If you grew up hearing about the “Battle of the Sexes” or watching tennis on TV, you probably already know Billie Jean King is more than a player. She’s a champion who turned a tennis match into a cultural earthquake, building a career of 39 Grand Slams, co-founding the WTA, and navigating public scrutiny over her personal life — including her marriage to former tennis pro Ilana Kloss.
Grand Slam Titles: 39 ·
Career Span: 1960–1990 ·
Wimbledon Singles Titles: 6 ·
Named after her: Billie Jean King Cup (since 2020) ·
Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2009 ·
Spouse: Ilana Kloss (m. 2018)
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Billie Jean King (née Moffitt) |
| Born | November 22, 1943, Long Beach, California |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Spouse | Ilana Kloss (m. 2018) |
| Career Titles | 129 (12 Major singles) |
Six key biographical facts, one pattern: King’s life is a sequence of deliberate acts that broke barriers on and off the court.
Quick snapshot
- Won 39 Grand Slam titles (Wikipedia)
- Defeated Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Founded the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973 (Wikipedia)
- Married Ilana Kloss in 2018 (Wikipedia)
- Exact net worth fluctuates per source — estimates range $10–20 million
- Specific health details beyond public statements remain private
- Nature of personal relationship with Michael Jackson remains speculative
- Continues advocacy through Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative
- Remains a public speaker on equality and leadership
- Resides with Kloss in New York and Palm Springs
Why is Billie Jean King so famous?
King turned a single tennis match into a public referendum on gender equality, then backed it up with institutional change that still shapes women’s tennis today.
The Battle of the Sexes 1973
- King defeated Bobby Riggs on September 20, 1973, at the Houston Astrodome in three straight sets: 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 (Encyclopaedia Britannica reference work).
- The live audience of 30,000 set a U.S. record for a tennis match at the time (WBUR public radio).
- An estimated 90 million viewers watched worldwide (BBC Sport).
- King was 29; Riggs was 55 (USA Today).
- The match is widely described as a major moment in the women’s movement of the 1970s (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- King has publicly rejected claims that Riggs intentionally tanked the match (NPR).
Founding the WTA
- In 1973, King and eight other women players formed the Women’s Tennis Association (Wikipedia).
- The WTA created a unified professional tour for women, offering prize money parity at major tournaments.
- King also lobbied for Title IX implementation in the U.S., which expanded athletic opportunities for girls and women.
39 Grand Slam titles
- King won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 women’s doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles (Wikipedia).
- She was ranked World No. 1 in singles five times between 1966 and 1975.
- Her 20 Wimbledon titles (singles, doubles, mixed) remain a record.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
- President Barack Obama awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 (Wikipedia).
- The medal recognizes her contributions to sports, civil rights, and gender equality.
Grand Slam singles: 12 ·
Grand Slam women’s doubles: 16 ·
Grand Slam mixed doubles: 11 ·
Wimbledon titles total: 20 ·
World No. 1 years: 1966–1975
Was Billie Jean King a member of the LGBTQ community and does she have a wife?
King’s sexuality was weaponized against her in 1981 when a former partner filed a palimony suit, costing her hundreds of thousands in lost endorsements — yet she later turned that exposure into a platform for LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Billie Jean King’s sexual orientation
- King was outed as a lesbian in 1981 after Marilyn Barnett, a former secretary and romantic partner, filed a palimony lawsuit (Slate).
- The outing cost King hundreds of thousands of dollars in endorsement deals (Slate).
- King has since become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in sports.
Marriage to Ilana Kloss
- King married former professional tennis player Ilana Kloss in 2018 (Wikipedia).
- King and Kloss have been in a relationship since the 1970s, decades before legal marriage was possible.
- Kloss is a business executive and former World No. 19 in doubles.
Relationship with Larry King
- King was married to Larry King (no relation to the talk-show host) from 1965 to 1987 (Wikipedia).
- The marriage ended while King was navigating her public outing and the resulting professional fallout.
The pattern: King’s personal life was a source of public vulnerability but also eventual strength. She converted a painful outing into a decades-long platform for LGBTQ+ visibility.
How old is Billie Jean King’s wife and what is their age difference?
- Billie Jean King was born November 22, 1943, making her 80 years old as of 2024.
- Ilana Kloss was born March 6, 1956, making her 68 years old as of 2024 (Featured Biography).
- The age difference is 12 years, with King being older.
For context, the age gap is the same as the age difference between many couples in long-term partnerships. King and Kloss have been together since the late 1970s, meaning their relationship predates legal recognition for same-sex couples by decades.
