Billie Jean King Husband: Is Billie Jean King Married? – Billie Jean King’s remarkable journey to becoming one of the most iconic figures in tennis and a symbol of gender equality in sports is filled with determination, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Born Billie Jean Moffitt on November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California, she displayed her athletic prowess from a young age. Notably, she excelled in baseball and softball, where she played shortstop for a team consisting of girls several years older than her. This early exposure to sports laid the foundation for her future success.
However, it was tennis that would become Billie Jean King’s true calling. At the age of 11, she switched from softball to tennis, a decision encouraged by her parents who believed it was a more “ladylike” sport. Undeterred by societal norms, young Billie Jean was determined to make her mark. She even used her own savings of $8 (equivalent to approximately $88.54 today) to buy her first tennis racket.
Billie Jean King’s dedication to tennis led her to free public courts in Long Beach, where she took her first tennis lesson from Clyde Walker, a professional employed by the City of Long Beach. Her journey began on these public courts, and her talent quickly became evident. Her aggressive playing style and dedication caught the attention of Bob Martin, a sportswriter for the Long Beach Press-Telegram, who wrote about her successes in his weekly tennis column.
However, her path to greatness was not without its challenges. Even in her youth, she encountered resistance from tennis establishments when she was barred from a group picture at a tournament for wearing tennis shorts instead of the customary white tennis dress. This early experience only fueled her determination to challenge the status quo.
Billie Jean King‘s ambitions knew no bounds. At the age of 13 or 14, she told her minister, Bob Richards, a former Olympic pole-vaulting champion, that she aspired to be the best tennis player in the world. Her unwavering commitment and belief in herself would prove to be the driving force behind her extraordinary career.
After attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, Billie Jean pursued higher education at Los Angeles State College (now California State University, Los Angeles). Although she did not complete her degree, her passion for tennis led her to leave school in 1964 to focus on her burgeoning tennis career.
During her time at Cal State, Billie Jean met Larry King in a library in 1963. The two fell in love and got engaged while still in school. They married on September 17, 1965, in Long Beach, marking the beginning of a lifelong partnership.
Billie Jean King’s impact on tennis and society at large is immeasurable. Her “Battle of the Sexes” victory in 1973 became a cultural milestone, and her relentless advocacy for gender equality revolutionized the world of sports. Her contributions to women’s tennis, her influence on corporate sponsorships, and her lifelong dedication to social justice have cemented her legacy as not only one of the greatest tennis players but also as a trailblazer who continues to inspire generations of athletes.
Billie Jean King Husband: Is Billie Jean King Married?
Billie Jean King and Larry King’s engagement took place in the fall of 1964, culminating in their marriage in Long Beach, California, on September 17, 1965. Billie Jean often credited Larry for introducing her to feminism and encouraging her tennis career, reflecting that she was deeply in love with him when they tied the knot.
However, in 1968, she came to realize her attraction to women. In 1971, she commenced a romantic relationship with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett. Barnett had been residing without rent at the Kings’ Malibu residence. In 1979, Billie Jean and Larry King requested that Barnett vacate their home, but she was reluctant to leave.
In her refusal, Barnett threatened to disclose records and documents she had accumulated over the years, including letters from Billie Jean, credit card receipts, and paid bills. After a suicide attempt that left her paralyzed when she leaped from the balcony of their house, Barnett filed a palimony lawsuit against the Kings in May 1981, seeking half of their earnings and ownership of the Malibu residence where she had been residing. Billie Jean subsequently acknowledged her relationship with Marilyn, making her the first prominent female professional athlete to publicly come out.
However, constrained by societal norms of the time, Billie Jean described it publicly as a brief fling and an error in judgment. This lawsuit caused her to lose an estimated $2 million in endorsements, compelling her to prolong her tennis career to cover legal costs. In December 1981, a court order mandated that Barnett vacate the house, and her threats to expose private correspondence between her and King in exchange for money were deemed close to extortion.
Barnett’s palimony suit was dismissed from court in November 1982. In a strange twist of fate, just a few months later in March 1983, the house that had been at the center of the dispute was destroyed during a series of unusual storms that struck the southern California coastline.
In 1971, Billie Jean had an abortion, which was made public in an article published in Ms. magazine. Larry had revealed Billie Jean’s abortion without her consent.
Despite the palimony suit’s aftermath, Billie Jean and Larry remained married until 1987 when Billie Jean fell in love with her doubles partner, Ilana Kloss. However, they continued to maintain a close relationship, and Billie Jean is the godmother of Larry’s son from his subsequent marriage. On October 18, 2018, Billie Jean and Ilana Kloss were wed in a discreet ceremony officiated by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins.
Billie Jean and her wife, Ilana Kloss, have homes in New York City and Chicago.
Source: www.ghgossip.com
