Olivia Harrison was George Harrison’s second wife, married to him for the last 23 years of his life, and the mother of his son Dhani. Where Harrison’s first marriage, to Pattie Boyd, belonged to the Beatles years, his marriage to Olivia belonged to his quieter post-Beatles life at Friar Park — and, after his death, to the careful stewardship of his archive, music, and charity work.
Her Early Life and Music Industry Career
Olivia Trinidad Arias was born on May 18, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, to parents of Mexican descent. Sources differ on whether her family background is described as Los Angeles-born or, in some secondary summaries, Mexico City-born; the main biographical sources give Los Angeles, and this article follows them.
She worked in the music industry in Los Angeles, for A&M Records. It was there, in 1974, that she met George Harrison, who was launching his own label, Dark Horse Records, through A&M. She was assigned to help with Dark Horse’s operations, and a professional collaboration became a personal relationship.
Marriage to George Harrison
Harrison’s divorce from Pattie Boyd became final in June 1977. Olivia and George were already together by then, and in 1978 they learned she was pregnant. Their son, Dhani Harrison, was born on August 1, 1978.
The following month, on September 2, 1978, Olivia and George married in a private ceremony at the Henley-on-Thames Register Office in England. Their home was Friar Park, Harrison’s Victorian Gothic estate in Henley-on-Thames, where they shared interests in gardening, meditation, and Indian philosophy — interests Olivia had already held before meeting Harrison.
Their marriage lasted until Harrison’s death. On December 30, 1999, an intruder broke into Friar Park and attacked Harrison with a knife. Olivia fought the attacker, striking him with a brass lamp and a fireplace poker according to contemporary reports, and helped stop the attack. Harrison survived, but the incident left both of them shaken.
Harrison died of cancer in Los Angeles on November 29, 2001, aged 58. Olivia and Dhani were at his bedside.
Keeping Harrison’s Legacy
After Harrison’s death, Olivia became the principal curator of his legacy. She co-produced Concert for George (2003), the tribute concert held at the Royal Albert Hall a year after his death, which won a Grammy Award, and the film George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011), directed by Martin Scorsese, which won an Emmy Award.
She also continued Harrison’s charity work. She had co-founded the Material World Charitable Foundation with George, launched the Romanian Angel Appeal in 1990, and later founded the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF in 2005. She helped complete and release Brainwashed (2002), Harrison’s final album, which Dhani co-produced.
Dhani Harrison, born in 1978, has become a musician in his own right, releasing solo work and collaborating with artists including Jeff Lynne.
What Is Not Established About Her Finances
No verified personal net-worth figure for Olivia Harrison is reported here. Estimates published by celebrity-finance websites are not audited and vary, and Harrison’s estate and royalties are not the same as Olivia’s personal assets. This article reports her documented roles — as producer, author, and charity founder — rather than a fortune figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Olivia Harrison married to? George Harrison of the Beatles, from September 2, 1978, until his death on November 29, 2001.
When was Olivia Harrison’s son born? Dhani Harrison was born on August 1, 1978, a month before his parents married.
How did Olivia Harrison meet George Harrison? While working at A&M Records in Los Angeles in 1974, where she helped with his Dark Horse record label.
What did Olivia Harrison do after George Harrison died? She curated his music, film, and charity legacy, including Concert for George, Living in the Material World, and the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.
Did Olivia Harrison remarry? No published biography records a remarriage after Harrison’s death.
