Mary Austin: The Woman Freddie Mercury Called His ‘Only Friend’
In the pantheon of rock music, few relationships have been as enduring or as misunderstood as the one between Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin. She was his fiancée, his confidante, and ultimately the person he trusted above all others. When Mercury died in 1991, he left her the bulk of his fortune. Today, Mary Austin remains one of the most private figures in music history, a woman who has spent decades guarding the legacy of the man who called her his “only friend.” This is her story.
Quick Facts
Early Life
Mary Austin was born Mary Georgina Austin on 6 March 1951 in Fulham, London. She was raised by two deaf parents. Her mother worked as a maid, and her father was a wallpaper trimmer. Austin dropped out of school at 15 years old and began working in a boutique in Kensington.
It was there, in 1970, that her life changed forever. A young man named Farrokh Bulsara walked into the shop. He was 24; she was 19. He asked her out, and she agreed. Within a year, Queen was formed, and Freddie Mercury was on his way to becoming a legend.
Career
Relationship with Freddie Mercury
Austin and Mercury began a romantic relationship in 1970 and lived together in West Kensington, London. They remained together until 1976, when Mercury told her he was bisexual and later came out as gay.
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, their bond only deepened. Mercury once said, “All my lovers ask me why they couldn’t replace Mary, but it’s impossible. The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else.”
Mercury wrote love songs about Austin, including “Love of My Life.” She became his personal assistant and remained his closest confidante. Austin was also the godmother of her oldest son. She was with him until the end and was the person to whom Mercury’s ashes were entrusted.
Inheritance and Stewardship of Mercury’s Legacy
When Mercury died of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia in 1991 at the age of 45, he left half of his estimated £20-30 million estate to Austin, including his Kensington home, Garden Lodge. He had told her, “If everything had gone to plan, you would have been my wife, and this would have been rightly yours.”
Austin has since become the primary steward of Mercury’s legacy. She has managed his royalties, overseen the preservation of his home, and curated the release of his personal belongings.
The Garden Lodge Mansion
In 1980, Mercury paid £500,000 for Garden Lodge, an eight-bedroom mansion in Kensington, London. The property was Mercury’s final residence, and he died there in 1991.
Austin inherited the mansion and lived there for more than three decades with her later husbands and children. In February 2024, she listed Garden Lodge for sale at a price of £30 million ($38 million).
As of September 2026, the property remains unsold. It has been reported that selling the home has been difficult.
The Sotheby’s Auction
In April 2023, Austin announced she would be selling around 1,500 items that had belonged to Mercury. She said, “The time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life.”
In September 2023, the auction of 30,000 items fetched over $50 million. The piano on which Mercury composed many Queen hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” sold for $2 million. A portion of the proceeds benefited the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Book Publication
In 2025, Austin announced the publication of a book exploring Mercury’s lyrics, drawing from his private trunks and personal archives. The project aimed to provide new insight into the creative process of one of rock’s greatest songwriters.
Major Achievements
- Inherited and managed Freddie Mercury’s estate for more than three decades
- Sold Garden Lodge: Listed the iconic Kensington mansion for £30 million in 2024
- Sotheby’s auction: Curated the sale of Mercury’s personal items, raising over $50 million
- Preserved Mercury’s legacy: Guarded his personal archives and memorabilia
- Benefited from Queen’s catalogue sale: Received a substantial payout from the 2024 sale of Queen’s catalogue to Sony
- Featured in Bohemian Rhapsody: Portrayed by Lucy Boynton in the 2018 Oscar-winning biopic
Business Ventures
Austin’s primary business venture has been the management of Freddie Mercury’s estate. This includes overseeing his music royalties, the sale of his personal belongings, and the management of his real estate.
Queen Catalogue Sale: In 2024, Queen’s catalogue was sold to Sony for approximately £1 billion. Austin received a substantial portion of this sum, estimated at £187.5 million.
