Joe Exotic, the flamboyant former zookeeper who became a global sensation through Netflix's Tiger King, is once again in the headlines — this time for tying the knot from behind bars.
Discover our latest podcast
Convicted in 2019 for a murder-for-hire plot targeting animal rights activist Carole Baskin and sentenced to 22 years in prison, Joe's life took an unexpected turn when a court later reduced his sentence by one year.
Now, amidst ongoing legal appeals and a health crisis, he's found love again. At 62, Joe Exotic has married fellow inmate Jorge Flores Maldonado, marking his latest chapter in a personal saga.
Joe Exotic marries again in prison ceremony
Joe Exotic, born Joseph Maldonado-Passage, shared the news of his marriage to fellow inmate Jorge Flores Maldonado on April 22, 2025, via social media, delighting his fans and surprising his critics.
Despite serving a 21-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Joe managed to orchestrate a prison wedding. A photoshopped image of the couple suited up was shared along with the message:
Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado.
Their engagement, announced in October 2024, sparked curiosity, and now, their union has captured public attention. Joe explained at the time:
Meet Jorge Marquez he is 33. He is so amazing and is from Mexico.
Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we be leaving America when we both get out.
Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago.
The marriage application had to be approved by multiple departments within the prison, including the warden, psychiatry, and the chaplain.
Joe’s optimism remains strong, despite being behind bars. He's hopeful his ongoing appeal might lead to a pardon, stating:
I wish someone that is President or wins the Presidency would do the right thing and pardon me so I could move past this nightmare.
He has continued to push for a pardon from Donald Trump, who previously said he will look at his case. He has also publicly endorsed him in the 2024 election and even offered a deal in which he and Jorge would leave the country if pardoned.
Joe’s recent wedding adds to a long list of high-profile and often tumultuous relationships. His love life reads like a reality show script — fitting, given his Netflix fame.
Joe’s wild ride of love: From throuples to heartbreaks
His first known partner, Brian Rhyne, died in 2001 due to complications related to HIV. Joe then married J.C. Hartpence, whose troubled relationship ended after Hartpence allegedly pointed a gun at Joe's head during a heated argument. The incident marked the end of their relationship and Hartpence was later arrested at the zoo. He is now serving a life sentence for a separate murder.
One of the most remarkable moments in Joe’s romantic history came in 2014 when he entered into a polyamorous marriage with John Finlay and Travis Maldonado. The three-way wedding, which featured prominently in Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, drew widespread attention.
Though initially a united front, the relationship slowly unravelled. Finlay eventually left after falling out with Joe, and tragedy struck when Travis accidentally shot himself in 2017. The unconventional marriage, while controversial, symbolised Joe's unorthodox approach to love and relationships.
Just two months later, Joe married Dillon Passage. The relationship lasted through the initial years of Joe's imprisonment but ended in separation in 2021 and divorce in 2023. Dillon expressed that their union began as 'companionship' but later turned into love. Despite the split, they remained on relatively good terms.
Joe has not been shy about sharing the trials of his romantic history. He reflected candidly:
I've been through some sh*t in my days. I buried two husbands, the third one ran off with $2.6million bucks from Netflix and left my a** here, but Jorge is a very amazing young man.
Cancer and confrontation: A new battle in Joe’s life
While romance has offered Joe some comfort, the past few years of his life have been filled with health struggles. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021 and is currently in remission. Unfortunately, it seems he has been dealt with another blow to his health.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail, he revealed that a suspicious finding was discovered during a scan, though final results are still pending. He now says he will refuse treatment if the diagnosis is confirmed.
He shared:
I had a CT scan in January and then I had a PET scan the Friday before I shipped out to come down here to verify that it is cancer in left lung. I still have not got the results, so I may be fighting lung cancer now.
I'm going to decline cancer treatments this time around if it is lung cancer because I just can't do it again.
He added:
I can't. I can't live in a six by 12-foot concrete room with no TV, no radio, nobody and puke every day. I will just let this take me this time. I've watched too many of my friends die in here.
He has already planned his funeral, asking for his ashes to be scattered next to Travis Maldonado's.
Moreover, he's leaving everything to a former boyfriend who he still remains devoted to—Joe Seth Posey, whom he met online during an inmate dating contest. He said:
I've already got an advanced directive and a DNR (do not resuscitate). I already have the will all set up for Seth and his son.
I have left everything; my trademarks, my copyright certificate, my bank account, everything, to that man [Seth] and his kid.
Talking about him, he previously said that Seth was the ‘only man that didn't screw me over in the last six years.’
In true Joe Exotic fashion, he’s also planning to document his final days in a new film titled The Tiger King Returns, which he says will tell the 'true story' of his life and the realities of prison life.
Read more:
Celebrities you didn't know have a twin, from Ashton Kutcher to Rami Malek
Kristi Noem’s purse was stolen, containing valuable items from $3k to government security badge
Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus' new romance: Source claims 'Miley didn't know'
Sources used:
Daily Mail: Joe Exotic is married! Tiger King star ties the knot with fellow inmate in prison
Daily Mail: Jailed Netflix star Joe Exotic, 61, reveals he's undergoing tests for lung cancer
People: Joe Exotic's 6 Husbands: A Look Back at the Tiger King Star's Relationship History
BBC: 'Tiger King' murder-for-hire plot sentence shortened
