Atila Altaunbay was a Turkish-born bodyguard best known for his marriage to Jamaican-American singer, model, and actress Grace Jones. The couple married in 1996 and separated around 2004.
Atila later returned to a private life in Belgium and reportedly became involved in charity work. He died in 2021 at about 45 years old, although his cause of death was not publicly disclosed.
Atila Altaunbay’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Atila Altaunbay |
| Birth year | 1976 |
| Birthplace | Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Religion | Reportedly Muslim |
| Profession | Bodyguard; also reportedly a singer and performer |
| Known for | Marriage to Grace Jones |
| Wife | Grace Jones |
| Marriage date | February 24, 1996 |
| Wedding place | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Separation | Around 2004 |
| Children with Grace Jones | None |
| Later residence | Antwerp, Belgium |
| Death | October 2021, reportedly |
| Age at death | About 45 |
| Cause of death | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Life
Atila Altaunbay was reportedly born in Turkey in 1976.
His exact date of birth is not publicly known.
He grew up in a Muslim family and later moved to Belgium. Reports say he went to Belgium for his education, but details about his school, college, or qualifications have not been publicly confirmed.
Very little is known about his parents and siblings.
Career as a Bodyguard
Before becoming known through Grace Jones, Atila worked several jobs.
He reportedly worked as a pizza delivery driver in Belgium before entering professional security work.
Reports say he received training in martial arts, CPR, and AED use. He later worked as a bodyguard and provided security for high-profile clients.
Singing and Performing
Atila was also interested in performing arts.
Some reports say he took singing lessons and performed at weddings. He has also been described as a model and actor.
One source connects him with stage performances and a project called Mind Games. However, these parts of his entertainment career are not as well documented as his work as a bodyguard.
How Atila Altaunbay Met Grace Jones
Atila Altaunbay reportedly met Grace Jones in Belgium.
Some accounts say he was working in security and later became her bodyguard. Their professional relationship eventually became romantic.
One report claims they met in the late 1980s. However, that timeline does not fit well with Atila’s reported 1976 birth year. The exact year they first met is therefore unclear.
Reports also say Grace later proposed to Atila while they were in Rio de Janeiro.
Who Is Grace Jones?
Grace Beverly Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, actress, model, and performer. She was born on May 19, 1948, in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Jones became well known through music, fashion, and acting. Her songs include Slave to the Rhythm, Pull Up to the Bumper, Private Life, and Walking in the Rain.
Her film credits include Conan the Destroyer, A View to a Kill, and Vamp.
She also published the memoir I’ll Never Write My Memoirs in 2015.
Atila and Grace Jones’ Age Difference
Grace Jones was considerably older than Atila.
Grace was born in 1948, while Atila’s reported birth year is 1976.
Their age difference is commonly reported as about 27 years.
Some sources say Atila was 21 when they married, but this does not match the reported birth year and February 1996 wedding date. His exact age at the wedding is therefore unclear.
Their Wedding in Brazil
Atila and Grace married on February 24, 1996, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
They reportedly wanted a small and private ceremony.
Some reports say there were questions about whether the first ceremony met the necessary requirements. The couple reportedly held another private ceremony later in Syracuse, New York, led by Grace’s father.
The exact legal details surrounding the ceremonies are not well documented.
His Family Reportedly Opposed the Marriage
Atila Altaunbay reportedly came from a traditional Muslim family that did not approve of his marriage to Grace.
Reports say family customs expected his older brothers to marry before him because Atila was the youngest.
The large age difference between Atila and Grace also attracted public attention.
Their Marriage and Separation
Atila and Grace were together for about eight years before separating around 2004.
Grace later discussed jealousy and disagreements in their relationship.
She also reportedly described a serious argument in which Atila threatened her with a knife. This account comes from reports about Grace’s description of their relationship and should be treated as an allegation rather than an independently established event.
After their relationship ended, Atila largely disappeared from public view.
Did Atila Altaunbay and Grace Jones Divorce?
Reports say Atila and Grace separated but never completed their legal divorce.
Atila Altaunbay reportedly became difficult to locate after their separation, which prevented the divorce process from being finalized.
Grace later made clear that she considered their marriage over.
This is why Atila is commonly described as Grace Jones’ former or ex-husband, even though reports say their legal divorce was not completed.
Did Atila Altaunbay Have Children?
Atila and Grace Jones did not have children together.
There are also no publicly confirmed reports that Atila had biological children from another relationship.
Grace has one son, Paulo Goude, born on November 12, 1979.
Paulo’s father is French graphic designer and photographer Jean-Paul Goude.
Some reports say Atila took on a father-like or stepfather role in Paulo’s life while he was married to Grace, but he was not Paulo’s biological father.
Life After Grace Jones
After separating from Grace, Atila stayed away from celebrity attention.
Reports say he returned to Belgium and lived privately in Antwerp.
There is little reliable information about his romantic life after Grace. No later wife or partner has been publicly confirmed.
Charity Work in Belgium
Atila reportedly became involved in charitable work during his later years.
Sources connect him with a Belgian organization referred to as Helping Hand Belgium or Helping Hands Belgium. Reports describe him as a chairman or president of the organization.
His work reportedly focused on helping disadvantaged people and addressing poverty and inequality.
The exact name of the organization differs between published sources.
Atila Altaunbay’s Death
Atila reportedly died in October 2021 at around 45 years old.
His death was announced through a Facebook post from the charitable organization he was associated with in Belgium.
One report says his funeral was held at the Antwerpen Mehmet Akif Mosque and that he was buried in Belgium.
His exact date of death has not been widely confirmed.
What Was Atila Altaunbay’s Cause of Death?
Atila Altaunbay’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Some online reports have discussed unanswered questions about his death, but there is no reliable information in the available sources establishing suspicious circumstances.
Atila Altaunbay’s Net Worth
Atila’s exact net worth was never publicly confirmed.
One online estimate placed his wealth at around $800,000, linking it to his work as a bodyguard, singer, and model.
There is no reliable financial information supporting this estimate, so it should not be treated as a confirmed figure.
Social Media and Public Life
There are no clearly verified personal social media accounts for Atila.
Most of his public attention came during his relationship with Grace Jones.
After their separation, he largely stayed away from entertainment media. His later charity activities were reportedly mentioned through the social media page of the organization he worked with.
Atila Altaunbay’s Profile Summary
- Atila Altaunbay was reportedly born in Turkey in 1976.
- His exact birthday is not publicly known.
- He later lived in Belgium.
- He worked as a professional bodyguard.
- He reportedly worked as a pizza delivery driver before his security career.
- He was also interested in singing and performing.
- He met Grace Jones in Belgium.
- Grace Jones was around 27 years older than him.
- They married in Rio de Janeiro on February 24, 1996.
- They separated around 2004.
- Reports say their legal divorce was never completed.
- Atila and Grace did not have children together.
- Paulo Goude was not Atila’s biological son.
- Atila later lived privately in Antwerp, Belgium.
- He reportedly became involved in charitable work.
- He died in October 2021, according to published reports.
- His cause of death was not publicly disclosed.
- His exact net worth is not reliably known.
