Be A Boxer
![boxer 74278058 Billy Joel poses for a portait by a river bank in circa 1971](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/boxer-74278058-44192.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=2&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Before Billy Joel decided to become a singer, he had another profession in mind. When Joel was a kid he was constantly bullied, so he wanted a way to defend himself.
He decided to take up boxing and ended up having a talent for it. He won his first 22 fights and competed on the Golden Gloves circuit. But he gave it up after breaking his nose.
His Father's Absence Inspired This Song
![father 1001232908 Billy Joel sits in front of the banner at a press conference](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/father-1001232908-43379.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Billy Joel grew up mostly without his father. He had emigrated to America and was a professional pianist, which is one of the main reasons Joel decided to play piano.
After his parents divorced, his father went back to Austria and didn't see him for over 20 years. His long-lost father relationship inspired the song "Vienna."
Who Inspired His Song "Big Shot"
![big shot 2633097 Mick and Bianca Jagger black and white photo](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/big-shot-2633097-79310.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=32&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
While many of Billy Joel's songs were inspired by his own romantic relationships, "Big Shot" was based on someone else's.
Joel wrote the song about the relationship between Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and his wife at the time, Bianca. He wrote it from Mick's perspective and the two actually divorced soon after the song was released.
He Graduated High School At 43
![high school 1078562012 Musician Billy Joel receives his diploma from Hicksville High School in Hicksville, New York on June 24, 1992](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/high-school-1078562012-61810.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=38&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Billy Joel had a lot on his plate during his time at Hicksville High School. At the time he was working nights at a piano bar.
He ended up sleeping in the day of his final exams and did not have enough credits to graduate. After 25 years, he pleaded with his high school to let him graduate and they accepted.
He Originally Wasn't Going To Sing His Songs
![singing 450256014 Billy Joel performing at the piano in 2014](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/singing-450256014-28340.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Billy Joel has one of the most distinctive singing voices around, but he didn't always seem to think so. He started out as a studio musician and was most interested in songwriting.
Instead of writing the songs for himself, he used to enjoy writing them for other people. Later, he got advice to sing his own songs if he wanted to make it in the industry.
He Was In A Heavy Metal Band
![heavy metal 74278055 Singer Billy Joel and drummer Jon Small of the rock band](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/heavy-metal-74278055-71761.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=4&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Fans of Billy Joel's music like his blend of rock, jazz, and pop, but he has dabbled in other genres as well.
He and drummer Jon Small were part of the heavy metal band Attila. Joel confessed that audiences would never stay for their entire set because the music was too loud.
He Attended Woodstock
![woodstock 3248901 Carlos Santana and David Brown at Woodstock](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/woodstock-3248901-69429.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Before hitting it big, a 20-year-old Billy Joel decided to ride his motorcycle to the Woodstock Music Festival. He was excited to see many of the iconic music acts including Jimi Hendrix and the Who.
However, Joel didn't end up staying for the entire weekend because he was so grossed out by the hygiene.
"Laura" Is About This Particular Woman
![laura 1078579704 Billy Joel and his mother Rosalind at the dedication of Billy Joel Park in Cold Spring Harbor](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/laura-1078579704-67489.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=18&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Many of Billy Joel's songs are based on real people in his life. He wrote the song "Laura" about his mother Rosalind Joel.
The song has more of an angry tone with lyrics about a woman calling him regularly and being in control of the relationship. Joel's drummer said the song was called "Laura" because it has the same amount of syllables as "mother".
He Outsold Most Artists
![billy joel 111655955 billy joel playing an accordian](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/billy-joel-111655955-44895.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Billy Joel's music is a staple in American homes. In fact, he is the sixth most successful artist of all time.
The only musicians who have sold more albums than him are the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Led Zeppelin, and the Eagles. He's also the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the world.
He Doesn't Like "We Didn't Start The Fire"
![we didn't start the fire 90320604 Billy Joel performing in his home studio in his Los Angeles house in 1984](https://www.factable.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/we-didnt-start-the-fire-90320604-50289.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=0&left=0&zoom=0.78125)
Many musicians have songs that they end up not liking. For Billy Joel, that song is "We Didn't Start the Fire."
The song was actually inspired by John Lennon's son Julian after seeing him in a recording studio. Joel doesn't particularly like the melody, which he compared to the sound of a dentist's drill.