Stephen Hawking had an affair with one of his nurses, who he later married while still married to his first wife.

The claim that Stephen Hawking had an affair with one of his nurses whom he later married while still married to his first wife contains elements of truth but also requires nuance. Multiple sources, though not fully reliable, agree that Hawking left his first wife, Jane, after decades of marriage and subsequently married one of his nurses, Elaine Mason. There are mentions of Hawking pursuing Elaine before the divorce, which some interpret as an affair, but explicit confirmation of an affair during his marriage is lacking or disputed. Additionally, Jane Hawking reportedly had her own extramarital relationship. The timing and nature of Hawking’s relationship with Elaine prior to the divorce remain unclear, making the claim only partly accurate. The absence of trusted, authoritative sources confirming an affair during the marriage means the core of the claim cannot be fully verified.