Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago that we were all stuck on our couches, watching a bleached-blonde guy with a handlebar mustache scream about Carole Baskin while cuddling a tiger cub. Tiger King was the fever dream of 2020. But since the cameras stopped rolling and the Netflix buzz cooled down, people kind of lost track of the man himself. You’ve probably seen the occasional headline about a pardon or a new husband and wondered, is Joe Exotic still in prison?
The short answer is yes. As of January 2026, Joseph Maldonado-Passage—the artist formerly known as Joe Exotic—is very much still behind bars. He isn't out, he hasn't been pardoned, and he isn't back at a zoo.
He is currently serving his time at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Fort Worth in Texas. It’s a specialized facility for inmates who need long-term medical or mental health care, which makes sense given the health scares he's been vocal about over the last few years.
The Math Behind the Sentence
If you remember the trial, things looked pretty bleak for Joe. Initially, he was handed a 22-year sentence in 2020. People thought that was it. Game over. But Joe is nothing if not persistent. His legal team managed to snag a small victory in January 2022.
An appeals court ruled that the two murder-for-hire counts should have been grouped together for sentencing purposes rather than treated as totally separate crimes. This technicality shaved exactly one year off his time. So, he’s now working with a 21-year sentence.
When is he actually getting out? According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, his projected release date is September 2, 2029.
That date assumes he stays on his best behavior. It’s still a long way off. We are talking about three more years of jumpsuits and cafeteria food. For a guy who used to run for President and Governor of Oklahoma while filming explosive stunts, the silence of a prison cell must be deafening.
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Why He’s Actually In There (It Wasn’t Just the Hitman)
A lot of people think Joe is only in prison because of the plot to kill Carole Baskin. That was the "sexy" part of the trial that made for great TV. You've got the $3,000 payment to Allen Glover, the meetings with an undercover FBI agent, and the recorded conversations where Joe allegedly said to "cap her and drive off."
But the federal government threw the whole book at him. The "Tiger King" wasn't just convicted of murder-for-hire. He was hit with:
- 8 counts of violating the Lacey Act (falsifying wildlife records).
- 9 counts of violating the Endangered Species Act.
The most damning evidence involved five tigers. Prosecutors proved Joe shot and killed five healthy tigers just to make room for other cats in his crowded zoo. He didn't have a vet present. He just did it. That, combined with the illegal sale of tiger cubs across state lines, is what really anchored his long sentence.
Health Struggles and New Marriages
Life inside hasn't been quiet. Joe has been fighting an uphill battle with his health. In late 2021, he announced he had aggressive prostate cancer. For a while, it looked like he might be released on compassionate grounds, but the cancer went into remission in 2022.
The latest updates from 2025 aren't great, though. Joe has claimed the cancer returned and that he’s now dealing with issues in his left lung. He’s reportedly lost a significant amount of weight—dropping from over 200 pounds to around 170. He told reporters in early 2025 that he doesn't believe he will live long enough to finish the sentence.
Even while sick, Joe's love life remains a rollercoaster. He’s been married and divorced more times than most people have had long-term relationships. In April 2025, Joe married a fellow inmate named Jorge Flores (also referred to as Jorge Marquez). It was his sixth marriage. He’s been trying to use his platform to get Jorge asylum and a pardon, though the Department of Justice hasn't exactly been rushing to help.
The Pardon That Never Comes
Joe has spent the last several years begging for a presidential pardon. He thought Donald Trump would do it in 2021. He even had a limo waiting outside the prison on Trump's last day in office. It never showed up.
Since then, he’s tried every angle. He ran for President again from prison as a Democrat in 2024 (and later as an Independent). He’s sent letters to every politician who will listen. He honestly believes that if enough people see the "truth" about the evidence being planted, he'll walk free.
However, his most recent appeal for a new trial was shot down in July 2025. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals basically said his arguments didn't have merit. At this point, his legal options are drying up faster than the Oklahoma dirt in July.
What This Means for You
If you’re following the saga, don’t expect a surprise release party anytime soon. Unless there is a massive shift in the executive branch or a medical miracle, the Tiger King is staying put.
If you want to stay updated on his status or help out, here is what you can actually do:
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- Check the BOP Inmate Locator: Use his register number 11840-063 on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for the most current release date.
- Read the Court Transcripts: If you’re curious about the "setup" Joe claims happened, the 10th Circuit Court opinions are public record and provide a much less biased view than the Netflix show.
- Follow the Legal Team: His current attorneys often post updates on X (formerly Twitter) regarding his health and pending motions.
Joe Exotic is a polarizing figure—a mix of a victim of his own ego and a convicted criminal who broke federal animal laws. For now, the cages he spent his life putting animals in have become his own reality.
To stay informed on the most accurate legal status, regularly monitor the U.S. Department of Justice press releases for the Western District of Oklahoma. You can also verify his current housing status via the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate search portal, which is updated daily to reflect transfers or changes in release dates.