Diane von Furstenberg Speaks Out on Life with Gay Ex Barry Diller After He Came Out

Diane von Furstenberg opened up in an interview with Variety about her marriage to Barry Diller, who recently came out as a gay man in his memoir Who Knew.

Reflecting on their relationship, Diane described Diller as her soulmate. “He turned out to be my soulmate. I didn’t think of it at first. He was a man about town. I was giving a party for Sue Mengers, and he came. I was interested in being a good friend; I never thought it would be anything else. Then it turned to passion. He was very insistent.”

She shared how their romance started, recalling dinners and trips that led to a deep connection. Diane also talked about supporting him in writing his memoir and recording the Audible version.

“Supporting him? What do you mean, supporting him? People see it that way. For me, it’s not that way. I don’t know. Yes, I encouraged him to do that book, and yes, I encouraged him to do the Audible. But for me, the book is not about that. It’s about his life. And of course, with me, he opened immediately. For 50 years, I was the only person he opened to. Then he wrote the book.”

When asked what it’s like to be married to a gay man, Diane said simply, “What’s the difference? I don’t understand.” She added, “A lot of women wouldn’t want to be married to a gay man. But it doesn’t change anything. I’m sorry — it’s a stupid question. I married two gay men, OK? I don’t know why, but to me, they’re not gay, so it doesn’t make any difference.”

Diane and Diller married in 2001. Diane is the mother of Prince Alexander von Fürstenberg and Princess Tatiana von Fürstenberg, and Diller owns a significant portion of her fashion company. His net worth is estimated at $4.2 billion, and he owns Eos, one of the world’s largest private sailing yachts.

Barry Diller’s sexual orientation has been the subject of public discussion for years. Reports, including James B. Stewart’s DisneyWar, note that Diller was considered openly gay for most of his adult life.

New York magazine described him as “often referred to as bisexual,” while noting his marriage to Diane was “warm and genuine.” Diller has also said his sexuality is fluid and explored these experiences in his 2025 memoir.

Diane’s openness and acceptance are remarkable. It shows that love and connection can go beyond labels or traditional expectations. What do you think about Diane and Barry’s story? Share your thoughts in the comments.