Elin Nordegren is an incredibly inspiring woman. The ex-wife of golf great Tiger Woods, she has moved on and found incredible success and happiness in life. She made headlines in 2009 when her marriage ended after emotionally devastating revelations regarding her husband’s infidelity.
Going through a public divorce was not easy, but Elin has persevered and emerged on the other side as a successful businesswoman, philanthropist, and self-made millionaire. Here we take a look at the journey that Elin Nordegren has been on and how she found the happiness she now enjoys.
Background
Elin Maria Pernilla Nordegren was born to Swedish parents in Stockholm, Sweden in 1980 and grew up in an upper-class family. She spent most of her childhood in Sweden before attending college in the United States, where she studied at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Growing up in Sweden, Elin enjoyed a close relationship with her family and developed a deep passion for golfing – a love she eventually passed on to her children.
Elin and Tiger Woods
In 2002, Elin met 24 year-old golfer Tiger Woods at the Nissan Open, where she was working as a nanny. They quickly fell in love and married in October 2004, and went on to have two children. The marriage, unfortunately, did not last, and in 2009 it all came crashing down after it was revealed that Tiger had been unfaithful to his wife. They shared custody of their children and officially divorced in August 2010.
Post-Divorce Career
In spite of the difficult situation Elin found herself in, she did not let it faze her. Soon after the divorce, she purchased a house in Florida and began work on an interior design degree at the Rollins College. Through these studies, she fell in love with design and came up with unique furniture and jewelry choices for her home.
Elin also launched a real estate business, Nordegren Real Estate, LLC, and has gone on to purchase several rental properties in Florida. She also launched a business that offers interior design services. Thanks to her success in business, Elin has become a self-made millionaire.
Philanthropic Activities
Elin Nordegren makes sure to give back to the community and world through a variety of philanthropic activities. She recently donated half a million dollars to the University of Tennessee, College of Social Work, in honor of her mother and grandmother who both studied there.
In addition, Elin has supported a variety of sustainability initiatives, including the Clean Water 5k Walk in Georgia and the World Wildlife Fund Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon rainforest. She also has a passion for protecting and taking care of animals, and has donated to a variety of animal charities, such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Jackson Memorial Fund in Michigan.
Happiness
Despite the public humiliation and intense scrutiny she faced during and after her divorce, Elin has managed to move on and find true happiness in life. She is now in a stronger and more independent place, surrounded by those she loves and deeply passionate about her work and philanthropy activities.
Elin Nordegren has gone from being the ex-wife of one of the greatest golfers of all time to a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. She is a role model for anyone who has experienced or is experiencing a difficult situation and wants to turn it into a positive. Even though life can be tough at times, Elin has proven that it’s possible to move on and find happiness regardless of what you’ve been through.