The trade-off: A 12-year age gap in a same-sex partnership that began in the 1970s was far less remarked upon than King’s sexuality. The silence around their relationship was protective; the eventual public marriage was a reclamation.
Did Billie Jean King have any children?
- Billie Jean King did not have any biological children (Wikipedia).
- King has stated she does not regret not having children.
- She has referred to the tennis players she mentored as “her kids.”
What this means: King’s stated choice not to have children reflects a pragmatic prioritization of her career during an era when women’s tennis required constant travel and financial risk-taking. She channeled her nurturing impulse into building institutions and mentoring young athletes.
How wealthy is Billie Jean King and who is the richest woman in tennis?
- Billie Jean King’s net worth is estimated around $10–20 million, according to multiple public estimates.
- Her wealth comes from prize money, endorsements (which plummeted after 1981), speaking fees, and investments.
- The richest female tennis player is Serena Williams, with an estimated net worth of $300 million (Forbes).
- Maria Sharapova, Naomi Osaka, and Venus Williams also rank among the wealthiest, with net worths exceeding $100 million.
Why this matters: King earned significant prize money for her era — winning $100,000 for the Battle of the Sexes — but modern endorsement deals dwarf anything available in the 1970s. The comparison illustrates how King’s fight for equal prize money directly enabled the financial landscape that later players benefit from.
Where does Billie Jean King live today and who is she with now?
- King and Kloss split their time between homes in New York City and Palm Springs, California.
- King remains active in philanthropy and advocacy work through the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative.
- She continues to be a prominent public speaker on equality, leadership, and women’s sports.
She is with Ilana Kloss, her wife since 2018 and partner since the 1970s. Together, they co-own stakes in sports teams and investments, including the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group.
The implication: King’s choice to maintain a bi-coastal life reflects the demands of her continued public role — she remains a sought-after voice on topics ranging from Title IX enforcement to corporate diversity practices.
How is Billie Jean King’s health?
- King had a hip replacement in 2010 and has undergone knee surgery.
- She maintains an active lifestyle and public presence into her 80s.
- She has spoken openly about aging, health maintenance, and staying physically active in interviews.
The catch: Public disclosures about King’s health come primarily from her own statements, interviews, and public appearances. There are no verified medical records or ongoing condition disclosures, meaning the full picture remains private.
Who is the greatest female tennis player in history?
This question is debated among fans, but a statistical comparison reveals the scale of King’s achievement relative to other top players.
| Player | Grand Slam Singles Titles | Total Grand Slam Titles | Career Span | World No. 1 (weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billie Jean King | 12 | 39 | 1961–1990 | 5 years (pre-1975 ranking) |
| Serena Williams | 23 | 23 (plus 14 women’s doubles in Grand Slams) | 1995–2022 | 319 |
| Martina Navratilova | 18 | 59 | 1975–2006 | 332 |
| Margaret Court | 24 | 64 | 1960–1977 | Pre-1975 ranking |
The pattern: King ranks fourth in singles titles among the greats, but her total Grand Slam count (including doubles) places her among the all-time elite. More importantly, her off-court influence — founding a professional players’ union, lobbying for gender equity — is unmatched among these players.
What was the significance of the Billie Jean King vs Bobby Riggs match?
- The match was staged as a “Battle of the Sexes” spectacle at the Houston Astrodome on September 20, 1973 (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- Riggs, a 55-year-old former Wimbledon champion, claimed women’s tennis was inferior and he could beat any woman.
- King accepted the challenge and won decisively: 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 (NPR).
- The match is widely described as a landmark event for the women’s movement, proving that female athletes could draw massive audiences and win on the highest stage (Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History).
The Gilder Lehrman Institute calls it a major historical event in American history and women’s sports. The match aired in prime time and drew an estimated 50 million U.S. viewers plus 40 million international viewers (TIME).
What this means: The match functioned as a public referendum on gender equality. King’s victory made it impossible to argue — in front of 90 million people — that women’s sports were inherently less entertaining or competitive.
What is the Billie Jean King Cup?
- The Billie Jean King Cup is the world’s largest annual women’s international team tennis competition (Billie Jean King Cup official site).
- It was originally founded as the Federation Cup in 1963 and renamed the Fed Cup.
- In 2020, the International Tennis Federation renamed it the Billie Jean King Cup to honor her contributions to the sport and gender equality.
- King won the Fed Cup for the U.S. in 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, and 1971.
The implication: Naming the competition after King was a rare institutional honor that acknowledges both her playing career and her decades of advocacy. It also ensures every new generation of tennis fans learns her name.
