Who is Peter Morton? Everything You Need to Know About Rebecca Gayheart’s Boyfriend

Rebecca Gayheart is connected to Peter Morton following his separation Eric Dane.

Gayheart and Grey’s Anatomy star tied the knot in 2004, welcoming two daughters before the couple separated and Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018. Gayheart eventually withdrew her divorce petition in 2025 after Dane was diagnosed with ALS.

“I talk to him every day,” Dane said in an interview with June 2025 Good Morning America about her diagnosis, she added that Gayheart was the first person she called whenever she had health challenges. “We’ve been able to become better friends and better parents, and he’s mine – maybe my biggest champion. My staunchest supporter, and I depend on him.”

A year later, the Grey’s Anatomy the star died. He was 53 years old.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Eric Dane on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family said. Us in a February 2026 statement, in part. “He spent his last days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.” Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference to others facing the same battle.”

Morton made his billions as the founder of both the Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Hotel brands — which he later sold for $410 million and $770 million, respectively.

The businessman once set a record for the highest home sale price in Los Angeles history when he sold his Malibu residence for approximately $110 million in 2018, according to. The Los Angeles Times.

Keep scrolling for more information on Morton and his relationship with Gayheart.

Peter Morton Founded the Hard Rock Cafe Brand

Peter Morton is the son of the deceased Arnie Mortonfounder of the Morton’s Steakhouse chain. In June 1971, he followed in his father’s footsteps when he met a friend Isaac Tigrett opening the first Hard Rock Cafe in London.

Rock & roll-themed eateries expanded worldwide with the opening of a second location in Toronto, Canada, in 1978. Morton and Tigrett eventually opened more than 300 Hard Rock-branded locations in 70 countries.

Morton oversaw the expansion of the rock music-themed brand at the Hard Rock hotel chain, opening the resort’s first Las Vegas location in 1995. By 2025, there were Hard Rock hotels in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Hollywood, Florida, Cancun, Mexico and Athens, Greece, among other hot spots.

Peter Morton Breaks Record With $110 Million Sale Of His Los Angeles Home

In accordance with ForbesMorton set the record for the most expensive home sale in Los Angeles history when he sold his Malibu estate in Carbon Beach for $110 million in 2018. (The 9.5-acre beachfront estate in Malibu then set a new LA record when it sold for $210 million in June 2024.)

Morton’s Malibu home sat on a one-acre lot bordering California’s famous Pacific Coast Highway. The Los Angeles Times reported that the main house and guest house offer 8,000 square feet of living space, including seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Amenities included a swimming pool and courtyard garden, as well as 100 feet of oceanfront space.

A real estate agent Jack Pritchett told the publication in 2018 that sales like Morton’s were rare in the Malibu area.

“There will not be such a large sale [in Malibu]because there are too many homes with too many beaches and too many parcels.”

Morton made a stellar profit on his Malibu home as he reportedly bought it for $5.6 million with multiple payments over a decade.

Peter Morton Made Millions Selling The Hard Rock Brand

Morton had the rights to open Hard Rock Cafes and Hotels in certain locations as part of a business deal with his former partner, Isaac Tigrett.

In June 1996, Morton announced that he and his business partners had sold their stake in Hard Rock Cafe restaurants to the Rank Organization for $410 million. (Morton personally made about $300 million from the deal, according to reports.)

The Associated Press reported in May 2006 that Morton and his partners had sold the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas – and other related properties – to Morgans Hotel Group Company for $770 million.

“It was time to take the chips off the table,” Morton said The Associated Press. I am looking to do different things in my life.

Related: Rebecca Gayheart Seen For First Time Since Eric Dane Reveals ALS Battle

Rebecca Gayheart has stepped out for the first time following husband Eric Dane’s ALS diagnosis. The 53-year-old actor looked happy as he posed for pictures on Monday, April 14, while out in Los Angeles. Gayheart kept it casual in a white t-shirt that read “Loving,” in black text paired with […]

He explained to The Los Angeles Times in November 2026 that he was not completely free to participate in the sports business.

“I have never found the joy of beating people in the game business,” he admitted. “I have addiction in my family, and gambling is just another form of addiction. So when we had a good day, we were making money from people with addiction problems, which was never fun for me. Also, real estate prices were high, there was a lot of money there, and we were in a very good position to sell.”

Asked if he had any regrets, Morton admitted: “The only regret I have about moving on is leaving the stage behind. I will miss announcing the Rolling Stones in concert.”

Peter Morton has been married twice

Morton was originally married to a British model Paulene Stone between 1980 and 1986. They welcomed a son, Harry Mortonduring their marriage.

Peter also acted as a stepfather to Stone’s daughter from a previous relationship, a late hunter Domino Harvey. (Keira Knightley he memorably portrayed Harvey in the 2005 movie Domino. (Harvey died at age 35 in 2005 of a suspected fentanyl overdose.)

The mogul welcomed two children during his second marriage Tarlton Pauleywhich ended in 1997. (Pauley died at age 55 in October 2017.)

It is reported that this restaurateur fell in love with a supermodel Linda Evangelista between 2006 and 2013.

Peter Morton’s son Harry Morton Died aged 38

Peter’s son Harry also found success in the restaurant business by establishing the Pink Taco casual restaurant in Los Angeles in 1999. He was also the former owner of LA hotspot The Viper Room, which he also owned Johnny Depp at the same time.

Harry made headlines for his brief romance with Lindsay Lohan in 2006.

Harry was found dead at the age of 38 at his home in Beverly Hills in November 2019. Page Six reported that Harry died of cardiac arrest due to undiagnosed coronary artery disease.

Peter partnered with UCLA Health in 2023 to create the Harry Morton Congenital Heart Disease Screening Fund in memory of his son.

“Harry was a man of many accomplishments, and a dear friend to many. It means a lot to our family to create Harry’s legacy in this way,” Peter said in a statement. “It gives me great satisfaction to play an important role in research focused on congenital heart disease that will change outcomes so that other families do not have to suffer from what we have.”

Peter Morton Romantically Linked to Rebecca Gayheart

Peter was first linked to Gayheart when they went on a double date with the supermodel Claudia Schiffer and her husband, a director Matthew Vaughnat Beverly Hills restaurant E. Baldi in April 2023, according to Daily Mail.

Gayheart filed for divorce from her estranged husband, Eric Dane, in 2018, though she eventually asked the court to withdraw the petition in March 2025 amid her battle with ALS. Said the actor E! News the following month when she and Dane were working on their reproductive relationship.

“We’re best friends. We’re really close. We’re great parents,” Gayheart said in April 2025. “We’ve really found a way to be a family and I think our kids benefit from it and so do we.”

There were renewed rumors that Gayheart was dating Peter in December 2025 there Daily Mail published pictures of them kissing outside E. Baldi – the same Beverly Hills restaurant where they were seen on two dates more than two years earlier.

Neither party has spoken about the status of their relationship, as of publication.