Meet Riley Keough's Husband, Ben Smith-Petersen Amid Claims That She Is John Travolta's Son's Mother

Riley Keough is currently at the center of a bombshell legal allegation claiming she is the biological egg donor for John Travolta and Kelly Preston's youngest son, Benjamin Travolta, who was born in 2010. In a legal document filed on December 16, 2025, Brigitte Kruse (a former business partner of Riley's grandmother, Priscilla Presley) made the claims. Priscilla's attorney has slammed the claims as "outrageous" and "completely improper." Amid claims of Riley being Benjamin's biological mother, here's a look at her own children and husband.

Who is Riley Keough's husband, Ben Smith-Petersen?

Ben Smith-Petersen is an Australian stuntman and actor best known as the husband of actress, Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley. He worked as a professional stunt performer since 2011 on major films including Mad Max: Fury Road, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Suicide Squad, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Ben Smith-Petersen transitioned into acting, appearing in The Dead Thing and Manodrome. He also made a cameo in Keough's series, Daisy Jones & The Six. Besides acting, Ben also indulges in several hobbies, including water sports and martial arts. He is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is also an avid surfer.

When did Ben Smith-Petersen and Riley Keough's love story start?

Ben Smith-Petersen and Riley Keough first met in 2012 on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road. In the movie, Riley Keough played the character 'Capable' and Ben Smith-Petersen was a stuntman (who played the 'Doof Warrior'). Riley was in another relationship at the time and recalled that she didn't interact with Ben much. A year later, during reshoots in Sydney, Keough, a single Riley, found herself drawn to Smith-Petersen, noting that he seemed more "grown-up" and "mature". In a 2022 essay for Vogue Australia, Riley Keough chronicled the details of her first meeting with her now-husband and their initial dating phase.

Recalling their first official date, Riley Keough said that she invited Ben Smith-Petersen to a friend's house for a gathering. That night, they bonded over drinks; he taught her to salsa dance; and they went for a late-night swim in a nearby bay. The Daisy Jones & The Six actress called it a "fun night" that turned magical thanks to Ben. It was then that the couple came to terms with their feelings for each other, confirming it with a kiss. Sharing how comfortable she felt with him that night, Riley stated:

"It was such a fun night. A few of us went to one of the bays for a swim and it was really magic. We ended up kissing that night and the next day we went to Camp Cove and got in the water and I hugged him and it felt like I didn't want to be away from him. I just felt so comfortable."

Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen's whirlwind romance to engagement

Riley Keough told USA Today that she realised Ben was the one just two weeks into dating him. While they were at a gas station, she thought to herself that she felt strongly about Ben and could see herself having kids with him. "It was kind of like I knew I was meeting my husband," she stated. After two months of dating, Riley and Ben moved in together, and he proposed to her six months later in August 2014. They announced the engagement by sharing a picture of Riley Keough wearing a diamond ring on Facebook, captioning it, "So that happened."

Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen's dual wedding ceremonies

Riley and Ben held two distinct wedding ceremonies in early 2015. The couple's first wedding was an intimate ceremony in Nepal while they were volunteering to build a school. The impromptu marriage took place when the local hosts surprised the couple by organising a traditional Hindu ceremony after learning they were engaged. Riley described the event as deeply special and emotional, noting that she cried during the vows. Ben and Riley held a second, more formal ceremony at the Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley, California, on February 4, 2015. It was an intimate yet star-studded event with a bohemian aesthetic.

Riley Keough wore a long-sleeved white lace gown by French designer, Delphine Manivet. The guest list included high-profile friends like Kristen Stewart, Dakota Johnson (who served as a bridesmaid), Cara Delevingne, and Zoe Kravitz. The ceremony was officiated by their family friend, Jerry Schilling. The couple is now parents to two lovely children, whom they welcomed via surrogacy. Their first child, a daughter, Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen, was born in August 2022, and they privately welcomed their second child on February 1, 2025, as revealed by Riley's grandmother, Priscilla Presley.

What are your thoughts on Riley Keough welcoming two children by surrogacy and later facing the allegations of being the biological mother of John Travolta's youngest son? Let us know.

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