Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Barry Diller, longtime media mogul and chairman of IAC, has publicly shared for the first time that he is gay, while also expressing deep affection for his wife of 24 years, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.
Diller reflected on his romantic past and evolving
understanding of his identity. “While there have been a good many men in my
life, there has only ever been one woman,” he wrote. “She didn’t come into my
life until I was 33 years old.”
Diller emphasized that he never questioned the core of his
sexuality, only fearing how others might react. He described his relationship
with von Furstenberg, whom he met in 1974, as both natural and transformative.
The couple had an on-again, off-again relationship before reuniting in 1991 and
marrying a decade later in 2001.
He acknowledged that their relationship may have caused “confusion and lots of speculation” among those around them. “A relationship that began with indifference, then exploded into a romance as natural to us as breathing, surprised us and everyone else. It really is the miracle of my life,” he wrote, calling their union a “unique and complete love.”
Although they never had children together, von Furstenberg has two adult
children, Alexander and Tatiana, from her previous marriage to Prince Egon von
Furstenberg. Diller has never married anyone else.
Addressing his attraction to men, Diller admitted, “Yes, I also liked
guys, but that was not a conflict with my love for Diane. I can’t explain it to
myself or to the world.” He credited modern, more fluid perspectives on
sexuality for helping him better understand his experience.
Von Furstenberg responded through her representative, stating, “The secret
of honoring love and life is to never lie,” quoting author Diane Chamberlain.
The couple’s current relationship status remains private, though neither
has filed for divorce. In a 2010 interview, von Furstenberg offered a rare
glimpse into their bond, saying, “Barry has loved me unconditionally for 34
years. I did leave him and went with other men, but they always ended up being
jealous of Barry.”
She added, “At the end, he got me, and I’m happy he got me. He’s the
pillar of our family.” At the time, she acknowledged that they did not sleep
together but expressed contentment with the arrangement, saying, “I like it
this way.”
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