Few moments in sports history carry the weight of a single tennis match. But Billie Jean King’s 1973 victory over Bobby Riggs was never just about tennis—it was a public reckoning with gender equality that echoed far beyond the court.
Grand Slam titles: 39 ·
Singles Grand Slams: 12 ·
Years active: 1960s–1990 ·
Highest singles ranking: World No. 1 ·
Founding organization: Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)
Quick snapshot
- King defeated Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes (Billie Jean King official site)
- She won 39 Grand Slam titles (Women’s Sports Foundation)
- She founded the Women’s Tennis Association (LGBT Speakers Agency)
- King came out as a lesbian in 1981 (The Nation)
- 1973: Battle of the Sexes match (Billie Jean King official site) (National Women’s History Museum)
- 1973: Founded the WTA (LGBT Speakers Agency) (National Women’s History Museum)
- 2009: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom (National Women’s History Museum)
- King continues advocacy through the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative (Billie Jean King official site)
- Her legacy influences the inaugural mixed-gender professional tennis events (Wikipedia) (Billie Jean King official site)
The following table summarizes key biographical data about Billie Jean King from official sources.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Billie Jean King (née Moffitt) |
| Born | November 22, 1943 |
| Grand Slam titles | 39 |
| Partner | Ilana Kloss |
| Net worth (estimated) | $30 million |
| Presidential honor | Medal of Freedom (2009) |
Why is Billie Jean King so famous?
The Battle of the Sexes match
- King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 on September 20, 1973, at the Astrodome in Houston (Britannica).
- The match was billed as a $100,000 winner-take-all exhibition (Billie Jean King official site).
That single match, watched by an estimated 90 million people worldwide, turned a tennis exhibition into a national conversation about gender and athletic ability. The victory validated women’s professional tennis in the eyes of many skeptics.
Founding the WTA
- In 1973, King founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the first all‑female professional tennis tour (LGBT Speakers Agency).
Before the WTA, women players received prize money a fraction of men’s and had no unified bargaining power. King’s move created a structure that today governs a global sport.
39 Grand Slam titles
- Across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, King won 39 Grand Slam championships (Women’s Sports Foundation).
- That includes 20 Wimbledon titles, making her one of the most decorated players in history (Women’s Sports Foundation).
The implication: King’s fame doesn’t rest on one legendary match. Her trophy case filled over two decades cements her as an all‑time great on the court.
King’s fame is a product of both on‑court dominance and off‑court courage. Without the 1973 match, the 39 titles would still be remarkable—but the match triggered a social shift that made King a household name beyond tennis fans.
The interplay of athletic achievement and activism is what truly sets King apart as a historical figure.
Was Billie Jean King LGBTQ?
Sexual orientation confirmed
- King came out as a lesbian in 1981 during a palimony lawsuit filed by her former partner Marilyn Barnett (The Nation).
That public disclosure was forced—King was outed against her will. But she later embraced her identity and became a visible LGBTQ+ advocate.
Life partner Ilana Kloss
- King has been in a relationship with former professional tennis player Ilana Kloss since the early 1970s (Wikipedia).
The pattern: King’s personal life is intimately tied to tennis—she met Kloss on the tour, and they have been partners for more than 50 years.
King’s sexual orientation is often discussed in the context of forced outing, but her advocacy later turned a painful event into a platform for LGBTQ+ rights.
This chapter of her life illustrates how a personal crisis can be leveraged for public good.
Does Billie Jean King have a wife now?
Partnership with Ilana Kloss
- King and Kloss have been partners since 1971, but they are not legally married (National Women’s History Museum).
In interviews, King has referred to Kloss as her “life partner” and “spouse” interchangeably, but no legal marriage certificate exists. The couple resides in New York and continues to work together on philanthropic initiatives.
Marriage status
- King has never been married to any person—male or female—in a legal ceremony (Wikipedia).
The catch: Language around “wife” can be misleading. King and Kloss consider themselves married in all but legal terms, a distinction that matters for estate and inheritance rights in states without full partners’ protection.
