Orianne Cevey is a Swiss jewelry designer and businesswoman who became widely known through her marriage to British singer and drummer Phil Collins. But her story is about much more than being the former wife of a music star. She has worked in business, jewelry design, and charity for many years.
Her life has also included motherhood, major health problems, several relationships, and public legal disputes. Orianne and Phil share two sons, Nicholas and Mathew. In this article, we look at her early years, education, career, family life, marriage to Collins, and the events that later brought her back into the news.
Orianne Cevey’s Quick Bio
| Quick Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Orianne Cevey |
| Known As | Orianne Collins |
| Birthplace | Nyon, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Family Roots | Swiss and Thai |
| Education | Master’s degree in International Management |
| Profession | Jewelry designer, businesswoman |
| Early Career | Marketing, communications, event management, and translation |
| Jewelry Brand | OC Jewellery / Orianne Collins Jewellery |
| Famous For | Marriage to Phil Collins |
| Phil Collins Marriage | 1999–2008 |
| Children | Three sons |
| Children With Phil Collins | Nicholas (Nic) Collins and Mathew Collins |
| Second Husband | Charles Fouad Mejjati |
| Third Husband | Thomas Bates |
| Charity Work | Co-founder of the Little Dreams Foundation |
| Health Struggle | Faced serious mobility problems after neck surgery in 2014 |
| Current Focus | Jewelry, business, and charity work |
Orianne Cevey’s Early Life in Nyon, Switzerland
Orianne Cevey was born and raised in Nyon, Switzerland. She comes from both Swiss and Thai family roots. Reports about her background say her father was Swiss while her mother was Thai. Growing up with these two cultures later influenced some of the ideas and styles she used in her jewelry work.
She was active from a young age and enjoyed outdoor life. Earlier reports describe her as someone who liked hiking and sports such as tennis and golf. She was also said to have studied martial arts. These interests show that her life before fame was very different from the celebrity world she later entered.
Orianne Cevey’s Education in Switzerland
Orianne Cevey continued her studies in Switzerland and earned a master’s degree in International Management, according to a profile published by the Couture Show. Her education gave her a strong base in business and helped prepare her for the jobs she took before entering the jewelry industry.
Jewelry, however, was already an interest of hers. She was drawn to design and creative work, but she first followed a more traditional business path. That decision led her into marketing, communications, and later her own company before she finally turned jewelry design into a larger part of her career.
Her Career Before Phil Collins
After finishing her studies, Orianne worked as a marketing and communications manager for a venture capital company. She later started O-Com SA, an events and communications business, in 1994. This shows that she had already started building her own professional life before becoming widely known through Phil Collins.
She also worked as a translator. That job became an important part of her personal story because it reportedly led to her meeting Collins during his 1994 visit to Switzerland. At that point, Orianne was still outside the celebrity spotlight and was mainly focused on her own work and business plans.
How Orianne Cevey Met Phil Collins
Orianne Cevey met Phil Collins in 1994 while he was in Switzerland. Reports say she was working as a translator during his tour and promotional work. Collins was already one of the world’s best-known musicians, while Orianne was still building her business career.
Their working connection soon became personal, and they began a relationship. They reportedly became engaged in 1997 and later decided to marry. The relationship drew strong public interest because of Collins’ fame and because Orianne was more than 20 years younger than him.
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins’ married in 1999
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins married in 1999 and made their home in Switzerland. Their wedding received wide media attention because Collins was already famous around the world as the former Genesis frontman and a successful solo singer. It was also his third marriage.
During the marriage, family life became an important focus for Collins. After the couple had children, he reduced parts of his music work and later spent more time close to his sons. The family lived in Switzerland for several years before Orianne and Phil’s relationship eventually came to an end.
Orianne Cevey’s Children
Orianne and Phil Collins have two sons together: Nicholas, often called Nic, and Mathew Collins. Nicholas was born in 2001, while Mathew was born a few years later. The two boys are the youngest of Phil Collins’ five children.
Both sons later followed their own interests. Nic became a drummer and has performed professionally with his father. More recent reporting in 2026 says Mathew has pursued football and signed with German club 1860 Munich. Their parents remained connected after their divorce in large part because they continued raising their sons.
The Little Dreams Foundation
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins also worked together outside their family life. In February 2000, they founded the Little Dreams Foundation in Switzerland. The organization was officially launched in Geneva in September 2001.
The foundation was created to help talented young people who may not have enough money or support to follow their goals. It has supported young people in areas such as music, art, and sports. Orianne remained closely linked to the foundation and appeared at many of its public events over the years.
This charity work is an important part of Orianne Cevey’s story because it shows another side of her public life. She did not only appear at celebrity events or work in business. She also spent years helping young people develop their skills and work toward their dreams.
Orianne Cevey’s Jewelry Career
Jewelry eventually became one of Orianne Cevey’s main professional interests. In 2007, she began putting more focus on creating her own jewelry pieces. Her designs were influenced by travel, different cultures, colors, symbols, and traditional craft styles she had seen around the world.
She later developed OC Jewellery and became known publicly as a luxury jewelry designer. Her collections included colorful and handmade pieces, and her work was promoted through events and a presence in Miami’s Design District.
Her jewelry work gave Orianne an identity outside her marriage to Phil Collins. By this stage, however, her personal life was also changing. Her marriage to Collins had broken down, leading to a highly reported divorce and a new chapter that would later include another marriage, serious health problems, a reunion with Collins, and a major legal fight in Miami.
