You’d think the man responsible for the most glamorous, high-energy reality competition on TV would be married to a high-flying Hollywood producer or a world-class fashion designer. Honestly, that's what most people assume. But the truth is way more grounded, literally. RuPaul is married to Georges LeBar, a 6'7" Australian painter and rancher who spends most of his time managing a massive 60,000-acre estate in the middle of Wyoming.
It’s a wild contrast. RuPaul is the face of global drag culture, usually draped in sequins or high-end suits, while his husband is a guy who's genuinely happy living in the most isolated part of the United States. They’ve been together since the mid-90s, but they only actually tied the knot in 2017.
Why wait 23 years?
RuPaul has been pretty blunt about it. They didn't really care about the "ceremony" of it all until the political landscape shifted in 2016. At that point, getting married became a practical move for tax breaks and legal protections.
The night they met at Limelight
It all started in 1994. RuPaul was already a star, and Georges was celebrating his 21st birthday at Limelight, the legendary (and now closed) New York City nightclub. Ru spotted him on the dance floor and was immediately struck by his height.
Keep in mind, RuPaul is 6'4". It's not often he meets someone who makes him look short.
"He was dancing like a crazed person," RuPaul told Entertainment Tonight years later. He walked up to Georges and asked, "What are you doing?" and "Can I put my arms around you?" because he’d never been able to put his arms around someone's shoulders who was taller than him.
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That was it. They’ve been a pair ever since.
Within a week of that first meeting, they were flying across Europe on Elton John's private jet. It sounds like a rom-com, but it was just the start of a decades-long partnership that has survived the pressures of fame by remaining remarkably private.
Who exactly is Georges LeBar?
Georges isn't just "RuPaul's husband." He’s a person with a pretty intense creative background of his own. Born in Perth, Australia, he studied fashion and design in Paris, New York, and Miami before gravitating toward painting.
His art is often large-scale and personal. He’s published books like Pillowtalk and Six Inches Away, which blend poetry with his oil paintings. He’s even painted portraits of RuPaul, though he usually lets his husband take the spotlight.
The ranch life came later.
Georges inherited the LeBar Ranch from his grandfather. It's an enormous piece of land—about 90 square miles—that straddles the border of Wyoming and South Dakota. While it used to be a sheep and cattle operation, these days, Georges runs it as a "21st-century ranch."
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The "land management" controversy
In a 2020 interview with NPR, RuPaul sparked some backlash when he described the ranch’s operations. He called it "land management," explaining that they lease mineral rights and sell water to oil companies.
Environmentalists were quick to point out that this is basically a polite way of saying "fracking."
RuPaul’s response to the criticism was classic Ru: "Do you buy gas? Before you point the finger, smell it first."
Whether you agree with the land use or not, it’s clear that Georges is the one on the ground doing the work. He doesn't have public social media. He doesn't do "influence." He just works the land and paints.
How their open marriage actually works
One of the things that fascinates fans is that RuPaul and Georges have an open marriage. Ru has been very vocal about this, famously calling monogamy a "hoax" in an interview with Vanity Fair.
"I love him too much to try to put shackles on him," RuPaul said.
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They’ve found a rhythm that works for them, even though they spend a lot of time apart. Ru is usually in Los Angeles or filming Drag Race around the world, and Georges is in Wyoming. They try to see each other every three weeks.
They meet up in "fabulous places"—Maui, New York, San Francisco. It’s a lifestyle that requires a massive amount of trust. RuPaul has said that there isn't a person on the planet he likes being around more than Georges, but he also doesn't believe one person should have to meet every single need of another.
Why they chose to stay childless
Despite being together for over 30 years, the couple never had kids. RuPaul has mentioned that his schedule simply doesn't allow for it. He’s also admitted that he likes his life the way it is—quiet when he wants it to be, and loud when he's working.
"If [Georges] wanted to do it tomorrow, I would do it," RuPaul once told The Guardian. But for now, they seem content with their "fortified compound" in Wyoming (which Ru reportedly built to withstand "calamity") and their colorful mansion in Beverly Hills.
Next steps for curious fans:
If you're interested in seeing the creative side of RuPaul's husband, you should look for his art books, Pillowtalk or Six Inches Away. They offer a much deeper look into his personality than any red carpet photo ever could. You might also want to check out RuPaul's 2024 memoir, The House of Hidden Meanings, where he goes into even more detail about how his relationship with Georges has evolved over the decades.
It's clear that while the world sees the "Supermodel of the World," the man behind the makeup has a very different kind of anchor waiting for him in the wilds of Wyoming.