Barry Diller Reveals He Was Gay When Romance With Now-Wife Diane Von Fürstenberg Came As A Surprise

Billionaire Barry Diller on Tuesday revealed “the truth” about his marriage with Diane von Fürstenberg “after all these years,” admitting he previously preferred relationships with men.

In an essay for New York Magazine published Tuesday ahead of the release of his memoir, “Who Knew,” the 83-year-old IAC chairman admitted that “while there have been a good many men in my life, there has only ever been one woman, and she didnt come into my life until I was 33 years old.”

“I have never questioned my sexualitys basic authority over my life (I was only afraid of the reaction of others),” Diller wrote. But after meeting the fashion designer, 78, back in 1974, Diller says he “never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been.”

Diller said his initial response to the unexpected romance was, “Who knew?”

The pair had an on and off relationship for decades before they ultimately married in 2001. They do not share children together, but von Fürstenberg has two children, Alexander von Fürstenberg, 55, and Tatiana von Fürstenberg, 54, from her previous marriage to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg.

Diller acknowledged that his relationship with the “House of DVF” star “caused confusion and lots of speculation” because his inner circle had known he was gay.

“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,” Diller wrote, describing his marriage to von Fürstenberg as a “unique and complete love.”

“Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years,” he wrote. “And, yes, I also liked guys, but that was not a conflict with my love for Diane. I cant explain it to myself or to the world.”

Diller said today’s views on sexuality are “much more fluid and natural, without all those rigidly defined lanes of the last century.” He believes he and von Fürstenberg were “destined for each other” in a “cosmic” way.