Jane Benyo or Jane Petty as she is also called is an American celebrity who gained fame as the first wife of the late legendary rock and roll star, Tom Petty. The two had been together since they were teenagers, even before Tom became famous, and then in their early twenties, they got married. Unfortunately, after more than two decades together, their union came to an end.
Since then, Jane managed to stay away from the spotlight until her name popped up again after the death of her ex-husband in 2017. Although it was more than a decade since they parted ways, their love life and the story of Benyo still manage to draw so much attention.
The Early Life of Jane Benyo – Tom Petty’s Ex-wife
Jane Benyo is an American celebrity famously known as the first wife of the late music legend Tom Petty. The pair were married for over two decades before they lost the spark in their relationship and eventually went their separate ways in 1996.
The former wife of Tom Petty was born as Jane Benyo many years ago in the Gainsville neighbourhood of Florida. Her exact birth year and date are currently not known because the celebrity has never shared such information with the public.
Also, there is no information as regards to her childhood, educational background, career, and family. She came under the spotlight following her marriage to Tom Petty. Although Petty wasn’t popular at the time, she was with him throughout his early struggles until he became famous.
A Look Into The Life Of Her Ex-husband Tom Petty
Tom Petty was a well-known figure in the American music industry, courtesy of his musical style, and ability to play multiple instruments. In addition to that, Tom is also a record producer, as well as an actor. He was the lead vocalist of the rock band called Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Born and raised in Gainsville, Florida, the singer dropped out of high school at the age of seventeen to pursue his music career. He formed the band known as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1976 along with Stan Lynch (drummer), Benmont Tech (keyboardist), Mike Campbell, and Ron Blair.
With the group, Tom recorded over fourteen albums, including their self-titled debut album in 1976. Others are You’re Gonna Get It, The Last DJ, and American Treasure, just to mention a few. Amazingly, the group was enrolled into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame following their unparalleled contributions to rock and roll music in 2002.
Jane Benyo’s Marriage to Tom Petty
Jane Benyo and the legendary rock star had known each other for pretty much all of their lives; they both grew up in the same city. As kids, they lived a few blocks from each other but did not date until after they were through with high school. At the time, Jane was just seventeen.
After a few years, the duo decided to seal their love with a nuptial bond and their wedding took place in March 1974. Shortly after their wedding, the couple relocated to Los Angeles where Tom’s music career began to bloom.
Their union was blessed with two beautiful daughters named Kimberly and Adria Petty. The eldest daughter Adria pursued a career in theatre. She graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and is a well-known film and art director, as well as an editor and artist. Adria has worked with famous musicians such as Regina Skeptor, Macy Gray, and Beyonce. Her younger sister Kimberly has equally established herself as an artist and a fashion designer.
Why Their Marriage Ended
The couple continued to enjoy a flourishing married life until 1996 when their relationship hit the rocks. The pair first separated before their divorce was finalized in September 1996.
The reason behind the divorce was said to be the continuous fight between the two. According to some sources, Jane would always call her husband obsessively and threaten she would kill herself if he ended the call.
However, Tom revealed that it was Jane who had managed to keep their marriage for as long as it lasted. As a result of the nature of his job, Tom was always away and so it was only left for his then-wife to hold the home together all on her own. Tom also stated that he still respected her because she was the most honest individual he had met.
Since the divorce, Jane has not tied the knot again, neither has she gotten into any relationship that is known to the public; she dedicated her life to raising her kids. Tom, on the other hand, got married a second time to a woman named Dana York whom he met in the early 1990s. The two got married in 2001. Petty also became a stepfather to Dana’s son, Dylan, from her previous marriage.
After the death of Tom, Dana and his two daughters got into a legal battle on his estate without a mention of Jane. However, they subsequently decided to end the litigation and join forces into forming Tom Petty Legacy, LLC to handle his legacies.
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Where is Jane Benyo Petty Now?
Soon after her marriage to Tom Petty ended, Jane Benyo disappeared from the limelight. She decided to maintain a low profile; staying away from the spotlight to avoid attracting unnecessary media attention. However, after twenty-two years, her name reappeared on the media following the demise of her ex-husband Tom.
Towards the end of 2019, she was said to have dished out as much as $175,000 to buy the three-bedroom flat that Tom Petty was raised in. Also from Gainesville, Florida, as the famed music star, Jane Benyo Petty bought the property located at 1715 NE Sixth Terrace. She fell in love with the property and felt there was a need to have it back in the family and ended up outbidding his superfan and estate agent named Kevin Beauchamp to get the house
Before she bought the 1,300-square-foot property, there were plans by Kevin to buy the property and then have it turned into a museum. However, after she acquired it, Jane revealed that although she had no plan for it at the time, she was not going to turn it into a museum.