Divorce From Phil Collins
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins announced their separation in 2006 after several years of marriage. Reports at the time said the couple had grown apart. Their divorce was completed in 2008, bringing their marriage to a formal end. Even after separating, they remained connected because they shared two young sons.
The divorce became major news because of the financial settlement. Reliable reports from 2008 placed it at about £25 million, which was around $46 million to $47 million at the time. It was widely described as one of the largest divorce settlements in British entertainment history.
Marriage to Charles Fouad Mejjati
After her marriage to Collins ended, Orianne started a new chapter with Charles Fouad Mejjati, an investment banker. Reports say the couple married and had a son together. This means Orianne is actually a mother of three, although her two sons with Phil Collins receive much more public attention.
The marriage later broke down and led to its own legal problems. Court records reported by People showed that Orianne and Mejjati were involved in a dispute over their marriage settlement and a Miami Beach home. Their divorce was settled in 2017 after a long disagreement.
Orianne Cevey’s Health Problems
Orianne faced one of the hardest periods of her life in 2014. She had surgery after suffering from a slipped disc in her neck. Reports said problems during the operation damaged her spinal cord and left her partly unable to move normally.
Her condition was serious enough that she needed a wheelchair during part of her recovery. She later went through rehabilitation and slowly regained her ability to walk, although she was seen using a cane. Her experience with spinal injury also became linked to later charity work supporting people facing similar problems.
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins Reunite
Despite their divorce, Orianne and Phil stayed in contact because of their sons. Their relationship became close again, and by 2016, they publicly confirmed that they had reunited as a couple. Orianne even spoke at the time about the possibility that they could marry again.
The reunion surprised many people because their earlier divorce had received so much attention. However, Collins explained that they had tried to keep a good relationship for their children. For several years, they again shared their lives and appeared together at events linked to the Little Dreams Foundation.
Their second relationship did not last. By the summer of 2020, they had separated again. Soon afterward, Orianne’s new marriage became public and started another difficult period between the former couple.
Marriage to Thomas Bates and Miami Dispute
Orianne married Thomas Bates in August 2020. Court records later confirmed that Bates moved into the Miami Beach home where Orianne had been living with Collins. After Orianne and Collins’ relationship ended, a major argument began over who had rights to the property.
Collins’ side claimed that Orianne and Bates refused to leave, changed security codes, blocked cameras, and used armed guards. These were claims made during the legal case, not facts that should be treated as proven. Orianne’s side argued that she had rights connected to the house through an oral agreement she said she had made with Collins.
Orianne eventually filed a claim seeking about $20 million, saying Collins had promised her half of the home’s value. The dispute also covered valuable belongings inside the house, including jewelry, music items, and personal property. The court asked both sides to deal carefully with the items while their argument continued.
Orianne and Bates finally moved out of the Miami property in January 2021 following a partial agreement. The home was then prepared for sale. The wider legal fight continued, but in August 2022, a Florida judge dismissed Orianne’s $20 million claim after finding repeated problems with her following court orders.
Her marriage to Bates did not last either. In December 2021, Orianne announced that she was seeking a divorce after about a year of marriage. Later reports referred to Bates as her former husband.
Orianne Cevey’s Life After Phil Collins
Orianne has continued to be linked with jewelry, charity work, and business after her final split from Collins. Her public professional profile still lists her work with Orianne Collins Jewellery and her long involvement with the Little Dreams Foundation.
She has also supported causes connected with spinal cord injuries. In 2023, some proceeds from an auction of jewelry, handbags, and other personal items were set to benefit the Never Give Up Foundation, which supports people affected by spinal injuries as well as children from families with fewer resources.
As of 2026, Orianne remains best known to the wider public because of her long connection with Phil Collins. Still, her own story includes business, jewelry design, charity work, three children, major health struggles, and several highly public relationships.
Bottom Line
Orianne Cevey’s life cannot be explained only through her marriage to Phil Collins. She built a career in business and jewelry, helped create a charity for young people, and raised three children. She also faced a serious spinal injury that changed her life and required a long recovery.
Her relationship with Collins remains the main reason many people know her name. Their marriage, divorce, reunion, and Miami property fight received worldwide attention. Still, looking at her full story gives readers a clearer picture of the woman beyond those headlines.
(FAQs)
Who is Orianne Cevey?
Orianne Cevey is a Swiss businesswoman and jewelry designer. She became widely known after marrying British singer and Genesis star Phil Collins. She has also worked in communications, charity, and jewelry design.
How many children does Orianne Cevey have?
Orianne has three children. She shares sons Nicholas and Mathew Collins with Phil Collins and also had a son with her second husband, Charles Fouad Mejjati.
Did Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins get back together?
Yes. They became a couple again years after their divorce and publicly confirmed their reunion around 2016. Their second relationship ended in 2020.
What happened to Orianne Cevey after surgery?
Orianne suffered serious problems after neck surgery in 2014. Reports said spinal cord damage left her partly unable to move normally. After rehabilitation, she regained much of her ability to walk and was later seen using a cane.
Is Orianne Cevey still married to Thomas Bates?
No. Orianne announced plans to divorce Thomas Bates in December 2021, about a year after their marriage. Later reports have described Bates as her former husband.
Mickey Middleton: Everything to Know About Bryan Cranston’s Ex-Wife
Who Is Kristin Grannis? Jamie Foxx’s Ex and the Mother of His Daughter
