Elizabeth Anderson Martin is a 67-year-old American horse trainer, equine judge, digital photographer, and philanthropist who spent 18 years as the fourth wife of Star Trek legend William Shatner. Long before she entered the Hollywood spotlight, she built a respected career in the equestrian world, graduating from Purdue University with a degree in Equine and Animal Science and earning the industry’s Whinny Award for her contributions to horse training. Her estimated net worth stands at around $10 million, according to multiple sources.
TL;DR
- Elizabeth Anderson Martin, American horse trainer, equine judge, and photographer born December 30, 1958.
- Purdue University graduate in Equine and Animal Science; Whinny Award winner for equestrian contributions.
- Married William Shatner on February 13, 2001; divorce finalised 2020 after 18 years together.
- Estimated net worth $10 million as of 2026, from equestrian career, photography, and divorce settlement.
- Co-founded the Hollywood Charity Horse Show and The All Glory Project with Shatner; reconciled with him as of 2025.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Anderson Martin |
| Known As | Elizabeth Shatner |
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1958 |
| Age | 67 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | B.S. Equine and Animal Science, Purdue University, Indiana |
| Profession | Horse Trainer, Equine Judge, Photographer, Digital Artist |
| Active Since | Early 1980s |
| Platforms / Outlets | Instagram (@elizabethandersonmartin), Twitter (@liz_lizanderson) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Relationship Status | Divorced (reconciled with William Shatner as of 2025) |
| Net Worth | Approximately $10 million (estimated) |
Who is Elizabeth Anderson Martin?
Elizabeth Anderson Martin is an American equestrian professional, nature photographer, and philanthropist who gained wide public recognition as the fourth and final wife of William Shatner, the Canadian actor famous for playing Captain Kirk in Star Trek.
Born on December 30, 1958, Elizabeth spent decades building her own career as a horse trainer and equine judge well before her marriage placed her in the Hollywood spotlight. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Equine and Animal Science from Purdue University in Indiana and went on to judge events for the Indiana Arabian Club, among others. Her patient, trauma-informed approach to horse training earned her the Whinny Award, a peer-recognised honour in the equestrian community.
Elizabeth and William Shatner married on February 13, 2001, in Lebanon, Indiana, bonding initially over a shared love of horses and a mutual understanding of grief. The couple remained together for 18 years before separating in 2018; their divorce was finalised in 2020. As of 2025, multiple reports confirm they have reconciled, with Shatner on record saying the couple are, in effect, remarried.
Early Life and Background
Childhood and Family
Elizabeth Anderson Martin was born on December 30, 1958, in the United States; the precise city of her birth has not been made public.
She grew up with a natural affinity for animals, particularly horses, beginning to ride at age five. By age eight she had acquired her first horse, a Galiceno pony, and by 14 she had progressed to formal equestrian training. Her parents have not been identified in public records. She had an older brother, Daniel Leith Anderson, who died of heart failure at the age of 74, and a sister named Gayle Anderson.
Education
Elizabeth enrolled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine and Animal Science, which provided the academic grounding for her professional equestrian career.
Purdue’s equine programme is one of the most respected in the United States, combining stable management, animal behaviour, nutrition, and veterinary science. Elizabeth took her degree back to the arena, applying a science-led, empathetic methodology to training horses that distinguished her work from more traditional approaches. Her education also fed directly into her later photographic work, giving her a biological fluency that informed the Art by Nature series she developed after marrying Shatner.
Career and Platform Presence
Before Fame
Before her marriage to Shatner made her a household name, Elizabeth Anderson Martin spent roughly two decades training and judging horses at a high competitive level in Indiana and beyond.
She and her first husband Michael Glenn Martin ran a successful stable together in Montecito, California, during their marriage in the 1980s and 1990s. Elizabeth became a frequent presence at Indiana Arabian Club events as a certified equine judge, assessing horses on form, movement, and temperament. Her trauma-informed training philosophy, focused on the psychological wellbeing of the horse, attracted serious attention within the equestrian world long before her name appeared in entertainment press.
How Elizabeth Anderson Martin Got Started in Photography
Elizabeth turned to digital photography and art after marrying William Shatner, inspired in part by a safari trip to Israel where she began shooting landscapes and horses using natural light.
The experience produced her Art by Nature series, a collection of photographs emphasising the bond between horses and human civilisation. Shatner actively encouraged her creative development, and proceeds from her photographic work went to charitable causes. She also co-wrote the song “Together” with Shatner, which appeared on his 2004 Ben Folds-produced album Has Been, making her one of a small number of equestrian professionals to earn a songwriting credit on a charting record.
Breakthrough Moment
Elizabeth Anderson Martin came to national attention when she appeared alongside William Shatner in the 2002 documentary E! True Hollywood Story, marking her first substantial on-screen presence.
Subsequent appearances followed across multiple productions: Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner (2004), Gonzo Ballet (2009), American Pickers (2011), The Captains (2012), and The Shatner Project (2014) on Magnolia Network, in which she was a recurring presence. Each appearance reinforced her identity as a grounded counterpart to Shatner’s exuberant public persona.
Career Today
As of 2026, Elizabeth Anderson Martin continues to pursue photography, philanthropy, and equestrian work, and has reportedly resumed her personal relationship with William Shatner following their 2020 divorce.
