We look back on all we’ve learned from Elizabeth Taylor - a true original. Her life story is the lesson book on Influence - across social, political, cultural, creative and entrepreneurial causes – making no apologies for any of it along the way.

How did she do it? What drove Elizabeth Taylor from her earliest years as a child actor to her last days as an activist and mogul? One word: LOVE.

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Elizabeth Taylor’s passing sends a shockwave of grief around the world. Yet, no one knew she still had a final act left to stun us all. 

While a nation and world mourned her, Elizabeth’s estate was preparing to carry out her carefully planned wishes. With their partners at Christies, they launched the most epic estate auction in history – centered around her legendary jewelry collection.

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Throughout her life, the highs of Elizabeth Taylor’s success ran in parallel to personal tragedy. To survive, she learned how to turn every obstacle – every challenge – into a triumph. And, after 56 unstoppable years, in the brightest of spotlights, Elizabeth faced a new adversary: a brain tumor that had to be removed immediately. 

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War is expensive. To support her efforts in the battle against HIV/AIDS, Elizabeth Taylor did what she does best: followed her impeccable instincts. 

Before the era of celebrity “brands” – before the Kardashians, Rihanna, Jessica Alba or Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop – Elizabeth Taylor built her own business empire. She bottled and packaged how she felt, lived, looked, and smelled… and sold Elizabeth Taylor to the masses. It was an adventure of Passion and White Diamonds, all run from the home she loved.

As part of Elizabeth Taylor’s courageous leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS, she provided that a portion of revenue from her name and likeness rights, which includes her fragrance empire, goes to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

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When a new virus ravages its way through the lives of those she loves, and America refuses to do anything to help, Elizabeth Taylor declares war on HIV/AIDS. She leverages all she has - her wealth, platform, status, and social capital to battle the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. 

Taylor knew this war would be long. The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation is born. 

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Elizabeth Taylor hits rock bottom, while being the biggest star in the world. She could follow the path of celebrities before her - either giving in to despair or rising from the ashes. Instead, she finds her own way. She opens her heart and shares her struggles with the world… and discovers the secret power of influence: authenticity.

As her life expanded into terrain where no road map existed, Elizabeth stays grounded in family, friends, and truth. 

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The white-hot relationship of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor captivates the world - leading to a series of high-profile roles and reputational lows. Despite the media’s obsession with tearing them down, the Taylor-Burton partnership grows well beyond their love for each other, and Elizabeth is the driving force. She uses the power of being the first celebrity hyphenate to strike smart deals, owning and producing one hit film after the next, while Burton helps develop her other passion - an extravagant jewelry collection.

But as with all flames that burn white-hot, their partnership… and their success would not last.

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Elizabeth Taylor overcomes unthinkable loss and rises as the biggest movie star on the planet. She uses this power to negotiate a legendary payday for her leading role as CLEOPATRA. All eyes are now on Elizabeth, and the years ahead will be tumultuous ones.

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Elizabeth Taylor’s career takes off, and she finds herself navigating a patriarchal movie studio system determined to own her every move… until she seizes the moment to take control. It was a time of great promise. Then, tragedy strikes.

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To truly know and understand Elizabeth Taylor, we must start from the beginning.

Elizabeth’s ambitious spirit was unmistakable early in life.  The relationship with her parents and the push into the glamour and prestige of Hollywood collided with the reality of a male-dominated business – one that was more interested in making Taylor a product, than the person she knew herself to be.

Still, Elizabeth was different.  She found ways to escape the pressures of Hollywood, define who she was, and discover what mattered.  She developed an early confidence in herself - an intuition that would guide her, as she transformed into a star.

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In a world where “influence” equals follower counts and likes, there was one woman who, over the course of her career and half a century before, defined the meaning of influence and transformed its power.  She went the distance by living a remarkable life beyond the dazzle - breaking ground as the first true influencer.

Her name?  Elizabeth Taylor.

Narrated by Katy Perry, Elizabeth the First is a 10-episode podcast series exploring the life of Elizabeth Taylor as Hollywood icon, mother, wife, entrepreneur, advocate… and influencer.

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