Billie Jean King Family Tree: The Story Behind Tennis's Equality Pioneer

Billie Jean Moffitt King, born 22 November 1943 in Long Beach, California, USA, is an American former tennis player and activist — 12 Grand Slam singles titles (Wimbledon 6, US Open 4, Australian Open 1, French Open 1); 39 Grand Slam titles overall; 1973 Battle of the Sexes winner against Bobby Riggs; founded the WTA (1973), fought for equal prize money at Slams.

The Family's Roots: An American Working-Class Family

The Moffitt family is from Long Beach, California.

Her Parents

Father: William "Bill" Moffitt — Long Beach fire captain.

Mother: Betty Moffitt — homemaker.

Her Brother

Randy Moffitt, born 2 October 1948 — younger brother; MLB pitcher (San Francisco Giants).

Her Ex-Husband: Larry King

Larry King, born 8 December 1944 — American attorney (no relation to the CNN broadcaster). Married Billie Jean on 17 September 1965; divorced 1987.

Her Wife: Ilana Kloss

Ilana Kloss, born 22 March 1956 — South African former WTA player; longtime BJK partner. Married in 2018.

The King Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Bill Moffitt — Long Beach fire captain.

Mother: Betty Moffitt.

Brother: Randy Moffitt (b. 2 October 1948) — MLB pitcher.

Ex-Husband: Larry King (b. 8 December 1944; m. 17 September 1965, div. 1987).

Wife: Ilana Kloss (b. 22 March 1956; m. 2018).

Billie Jean King:

  • Born 22 November 1943, Long Beach
  • Won first WTA event 1959
  • Turned pro 1968
  • 12 Grand Slam singles titles: Wimbledon (1966, 67, 68, 72, 73, 75), US Open (1967, 71, 72, 74), Australian Open (1968), French Open (1972)
  • 16 Grand Slam doubles (14 with Rosie Casals or other partners); 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles — 39 total Slams
  • Career-high WTA No. 1
  • Battle of the Sexes: 20 September 1973, Houston Astrodome — beat 55-year-old Bobby Riggs (100M viewers)
  • Founded WTA: 1973; first WTA president
  • 1973 US Open: equal prize money for men & women (thanks to her pressure)
  • Founded Women's Sports Foundation 1974
  • Outed 1981 (Marilyn Barnett suit); publicly came out as lesbian in the 1990s
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2009
  • US Open renamed Billie Jean King National Tennis Center: 2006

What the King Family Story Teaches Us

A fire-captain father. A homemaker mother. A brother who was an MLB pitcher. A first marriage of 22 years. A second marriage to a South African tennis partner. A career that produced 39 Slams and reshaped women's sports pay equity.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Billie Jean story carries the same lesson. Some careers matter as much for what they change as for what they win.

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