After her divorce from Ike Turner was finalized in 1978, Tina Turner thought he was the ugliest person she’d ever seen. It took her several years to heal from the effects of that toxic relationship and her childhood trauma. Then, in 1986, the Tennessee native met 30-year-old Irwin Bach, a music executive for EMI Records. Irwin was assigned to pick up 47-year-old Tina from a German airport before her concert. Tina told Oprah’s Next Chapter that it was an instant connection and she thought he had the prettiest face. She added, “My heart went baboon,” meaning their souls had met. Her hands were shaking.
Despite being only three years older than her eldest son, Tina didn’t mind at all. He was so different—laid back, comfortable, and unpretentious—and she found herself intrigued. Irwin admitted in a documentary that their initial meeting wasn’t love at first sight for him; he was just focused on his job and getting Tina to her destination. But soon after, he heard that Tina was interested in him, so he reached out, and they reconnected when he flew to meet her in Nashville. After that visit, Tina invited him to the West Coast, and she decided to take things to the next level. She told him, “When you get to California, I want you to make love to me.” Tina wasn’t one to hold back; she said what she felt.
Their relationship took off from there. Irwin described in a documentary that there was an electric connection between them, and even when they were apart, he could still feel her presence. Around her 50th birthday in 1989, he proposed, but Tina couldn’t give him an answer. She wasn’t sure if he was truly committed and worried that marriage meant control and ownership, something she didn’t want to experience again.
They continued their relationship, and Tina was frequently asked why she and Irwin hadn’t gotten married. She explained to Oprah Winfrey that she had love and a good life, and didn’t see the need to change anything. She added, “What would marriage give me that I don’t already have? Marriage would be about pleasing the public. Why do I need to please the public if I’m already pleased?” In 1995, they moved to Switzerland and eventually bought a villa in the south of France. Their relationship was better than ever. They enjoyed their European lifestyle with leisurely bike rides and homemade meals cooked by Irwin. Even though they hadn’t officially tied the knot, they considered themselves as good as married. Irwin said, “Some people need that security, but if you’re happy with your partner, you don’t need symbols.”
Tina told the Sun-Sentinel that despite their nearly twenty-year age gap, Irwin was very mature and had a conservative mind, which brought balance to their relationship. However, Irwin told CBS News that Tina was the one in charge, and this dynamic satisfied all her desires. Outside their $76 million mansion in Switzerland, a sign asked visitors not to ring the bell before 12 pm, and no deliveries were allowed. Sources revealed that Tina had a customized Lamborghini Jeep on the property. Their home in the south of France boasted stunning views of the French Riviera, a spectacular pool, and all the creature comforts she needed. When asked if she deserved such a luxurious lifestyle, Tina confidently told CBS News, “I deserve more.”
Ike passed away in 2007 from a cocaine overdose. Tina didn’t attend the funeral. Instead, she focused on wrapping up her career. By 2009, she felt she had done it all. With countless awards and accolades, she was ready to enjoy her title as the Queen of Rock and Roll and take a well-deserved break. She told Oprah, “No one knew how tired I was of singing and dancing. It’s work.” So, she retired.
In 2012, Tina and her partner, Irwin, embarked on a yacht trip with friends across the Mediterranean. Irwin had something special in mind but wanted a more romantic setting. He asked the captain to steer the yacht to the private Greek island of Scorpios, once owned by Aristotle Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy’s husband.
“My one idol was Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I modeled myself after her grace, style, and intellect.” After some time on the beach and a lovely dinner, Irwin got down on one knee and said, “I’ve asked you before, and now I’m asking you again. Will you marry me, Tina?” This time, Tina said yes. In her memoir, she wrote, “I was 73 now and would be a bride for the first time in my life. Yes, for the first time. My name is Tina Turner, and I was Ike Turner’s wife, but I was never a bride.” In 2013, she and Irwin married after nearly 30 years together.
In her memoir, Tina credits Irwin for teaching her how to “love without giving up who I am.” She added that they gave each other the freedom and space to be individuals, and Irwin was never intimidated by her career, talents, or fame. She said, “He shows me that true love doesn’t require the dimming of my light so that he can shine. On the contrary, we are the light of each other’s lives, and we want to shine as bright as we can together.”
Three weeks after their wedding, Tina suffered a stroke. Known for her stunning legs, she suddenly found herself unable to stand and had to drag herself to a sofa. Thankfully, she survived. Later that same year, she became a Swiss citizen. The Washington Post reported that after passing a test and proving her fluency in German, she informed the Swiss government she had no ties to the U.S. except for some family members and had no plans to return. Tina told CBS News that life was much easier as a person of color in Europe. She said, “I’ve never bothered about my color. I never had that thing about being black. If the whole world was like that, maybe there would be more harmony and love.”
Tina and Irwin settled into a comfortable life, but her health continued to decline. She had been diagnosed with hypertension back in 1978 and told the European Health Kidney Alliance that her doctors never explained how serious high blood pressure could be, so she didn’t take steps to manage it. On Instagram, she admitted she put herself in great danger by ignoring the need for daily medication. “I know I’m really fortunate that I have that privilege to eat mostly everything I want because I am. I can say it’s how I am, but it’s my stage work, and I never really get overweight.”
In 2016, she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. After experiencing negative side effects from initial treatments, she turned to homeopathic remedies, which only worsened her condition. As she recovered from surgery to remove the tumor, her kidneys began to fail. Faced with either regular dialysis or a kidney transplant, Tina knew a transplant offered a better chance at a normal life, but finding a donor was unlikely. In her memoir, she revealed that her ignorance about her health led to a life-or-death situation. Overwhelmed with guilt, she considered assisted suicide, legal in Switzerland under certain conditions. But Irwin intervened. He told her he didn’t want to lose her and offered one of his kidneys. Tina was deeply moved by his gesture. The transplant took place in April 2017 and was largely successful, but in the months following, her body tried to reject the kidney. She experienced nausea, dizziness, and memory issues, and was hospitalized several times. Despite these challenges, she diligently followed her medication regimen.
In 2018, Tina Turner faced a heartbreaking tragedy when her son Craig, whom she had with Raymond Hill and was later adopted by Ike Turner, took his own life at the age of 59. Tina shared a touching moment on Twitter, posting a photo of her family scattering Craig’s ashes off the coast of California, calling it her saddest moment as a mother.
Away from the spotlight, Tina continued to struggle with health issues. In her memoir, she revealed that she and her husband, Irwin Bach, managed to keep her illnesses private for years, thanks to the privacy they enjoyed while living in Switzerland. During this time, she quietly began to get her affairs in order, and in 2021, she sold the rights to her music catalog to BMG. The deal, reportedly worth close to $50 million, included her name, image, and shares of her recordings.
In December 2022, Tina faced another devastating loss when her son Ronnie, whom she shared with Ike Turner, passed away at 62 after battling colon cancer. Tina’s stylist, Wayne Lucas, shared with People magazine how amazed he was by her strength, saying he believed it was Irwin’s love that helped her cope with such profound loss.
On May 24, 2023, just five months after Ronnie’s passing, Tina Turner died at the age of 83 after a long illness. Reports suggest that her loyal and loving husband, Irwin, is set to inherit nearly half of her estimated $250 million fortune. Irwin provided Tina with the stability she had long sought, staying by her side until her final moments.