I treat my wife as an employee I cannot fire.—Albert Einstein

 I treat my wife as an employee I cannot fire.—Albert Einstein 

Albert Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Marić, was not just his spouse but also his intellectual companion—a love story that began with brilliance and ended in heartbreak.  

How They Met: A Love Born in Physics 

In 1896, young Albert and Mileva met at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich where they were both studying physics. Mileva, one of the few women in a male-dominated field, was sharp, ambitious and deeply passionate about science. Albert was drawn to her intellect, and their bond grew over shared equations, long walks and dreams of unraveling the universe’s secrets. Their love letters reveal deep affection—Albert once wrote, "How happy and proud I will be when the two of us together have brought our work on relative motion to a victorious conclusion!" 

Their Children: Joy and Tragedy  

They had three children:  

1. Lieserl (1902) – Born before marriage, her fate remains a mystery. Some believe she was given up for adoption or died young.  

2. Hans Albert (1904) – Became a respected hydraulic engineer. He moved to the US and had a complicated relationship with his father.  

3. Eduard (1910) – A gifted but troubled young man who suffered from schizophrenia. Mileva cared for him devotedly until her death.  

After their divorce, Mileva raised the boys alone in Zurich, struggling financially while Albert’s fame grew.  

The Divorce: A Love That Faded  

By 1914, their marriage was crumbling. Albert, now immersed in his work, grew distant. He gave Mileva a harsh list of "conditions" to stay married, including:  

1. You will make sure:  

   - My clothes and laundry are kept in good order  

   - I will receive my three meals regularly in my room  

   - My bedroom and study are always tidy and my desk is not touched by anyone but me  

2. You will renounce all personal relations with me except when necessary for social reasons. Specifically, you will not expect:  

   - Any intimacy from me  

   - Any affection (sitting together, going out etc.)  

3. You must obey the following in your interactions with me:  

   - You will stop talking to me immediately if I request it  

   - You will leave my bedroom or study without protest if I demand it  

4. You will not belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behaviour  

Why Did He Do This?  

Einstein was already involved with his cousin Elsa and wanted to push Mileva away without outright divorcing her immediately (possibly to avoid scandal). The conditions were deliberately cruel—meant to force her to leave on her own.  

Mileva, heartbroken, tried to comply for a while but finally took their sons and left for Zurich in 1914. The divorce was finalized in 1919.  

A Tragic End to a Once-Great Love  

These rules were not just about control—they were a deliberate erasure of the intellectual and emotional partnership they once shared. The young couple who had dreamed together of conquering physics had become strangers.  

Mileva, who had once been his equal, was reduced to a silenced servant in her own marriage. And yet, despite everything, she never publicly spoke against him, focusing instead on raising their sons—especially Eduard, whose suffering became her lifelong burden.  

A love that began with equations and dreams ended in loneliness and regret.  

The Nobel Prize Money: A Mother’s Desperation  

As part of the divorce settlement, Albert promised Mileva the money from his future Nobel Prize (awarded in 1921). Some say it was guilt; others, a calculated move. She used the funds to care for Eduard, whose mental health drained her financially and emotionally.  

Albert’s Second Marriage and Other Loves

Soon after the divorce, Albert married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal who provided comfort but not the intellectual spark Mileva had. He had several rumored affairs including with a secretary and a wealthy socialite.  

Mileva, however, never remarried. She lived a quiet difficult life, devoted to Eduard until her death in 1948.  

A Love That Once Burned Bright 

Their story is one of passion, betrayal and unfulfilled promise. Mileva, once Albert’s equal, was left in his shadow. Some historians believe she contributed to his early work, but her role was erased by time.  

In the end, Albert wrote, "I treat my wife as an employee I cannot fire." Yet, in their youth, they had been two stars orbiting the same dream—until one drifted away, leaving the other in darkness.  

References: 

Einstein: His Life and Universe (Walter Isaacson, 2007) – Balanced, well-sourced.

Einstein’s Wife (Allen Esterson & David C. Cassidy) – Debunks myths about her scientific contributions.

The Collected Papers of Albert Ei

nstein (Vol. 8 & 10) – Original letters/legal documents.