‘I was only afraid of the reaction of others’: Billionaire comes out as gay after 24 years of marriage to his wife

It’s not just the common people that fear the judgment of those around them, as it turns out, even the rich and mighty harbor the same apprehensions, so much so that even all the billions in the world couldn’t convince a billionaire to embrace his identity as a gay man.

Prominent American media executive and entrepreneur, 83-year-old Barry Diller, who was formerly Paramount Pictures’ CEO and founded Fox Broadcasting Company, has come out as gay in a heartfelt article titled, “The truth about us, after all these years.” For 24 years of his life, he has been married to renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, though he had been dating her on and off since 1974.

In his confession, Diller admits that “there have been a good many men in my life,” and while identified as a gay man, Diana is a profound and defining love in his life.

“I have never questioned my sexuality’s basic authority over my life (I was only afraid of the reaction of others). And when my romance with Diane began, I never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been. When it happened, my initial response was “Who knew?””

Diller admits – he can’t explain this contradiction to himself or the world, and knows that those in his inner circle (seemingly in the know about his sexuality) were confused and tried to understand his marriage to Diana. For the IAC chairman (and a rather vocal anti-Joe Biden Democrat-supporter, his 24-year marriage – they got married in 2001 – has been “the miracle” of his life as it “exploded into a romance as natural to us as breathing, surprised us and everyone else. It really is the miracle of my life.”

So, now, the next big question is whether Diana – who has no children in her current marriage and two from her previous marriage – was aware of Diller’s orientation? Or is it like the numerous cases of famous husbands, like actor Rock Hudson, who was married to Phyllis Gates from 1955 to 1958, allegedly as a ruse orchestrated by studio executives to hide his sexuality while his wife had no idea? Thankfully, unlike many out there, Diller never put up fake appearances for his wife or lied to her.

“We know, our family knows, and our friends know. The rest is blather.”

But will this sudden, out-of-the-blue admission affect this solid partnership? Probably not, based on how highly he speaks about Diana or the admission that she is completely aware of his truth.