Former New York City Mayor and billionaire businessman, Michael Bloomberg, has married his longtime partner, Diana Taylor, following more than 25 years of being together.
Bloomberg, 84, and Taylor, 71, tied the knot on Monday in a private ceremony at their Upper East Side residence in New York, attended by family members, including Bloomberg’s daughters, Emma and Georgina.
A spokesperson for Bloomberg confirmed the marriage in a statement to the New York Post, disclosing that the couple first met 26 years ago at a meeting of the Citizens Budget Commission.
“The two first crossed paths when they sat next to each other at a Citizens Budget Commission meeting while he was first running for Mayor,” the spokesperson said.
Bloomberg served three terms as New York City mayor before making an unsuccessful attempt to secure the United States presidency in 2020.
He was previously married to Susan Brown in 1976, but the marriage ended in 1993.
Taylor, who was also previously married, currently chairs the board of directors of the New York City Ballet, a position she was approved for in 2021.
She came into the spotlight during Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign when she defended him against criticism over his past remarks about women at a “Women for Mike” rally in Texas.
Addressing concerns over comments considered demeaning to women, Taylor told CBS News: “It was 30 years ago. Get over it.”
“In none of them was he accused of doing anything other than saying something nasty to a woman. That is not who he is. Life has changed,” she said.
Taylor also described the workplace environment during that period as “bro culture”, arguing that Bloomberg had played a role in changing such attitudes.
“I grew up in that world. It was a bro culture. We have come a very, very long way and Michael Bloomberg has been at the forefront of that change,” Taylor said.
During Bloomberg’s time as mayor, Taylor served as superintendent of banking for New York State under former Governor George E. Pataki.
