If you’ve ever watched a single episode of Drag Race, you know RuPaul Charles doesn’t do anything by the book. He’s the queen of reinvention. But when it comes to his love life, people are often shocked to find out that the most famous drag queen on the planet has been with the same man since the early '90s.
So, let's get the big question out of the way immediately. Is RuPaul married? Yes. He is. But if you’re expecting a traditional, white-picket-fence story, you're looking at the wrong icon.
RuPaul and his husband, Georges LeBar, have a relationship that defies almost every Hollywood trope. They don’t live together full-time. They don't do the "monogamy" thing in the way most people define it. And honestly? They didn't even want to get married for the longest time.
Meet Georges LeBar: The Man Behind the Queen
Georges LeBar isn't some Hollywood socialite or a fellow drag performer. He’s a 6’7” (or 6’8” depending on which interview you catch) Australian painter and rancher. That’s right. While RuPaul is under the bright lights of Los Angeles filming season after season of global franchises, Georges is usually 1,000 miles away on a 60,000-acre ranch that straddles the border of Wyoming and South Dakota.
They met in 1994. It was at the Limelight nightclub in New York City. It was actually Georges’ 21st birthday. RuPaul has often joked that he saw this "maniac" dancing on the floor and, being 6’4” himself, was immediately struck by the fact that he’d finally found someone he could actually look up to.
"I’ve never been able to put my arms around someone’s shoulders who was taller than me," RuPaul told Vanity Fair.
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That height difference was the initial spark, but the staying power came from a shared sense of independence. They’ve been together for over 30 years now. In celebrity years, that’s basically several lifetimes.
The "Secret" 2017 Wedding (And the Real Reason It Happened)
For 23 years, they were perfectly happy being partners without a marriage license. RuPaul was famously vocal about not needing a piece of paper from the government to validate his devotion.
So, what changed in January 2017?
It wasn't a sudden burst of traditionalism. Honestly, it was a mix of political anxiety and pragmatism. Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the couple started thinking about the legal protections that come with marriage—especially regarding their vast business interests and estates.
RuPaul eventually "spilled the tea" during an interview on Hollywood Today Live in March 2017, casually mentioning that they’d tied the knot on their 23rd anniversary (which also happens to be Georges' birthday).
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The ceremony was tiny. Private. No cameras. No massive guest list. Just two people who had already spent two decades together deciding to make it official for the tax breaks and the peace of mind.
Why the Wyoming Ranch is a Hot Topic
When RuPaul isn't in "Mama Ru" mode, he’s often at the ranch. But don’t imagine him herding cattle in a gown. He mostly goes there to read, watch movies, and decompress.
However, the ranch has sparked some controversy in recent years. In a 2020 interview with NPR, RuPaul mentioned that a "modern ranch" is about land management, which includes leasing mineral rights to oil companies. This led to a massive internet firestorm regarding fracking on the property.
More recently, reports surfaced in early 2024 via The New Yorker that the couple is constructing a "fortified compound" on the land. RuPaul, ever the philosopher of survival, expressed concerns about the "cycle of destruction" in the world and wanted a safety net. Whether you call it a bunker or a castle, it’s clear that their Wyoming life is a far cry from the glitter of the main stage.
The Truth About Their Open Marriage
One of the things fans get "wrong" or feel confused about is how the couple stays together while spending so much time apart. They typically see each other every three weeks.
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RuPaul has been incredibly candid about their "open" arrangement. He doesn't believe in the "hoax" of traditional monogamy, especially for men.
- Trust over Ties: He’s stated that he loves Georges too much to "put shackles" on him.
- Devotion: Both have affirmed that while they have the freedom to explore, they are each other’s favorite person on Earth.
- The Philosophy: For RuPaul, love is about freedom, not ownership.
This setup isn't for everyone. But for a couple that has survived the 90s club scene, the rise of global stardom, and the pressures of public life, it’s clearly working.
No Kids, No Drama
Despite their long-term commitment, the couple has no children. RuPaul has been pretty clear that his "children" are the hundreds of drag queens he’s mentored through the years. Between a 60,000-acre ranch and a media empire, their plates are full enough.
What You Should Take Away
If you're looking for the "secret" to RuPaul's marriage, it's basically this: Independence. They don't try to be everything for each other. Georges doesn't care about show business. RuPaul doesn't do "hard labor" on the ranch. They support each other's wildly different lives and come together in "fabulous places" to reconnect.
If you're trying to apply the RuPaul model to your own life, start with these insights:
- Define your own rules. You don't have to follow the traditional marriage script if it doesn't fit your personality.
- Legal protection matters. Even if you don't "believe" in the ceremony, the legal benefits of marriage are real and worth considering for long-term partners.
- Maintain your own identity. Having separate hobbies and even separate living spaces can actually strengthen a bond rather than weaken it.
To keep up with the latest on RuPaul's career and family life, you can follow his official social media channels, though don't expect to see much of the media-shy Georges LeBar there—he prefers to keep his art and his ranch life strictly off the grid.