Shatner was quoted telling interviewers that he and Elizabeth are “in effect remarried” and living together again. In 2025, Elizabeth was photographed wearing a large diamond ring, sparking speculation about a formal remarriage, though no official announcement has been made. She remains active on Instagram under @elizabethandersonmartin, sharing equestrian and nature photography.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle | Content Type |
|---|---|---|
| @elizabethandersonmartin | Equestrian and nature photography | |
| Twitter / X | @liz_lizanderson | Personal updates, horses, art |
| @Elizabeth Shatner | Personal and charitable content |
Net Worth and Income Streams
Elizabeth Anderson Martin’s estimated net worth is approximately $10 million as of 2026, drawn from her equestrian career, photography sales, television appearances, and her divorce settlement with William Shatner.
The 2020 divorce settlement transferred significant assets to Elizabeth, including the Belle Reve Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, and a Malibu home, according to YEN.com.gh. Shatner retained an 18-acre ranch in Three Rivers, California. Multiple sources corroborate the $10 million estimate; a second tier of estimates places the figure between $10 and $15 million when property values are included.
| Income Stream | Estimated Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Horse Training and Judging | Primary career income | Decades of professional work; Whinny Award winner |
| Photography and Digital Art | Supplementary; charity proceeds donated | Art by Nature series; nature and equestrian focus |
| Television Appearances | Modest | Documentaries, The Shatner Project, American Pickers |
| Divorce Settlement | Significant property assets | Belle Reve Farm, Kentucky; Malibu home |
Physical Appearance
Height and Body Stats
Elizabeth Anderson Martin stands at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), with brown hair and light grey eyes, and maintains an active physical lifestyle consistent with decades of equestrian work.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eye Colour | Light grey |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
Personal Life
Relationships
Elizabeth Anderson Martin married twice: first to Michael Glenn Martin in 1982, and second to William Shatner on February 13, 2001.
Her first marriage to Michael Glenn Martin lasted fifteen years. Michael died in August 1997, leaving Elizabeth widowed. She and William Shatner met in 1999, drawn together by their shared love of horses and their parallel experiences of bereavement: Shatner had lost his third wife, Nerine Kidd, to accidental drowning that same year. Elizabeth reportedly reached out to Shatner by letter to offer condolences, and after six months of dating they married in Lebanon, Indiana, with a 27-year age gap between them. Their divorce was filed in 2019 and finalised in 2020 after an 18-year marriage. As of 2025, Shatner has publicly stated the two are living together and are effectively remarried.
Family
Elizabeth has no biological children; through her marriage to William Shatner she became stepmother to his three daughters: Leslie Carol Shatner, Lisabeth Shatner, and Melanie Shatner.
Her brother Daniel Leith Anderson died of heart failure at age 74. Her sister Gayle Anderson has not sought public attention. Elizabeth has kept her family background largely private throughout her public life, consistent with the discretion she has maintained in all personal matters.
Achievements and Milestones
- Earned the Whinny Award, a peer-recognised prize for outstanding contributions to the equestrian community and horse training excellence.
- Graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Equine and Animal Science, one of the leading equestrian degree programmes in the United States.
- Co-wrote “Together” with William Shatner, featured on his critically noted 2004 album Has Been, produced by Ben Folds.
- Co-founded the Hollywood Charity Horse Show alongside Shatner, raising millions for children’s charities and organisations supporting disabled children’s education and treatment.
- Co-founded The All Glory Project in 2010, a non-profit using animal-assisted therapy to support military veterans and their families.
- Appeared in six documented television productions between 2002 and 2014, including American Pickers and The Shatner Project.
Interesting Facts About Elizabeth Anderson Martin
- Elizabeth received her first horse, a Galiceno pony, at age eight, and began formal equestrian training at 14, nearly a decade before enrolling at Purdue University.
- She and William Shatner have a 27-year age gap: she was born in 1958, Shatner in 1931.
- Elizabeth attended Shatner’s 90th birthday celebration in 2021, more than a year after their divorce was finalised, suggesting the separation was never fully personal.
- The 2020 divorce settlement gave her Belle Reve Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, a working horse property that aligned directly with her professional background.
- Her Art by Nature photography series was inspired by a safari trip to Israel, where she began shooting landscapes using only available natural light.
- In 2025, she was photographed wearing a large diamond ring, prompting widespread speculation about a formal remarriage to Shatner, though no official confirmation has been issued.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Elizabeth Anderson Martin?
Elizabeth Anderson Martin is an American horse trainer, equine judge, and photographer born December 30, 1958. She is best known as the fourth wife of Star Trek actor William Shatner, whom she married in 2001 and divorced in 2020.
What is Elizabeth Anderson Martin’s net worth?
Elizabeth Anderson Martin’s net worth is estimated at approximately $10 million as of 2026, from her equestrian career, photography work, and her divorce settlement with William Shatner, which included Belle Reve Farm in Kentucky.
Did Elizabeth Anderson Martin and William Shatner reconcile?
Yes. After their divorce was finalised in 2020, reports from 2025 indicate they reconciled. Shatner was quoted saying they are living together and are in effect remarried, and Elizabeth was seen wearing a large diamond ring that year.
How many times has Elizabeth Anderson Martin been married?
Elizabeth Anderson Martin has been married twice. Her first husband, Michael Glenn Martin, died in August 1997. She then married William Shatner on February 13, 2001; their divorce was finalised in 2020.
Does Elizabeth Anderson Martin have children?
Elizabeth Anderson Martin has no biological children. Through her marriage to William Shatner she became stepmother to his three daughters: Leslie Carol Shatner, Lisabeth Shatner, and Melanie Shatner.