Did Billie Jean King have a child?
Biological children
- King has no biological children (National Women’s History Museum).
Adoptive or step children
- There are no publicly known adoptive or step children (Wikipedia).
Why this matters: King’s choice to remain child‑free allowed her to focus entirely on her career and activism. It also means there is no direct lineage of her charitable trust’s beneficiaries, which remains a private matter.
What is Billie Jean King’s net worth?
Earnings from tennis
- King was the first female athlete to earn over $100,000 in a single season (1971) (Billie Jean King official site).
- Her career prize money totaled approximately $1.97 million in 1970s dollars, equivalent to about $15 million today adjusted for inflation.
Endorsements and philanthropy
- King earned endorsements from brands such as Wilson, Nike, and Rolex, though exact figures are not public (Britannica).
- She has donated substantial amounts to the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative.
The trade‑off: King’s net worth of roughly $30 million is modest compared to today’s top tennis stars, reflecting an era when prize money was a fraction of current levels. Yet her influence far exceeds that wealth.
Timeline: Billie Jean King’s journey
- 1943 – Born in Long Beach, California (Wikipedia)
- 1966 – Won first major singles title at Wimbledon (Olympics.com)
- 1971 – First female athlete to earn >$100,000 in a season (Billie Jean King official site)
- 1973 – Defeated Bobby Riggs in Battle of the Sexes (Britannica)
- 1973 – Founded the Women’s Tennis Association (LGBT Speakers Agency)
- 1981 – Came out as a lesbian in palimony lawsuit (The Nation)
- 2009 – Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom (National Women’s History Museum)
These milestones trace the arc of a career that continually redefined expectations.
Confirmed vs. unclear: separating fact from rumor
Confirmed facts
- King is a lesbian (The Nation)
- King has no children (National Women’s History Museum)
- King’s partner is Ilana Kloss (Wikipedia)
- King won 39 Grand Slam titles (Women’s Sports Foundation)
- King received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (National Women’s History Museum)
What’s unclear
- Exact current net worth fluctuations – no public audited figures exist (Women’s Sports Foundation)
- Details of her estate planning remain private (Wikipedia)
Distinguishing what is known from what is speculative helps readers assess the reliability of the information.
Quotes that define Billie Jean King
“I first encountered gender inequality at age 12 during a tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Club.”
Billie Jean King, via her official site
“Billie Jean King is a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who has championed equality for women and the LGBTQ+ community her entire life.”
National Women’s History Museum, biography page
“The Battle of the Sexes was an exhibition tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that became a milestone in public acceptance of women’s tennis.”
Britannica
For athletes considering a similar path of activism, the lesson is clear: King’s courage to speak out, even when forced into the spotlight, turned a personal crisis into a public good. The choice to use her platform for equality—rather than retreat from controversy—set a template that later stars like Ilona Maher and Taylor Townsend have followed. For the next generation of tennis players, the implication is clear: stage your voice, or stay silent on the issues that matter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Billie Jean King Cup?
The Billie Jean King Cup is the premier international team competition in women’s tennis, formerly known as the Fed Cup. It was renamed in 2020 to honor King’s contributions to the sport.
Did Billie Jean King play against men?
Yes, most famously against Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes. She also played mixed doubles with male partners throughout her career.
How many Wimbledon titles did Billie Jean King win?
King won 20 Wimbledon championships across singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles (Women’s Sports Foundation).
What organization did Billie Jean King found?
She founded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973 (LGBT Speakers Agency).
What honors has Billie Jean King received?
King received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 (National Women’s History Museum).
Who was Billie Jean King’s manager?
King has worked with several managers over her career; her long-time manager is Jerry Diamond, who also served as WTA executive director.
What is the relationship between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs?
They were opponents in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes. Though Riggs initially taunted King, after the match they became friendly and appeared together in public events.
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Richard Vane is Senior Reporter at MorningTimes.uk, covering breaking UK news stories across politics, business and public affairs.