'Tiger King' Star Joe Exotic Marries Fellow Inmate in Prison
Joe Exotic has been imprisoned since 2020, but that does not seem to have kept him from finding love.
On Monday, the "Tiger King" star announced that he had married fellow inmate Jorge Flores Maldonado, whom he met while serving time for a murder-for-hire plot that landed him behind bars in 2020.
"Never been more proud of someone," Exotic shared Monday in a post on X. "Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado."
Never been more proud of someone.
— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) April 22, 2025
Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado pic.twitter.com/0Ee6lfxBSR
The marriage was a long time coming. Back in November, Joe Exotic – whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage – told Fox News that he and Jorge had filed the paperwork for marriage, but he was concerned about whether or not the couple would be able to get approval from the chaplain, warden and the captain, especially considering they are two men getting married.
"Heterosexuals get married in here all day long," Joe Exotic previously told Fox News Digital. "But I'm hoping that they respect our constitutional right, and we will still uphold and abide by the rules and the law."
Joe Exotic previously spoke glowingly of Jorge in an interview with Fox News.
"From the very day we met, we've spent every minute of every day together," he said. "And it just clicked so fast and so sincere, and it's amazing.
"I wished I would have met Jorge months ago or a couple of years ago, but God had a plan, I guess."
Joe Exotic is currently serving a 21-year sentence for multiple offenses, including a murder-for-hire plot targeting animal activist – and his known nemesis – Carole Baskin. He was also found guilty multiple violations of the Endangered Species Act after killing five tigers, plus falsifying wildlife records.
He will not be getting out of prison anytime soon, but it sounds like he will at least get to enjoy the company of his husband.