Billionaire Barry Diller, 83, comes out as gay after 24-year marriage to designer Diane von Furstenberg

US businessman Barry Diller, who has been married to designer Diane von Furstenberg since 2001, is speaking for the first time about his past relationships with men.

Barry Diller, who has been married to fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg since 2001, is openly speaking for the first time about his past relationships with men.

“While there have been a good many men in my life, there has only ever been one woman, and she didn’t come into my life until I was 33 years old,” the billionaire wrote Tuesday in an essay for New York Magazine titled, “The truth about us, after all these years” ahead of the release of his memoir, “Who Knew.”

He continued, “I have never questioned my sexuality’s basic authority over my life (I was only afraid of the reaction of others).”

US billionaire Barry Diller revealed his sexuality in a new piece for New York Magazine. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The IAC chairman, 83, said that when he began dating von Furstenberg, now 78, after they met in 1974, he “never questioned that its biological imperative was as strong in its heterosexuality as its opposite had been.”

He added that when the romance “happened,” his “initial response was ‘Who knew?’”

The couple were off and on for years and separated in 1981 before eventually reuniting in 1991. They then went on to tie the knot in 2001 but did not have kids together.

However, the Belgian fashion maven has two adult children from her previous marriage to Prince Egon von Furstenberg: Alexander von Furstenberg, 55, and Tatiana von Furstenberg, 54.

The businessman has been married to designer Diane von Furstenberg for 24 years. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Diller — who has only ever been married to Diane — added in his essay that he is “well aware” his relationship with the designer has “caused confusion and lots of speculation,” alluding that those in his inner circle have known about his sexual desires for men.

“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,” the businessman added of his 24-year marriage, which he also described as a “unique and complete love.”

“Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years.”

The couple were married in 2001 and share no children; von Furstenberg has two adult children from a previous marriage. Picture: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

Diller then further confessed, “And, 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 added that he and Diane were in some “cosmic” way “destined for each other.”

Diller said he related to modern-day views on sexual identities, which are “much more fluid and natural, without all those rigidly defined lanes of the last century.”

Diane’s rep exclusively tells Page Six in response to the piece, “The secret of honouring love and life is to never lie!,” quoting New York Times bestselling author Diane Chamberlain.

It’s unclear where the pair’s relationship stands now following the public admission. However, it does not appear that either party has filed for divorce.

It does not appear that Diller and von Furstenberg have filed for divorce. Picture: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

In 2010, Diane gave rare insight into her own views on her marriage, telling Page Six at the time, “Barry has loved me unconditionally for 34 years.

“I did leave him, and I went with other men, but they always ended up being jealous of Barry and not the other way around,” she added, referencing gaps in their relationship.

“At the end, he got me, and I’m happy he got me,” Diane said. “He’s the pillar of our family.”

The House of DVF star confessed at the time, though, that they “don’t sleep together” but said, “I like it this way.”

She concluded, “It’s my decision. Eventually, we’ll get a place in the city together.”

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Billionaire Barry Diller, 83, comes out as gay after 24-year marriage to designer Diane von Furstenberg