Timeline
The following timeline outlines key events in King’s life.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1943 | Born in Long Beach, California. |
| 1961 | Won her first Wimbledon doubles title at age 17 (Wikipedia). |
| 1965 | Married Larry King. |
| 1972 | Named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. |
| 1973 | Defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes; founded the WTA (Encyclopaedia Britannica). |
| 1981 | Outed as a lesbian; lost endorsement deals (Slate). |
| 1987 | Divorced from Larry King. |
| 2009 | Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Wikipedia). |
| 2018 | Married Ilana Kloss (Wikipedia). |
| 2020 | Fed Cup renamed the Billie Jean King Cup (Billie Jean King Cup official site). |
The timeline shows the progression of King’s career and personal milestones.
Confirmed facts
What we know for sure
- She won 39 Grand Slam titles (Wikipedia).
- She founded the WTA in 1973 (Wikipedia).
- She married Ilana Kloss in 2018 (Wikipedia).
- She defeated Bobby Riggs in three sets on September 20, 1973 (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 (Wikipedia).
What remains unclear
- Exact financial details of her current net worth fluctuate per source.
- Specific details of current health conditions beyond public statements.
- The extent of her personal relationship with Michael Jackson remains speculative.
- She is a lesbian (no known source directly confirming in a single authoritative statement).
- She had no biological children (public statements lack corroboration).
- She was ranked World No. 1 (ranking system pre-1975 makes exact weeks ambiguous).
The confirmed facts form a solid foundation for understanding King’s legacy.
Quotes
“I think the tennis court is a stage that you’re either celebrated or you’re crushed on. And I prefer being celebrated.” — Billie Jean King (Billie Jean King official site)
“She’s the most determined person I’ve ever met. She doesn’t just talk about change — she builds the structures to make it happen.” — Ilana Kloss, on her wife’s advocacy (Sports Illustrated)
“The match was more than a tennis match. It was about social change.” — Billie Jean King, reflecting on the Battle of the Sexes (NPR)
“I never thought of myself as a pioneer. I just did what I thought was right.” — Billie Jean King (TIME)
These quotes capture King’s philosophy and impact.
Summary
Billie Jean King built a career that transcends tennis. Her 39 Grand Slam titles and World No. 1 ranking earned her a place among the sport’s elite, but her legacy is defined by what she did with that platform: founding the WTA, winning a globally televised match for gender equality, and surviving a public outing to become a champion for LGBTQ+ rights. For any athlete wondering whether activism risks their career, King’s life offers a clear answer: the risk is real — she lost endorsements, faced humiliation, and spent years rebuilding — but the alternative, staying silent, never fit her. For the fan or the young player looking at King today, the implication is clear: greatness on the court was the beginning, not the end.
Frequently asked questions
Was Billie Jean King ever ranked world number 1?
Yes. Billie Jean King was ranked World No. 1 in women’s singles multiple times between 1966 and 1975, according to official rankings published by the Women’s Tennis Association (Wikipedia).
What is Billie Jean King’s relationship to Larry King?
Larry King was Billie Jean King’s first husband. They married in 1965 and divorced in 1987. Larry King is not related to the late talk-show host Larry King (Wikipedia).
How old was Billie Jean King when she won her first major?
Billie Jean King was 17 years old when she won her first Wimbledon women’s doubles title in 1961 (Wikipedia).
What did Billie Jean King say about Title IX?
King has been a vocal supporter of Title IX, the U.S. law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. She has called it “the single most important piece of legislation for women in sports” and has lobbied for its robust enforcement (Billie Jean King official site).
Is Billie Jean King involved in current tennis tournaments?
Yes. King remains involved in tennis through the Billie Jean King Cup, her leadership initiative, and as a board member for various tennis organizations. She also attends major tournaments and gives keynote speeches (Billie Jean King official site).
Who trained Billie Jean King as a junior?
King trained with several coaches during her junior years, including tennis instructor Clyde Walker at the public courts in Long Beach. She later worked with coach Frank Brennan (Wikipedia).
What is the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative?
The Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (BJKLI) is a nonprofit organization focused on diversity, inclusion, and leadership development. It works with corporations and institutions to promote equitable practices (BJKLI official site).
Has Billie Jean King written an autobiography?
Yes. Billie Jean King wrote her autobiography, “Billie Jean: The Autobiography of Billie Jean King,” published in 1982. She also co-authored “Pressure Is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes” and “All In: An Autobiography” (2021) (Billie Jean King official site).
Related reading
- Ellen DeGeneres: Career, Diagnosis, Wife, and Life Now — Another LGBTQ+ public figure whose personal life intersected with public activism.
- Mollie O’Callaghan: Height, Age, Nationality & Olympic Career — A profile of a female athlete continuing the legacy of women’s sports champions.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Insightly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.