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Elif Boyner, the daughter of prominent Turkish businessman Cem Boyner, has taken an unexpected turn in her life—swapping high society for humble village life.
The 1985-born heiress, who is often seen at luxury venues in stylish attire, recently settled in Sazak, a small village in Eskisehir, central Türkiye.
This surprising move has captivated social media, where Boyner actively shares glimpses of her new rural lifestyle.
Her most recent post, in which she plays a traditional def drum and performs the Sufi hymn "Resul Kizi Fatima," has gone viral, drawing thousands of likes and shares on platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Boyner’s move is not random. Sazak village is the ancestral home of her maternal family.
Choosing to live in her grandfather’s village, Elif Boyner appears to be seeking a life grounded in simplicity, spirituality, and authenticity—a stark contrast to the glamour typically associated with Türkiye’s elite families..
The video titled “We are in Elif Boyner’s village” resonated deeply with audiences, not only for its serene visuals but also for the surprising harmony between tradition and modernity it portrays.
Boyner’s rendition of a spiritual hymn while playing the def in her modest village surroundings marks a powerful visual and emotional departure from her former city life.
Elif Boyner is no stranger to the limelight. As the daughter of Cem Boyner, the chairman of Boyner Holding and a longstanding figure in Türkiye’s business world, she grew up in a world of privilege and influence. But she also carved out her own path through creativity and education.
From an early age, she engaged with entrepreneurial and artistic ventures. Her passion for design and creative industries shaped much of her professional journey.
Elif Boyner’s academic background reflects her international outlook. She studied at the prestigious Parsons School of Design | The New School in the United States between 2003 and 2008.
Later, she furthered her education in the United Kingdom, attending Central Saint Martins from 2010 to 2011.
Her education in design and the arts laid the foundation for a creative and purpose-driven life, which now seems to be evolving in a wholly unexpected direction—toward Türkiye’s spiritual and rural traditions.
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