On July 10, 2025, the White Stripes frontman posted on Instagram that he’s now the “reluctant owner” of a cell phone “for the first time in my life,” after receiving it as a 50th birthday gift from his wife, musician Olivia Jean (who also took the photos he shared).
White framed the moment with his usual dry humor, writing that it was “either all over for me now or just the beginning,” while making it clear he’d avoided owning a phone by choice for decades.
He also acknowledged why the holdout has become harder in recent years. In interviews and reporting around his post, White pointed to the everyday friction of modern life, things like QR codes, parking systems, and even basic in-car music listening often assuming you have a smartphone.
The gift also landed as a funny twist for an artist who’s famously pushed back against phone culture, including having phone restrictions at many of his shows to keep crowds present in the moment.
And it sounds like his 50th was packed even before the “first phone” reveal. People reported that he celebrated by going to a Detroit Tigers game with his mother, and actor-musician John C. Reilly surprised him with a “Happy Birthday” moment at the ballpark.