Property: Austin inherited Garden Lodge in 1991 and listed it for sale in 2024 for £30 million.
Auction and Memorabilia: She curated the sale of Mercury’s personal items through Sotheby’s, which raised over $50 million.
Public Image
Mary Austin is famously private. She has granted few interviews over the decades, preferring to let Mercury’s legacy speak for itself. When she does speak, she is candid and revealing. In September 2026, she gave a rare interview to The Guardian, discussing the difficulty of managing her inheritance.
She has also been the subject of a legal dispute with Mercury’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, over the sale of Garden Lodge. Despite the tension, Austin has remained steadfast in her commitment to preserving Mercury’s memory.
Personal Life
After her relationship with Mercury ended, Austin married and had two sons, Richard and Jamie. She has largely kept her family life out of the public eye. Her sons are reportedly set to inherit her fortune when she dies, alongside the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Net Worth (Estimated)
Publicly available estimates of Mary Austin’s net worth vary considerably.
- Celebrity Net Worth estimates her net worth at $200 million.
- The Independent and other sources report that she inherited half of Mercury’s estimated £20-30 million estate at the time of his death, a figure that has grown substantially through royalties and catalogue sales.
- The Queen catalogue sale to Sony in 2024 reportedly netted Austin an additional £187.5 million.
- The Sotheby’s auction in September 2023 raised over $50 million.
Sources differ on this point. The $200 million figure from Celebrity Net Worth is widely cited, but the exact figure depends on the valuation of her assets, including the Garden Lodge mansion and her ongoing royalty income. Her net worth has likely increased significantly following the Sony catalogue sale.
Editor’s Note: Net worth figures are estimates compiled from publicly available sources and may vary depending on methodology. Late Magazine does not have access to private financial records and does not present these figures as confirmed or audited.
Interesting Facts
- Met Freddie Mercury in 1970: Austin was working in a Kensington boutique when Mercury walked in.
- Engaged to Mercury: He proposed to her on Christmas morning in 1973.
- Remained close after split: Mercury called her his “only friend,” and they remained close until his death.
- Godmother to her son: Mercury was godfather to Austin’s oldest son, Richard.
- Portrayed in Bohemian Rhapsody: Lucy Boynton played Austin in the 2018 biopic.
- Garden Lodge listing: The 28-room mansion remains unsold after being listed in 2024.
Legacy
Mary Austin’s legacy is inextricably linked to Freddie Mercury. She was the love of his life, his closest friend, and the person he trusted most. For more than three decades, she has been the guardian of his memory. She has preserved his home, curated his belongings, and ensured that his music continues to reach new generations. As she told The Guardian in 2026, the inheritance has “been really difficult.” But she has carried that burden with grace, dignity, and an unwavering commitment to the man who called her his “only friend.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary Austin?
Mary Austin is the former fiancée and closest friend of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. She inherited the majority of his estate after his death in 1991.
What is Mary Austin’s net worth?
Publicly available estimates vary. Celebrity Net Worth estimates her net worth at $200 million. She has also received substantial sums from the sale of Queen’s catalogue and Mercury’s personal belongings.
How did Mary Austin get her money?
She inherited half of Freddie Mercury’s estate in 1991, including his Kensington mansion, Garden Lodge, and ongoing royalties from Queen’s music. She also benefited from the 2024 sale of Queen’s catalogue to Sony and the 2023 Sotheby’s auction of Mercury’s personal items.
Did Mary Austin and Freddie Mercury marry?
No. They were engaged in the early 1970s, but Mercury ended the relationship when he came out as gay. They remained close friends until his death.
Does Mary Austin still live in Freddie Mercury’s house?
She lived in Garden Lodge for more than three decades after Mercury’s death. In February 2024, she listed the property for sale at £30 million.
Was Mary Austin in Bohemian Rhapsody?
She was portrayed by actress Lucy Boynton in the 2018 Oscar-winning biopic.
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