Fox billionaire Barry Diller comes out as gay after decades-long marriage to Diane von Furstenberg

Time of India

07-05-2025

Fox billionaire Barry Diller comes out as gay
Barry Diller's early life and professional rise
Meeting Diane von Fürstenberg: A unique love story
Barry Diller opens up about his hidden gay identity and career struggles
Barry Diller's marriage to Diane von Fürstenberg
Comparison with David Geffen and other closeted executives
The personal cost of secrecy
Public and industry reaction
A legacy beyond sexual identity
Barry Diller , the media mogul behind the creation of the Fox Broadcasting Company and former CEO of Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox, publicly came out as gay in a deeply personal essay published in New York magazine on May 6, 2025. The announcement arrives after decades of speculation surrounding his sexuality, especially in light of his decades-long relationship—and eventual marriage—with renowned fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg.Now 83 years old, Diller's revelation marks a significant personal milestone, but also underscores broader historical contexts around sexuality, power, and visibility in the media and fashion industries.His coming out not only clarifies longstanding public curiosity but also contributes to an evolving dialogue about late-in-life LGBTQ+ disclosures among prominent figures who came of age in less accepting eras.Barry Diller was born on February 2, 1942, in San Francisco, California. He began his media career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency but quickly ascended through the entertainment world. By the 1970s, he had made his mark as chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, where he greenlit landmark films such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In the 1980s, he transitioned to 20th Century Fox, where he is credited with launching the Fox network, introducing hit shows like The Simpsons and Married... with Children, and reshaping primetime television.Diller's visionary leadership earned him immense wealth and prestige. However, despite his public visibility and relationships with industry elites, his personal life remained largely private—fueling persistent speculation about his sexuality.Diller first encountered Diane von Fürstenberg in 1974 at a party at the historic Dakota building in New York City. At the time, Diane was married to Austrian Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, and Diller was already a rising executive at Paramount. Their initial interaction was unremarkable; Diller later recalled that Diane 'looked through him like cellophane,' and he left the event expecting never to see her again.Nine months later, their paths crossed again during a dinner party hosted by Diane for a mutual friend, famed Hollywood agent Sue Mengers. By this time, Diane had separated from her husband, and her dynamic with Diller changed significantly. That night, they connected on a personal level, eventually beginning an on-again, off-again relationship that would span decades. Their bond, while unconventional, proved emotionally and romantically meaningful, culminating in their marriage in 2001.In his essay, Diller acknowledges that he has always been attracted to men and had relationships with them, including during his early years. As a teenager in West Hollywood, he experienced his first forays into gay culture, including visiting Fire Island Pines, a known LGBTQ+ haven. However, overwhelmed by the openness and freedom he saw there, he fled in fear—an action emblematic of the internal conflict he experienced for decades.Diller detailed how, during the 1960s and 70s, the fear of professional repercussions kept him from living openly. As his career flourished, he felt compelled to compartmentalize his personal life, stating that he would 'dart in and out' of gay bars through side doors and hide his identity behind the protective facade of a public heterosexual relationship. His wealth and status, while granting access to elite spaces, also intensified the pressure to conform.The Diller–von Fürstenberg marriage has long been the subject of public speculation. Critics and gossip columnists have at times dismissed the union as a calculated move to quiet rumors about Diller's sexuality. However, in his op-ed, Diller refutes this narrative, affirming that their relationship was both romantic and sexually intimate, particularly during its early years.He recalls gifting Diane 29 diamonds for her 29th birthday, delivered humorously in a Band-Aid box. He also recounts a moment of intimacy at music mogul David Geffen's home, where the couple was inadvertently interrupted. Diller emphasized that while there were 'a good many men' in his life, Diane was the only woman he ever truly loved. Their emotional connection, he said, has always been genuine and enduring.Diller's revelation has drawn comparisons with David Geffen, another prominent entertainment executive who came out as gay in 1992. Like Diller, Geffen dated women in his early life—including Cher—before acknowledging his true orientation. The two men's trajectories highlight the pressures faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in high-powered, conservative industries, particularly during the pre-AIDS and AIDS-era years when fear and stigma were widespread.Diller's confession also follows a recent wave of older public figures coming out later in life, offering a lens into generational differences in acceptance and self-perception.Throughout his essay, Diller reflects on the emotional toll of living a double life. While his wealth and career accomplishments afforded him a luxurious lifestyle—with residences in New York, Los Angeles, Aspen, and Connecticut—his internal life, he admitted, often felt 'arid.' The inability to fully express his identity left him feeling alienated, even as he enjoyed global acclaim and influence.He did not frame his choice to remain closeted as denial, but rather as a survival tactic in an era where being openly gay could jeopardize one's professional future. 'I wouldn't do a single thing to make anyone believe I wasn't living a heterosexual life,' he wrote. This strategic repression, though effective in protecting his career, exacted a significant emotional price.Diller's announcement has generated widespread media coverage and a flurry of responses from both the entertainment and fashion worlds. While many have applauded his bravery and transparency, others have viewed the timing—coming so late in his life—with mixed curiosity. Nevertheless, the overarching response has been one of support and recognition of the complexities tied to coming out, especially for individuals who lived much of their lives in less accepting environments.Diane von Fürstenberg has not yet publicly commented on the essay, but throughout the years, she has remained by Diller's side, both personally and professionally. The two have often appeared at galas and charity events together, and their enduring bond remains one of mutual respect and admiration.Though this revelation marks a turning point in Diller's personal narrative, it does not define his legacy. His contributions to American media are vast—spanning television, film, and digital ventures. He played a key role in launching IAC (InterActiveCorp), an internet company that owns properties like Expedia, Match.com, and Vimeo, further cementing his reputation as a forward-thinking business leader.Diller's ability to anticipate cultural trends and embrace technological shifts has made him one of the most influential figures in modern media history. His personal story now adds another layer of complexity to a legacy already rich with innovation and resilience.