**Richard Burton’s Outrageous Claim Following Romance with Elizabeth Taylor**

Cleopatra, the iconic movie featuring Elizabeth Taylor, hit UK theaters six decades ago on July 31 and is set to grace TV screens on BBC2 this weekend.

The film made history as the most extravagant production of its time, with Elizabeth Taylor commanding a remarkable $1 million salary, leading to a staggering total production cost of $44 million ($439 million today) due to her lavish spending.

Despite becoming the top-grossing film of the year, the exorbitant costs nearly drove 20th Century Fox to bankruptcy, exacerbated by the disastrous $5 million spent during filming in the UK.

However, the financial turmoil took a backseat to the scandalous affair between Taylor and co-star Richard Burton, which rocked Hollywood and earned condemnation from The Vatican, ultimately resulting in the end of both their marriages.

In 1953, at a star-studded Hollywood gathering hosted by Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger, Burton encountered Taylor and was immediately captivated by her beauty.

Recalling the moment later, Burton expressed his astonishment at Taylor's exquisite allure, describing her as strikingly gorgeous and overwhelming.

Despite Burton's flirtatious advances, Taylor remained unimpressed, wary of becoming just another conquest among his romantic pursuits.

The fiery romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton ignited during the filming of Cleopatra, nine years after their initial encounter.

Taylor, still recovering from the loss of her husband Mike Todd, was married to Eddie Fisher, whom she had controversially “stolen” from her friend Debbie Reynolds.

Meanwhile, Burton, known for his fleeting infidelities despite his long-standing marriage to Sybil, found himself irresistibly drawn to Taylor.

As they reunited on the set of Cleopatra in Rome, their initial scenes together lacked dialogue but brimmed with unspoken intensity, setting the stage for a tumultuous affair.

Burton, perhaps employing some theatrics of his own, played up his nerves and vulnerability, coaxing Taylor into offering him comfort and support.

Their magnetic attraction culminated in an explosive romance, catching them both off guard with its fervor.

Burton, viewing the affair as a passing dalliance, shockingly boasted to his colleagues about his intimate escapades with Taylor, further fueling the scandal that soon engulfed the production.

As news of their affair spread like wildfire, reaching even the British press, Sybil, Burton's wife, confronted the unfolding drama by flying to Italy.

In a bid to salvage the situation, Fisher, Taylor's husband, attempted to manage the escalating scandal but found himself increasingly isolated as Taylor's heart and attention gravitated towards Burton.

The tensions soared to a breaking point when Burton's brother, Ifor, physically confronted him on set, leaving Burton battered and unable to work the following day.

Fisher, dismayed by the ongoing affair, confronted Sybil, who remained steadfast in her belief that Burton would return to her despite his infidelities.

However, the relentless affair led to costly production delays, with Fisher recounting the disruption caused by Taylor's emotional outbursts and the studio's efforts to contain the scandal.

The volatile love triangle continued to escalate, with Burton issuing threats towards Fisher and openly challenging both Fisher and Taylor about their loyalties, intensifying the dramatic saga surrounding their passionate entanglement.