Why ‘Tiger King’ Star Joe Exotic’s New Marriage To Fellow Prison Inmate Is Doomed Already

Tiger King star Joe Exotic tied the knot for the third time — behind bars — but sources say the convict union is doomed because his new spouse and fellow jailbird, Jorge Marquez, is likely to be deported under the Trump administration’s tough stance on illegal immigrants.

The former reality TV star, 62, married Marquez, 33, but sources believe the union will soon be heading “south.”

“Jorge is in prison for entering the U.S. from [his native] Mexico illegally, but he’s set to be released later this year and will probably be sent back there,” says an insider.

Meanwhile, the former zookeeper is in his sixth year of a 21-year prison stretch for his murder-for-hire plot against animal activist Carole Baskin, along with 17 counts of animal abuse.

“If Jorge is shipped out of the country, he won’t even be able to visit Joe in prison,” notes the insider. “So they are going to need to pack in all the marriage they can while they’re both still behind bars.”

Exotic has had his share of marital woes. His first hubby, Travis Maldonado, died after accidentally shooting himself in the head in 2017, and second hubby Dillon Passage split in 2021 after accusing Exotic of abusive and controlling behavior.

Still, he’s thrown a Hail Mary pass to make his third shot at matrimony work by pleading for asylum for Marquez. He’s also lobbied President Donald Trump for a pardon, groveling, “All I pray to God for is Trump allow me to enjoy a little life outside with [Jorge] before it’s too late.”

But Exotic’s hopes are likely a pipe dream.

“Joe is a delusional egomaniac and thinks between his fame and what he considers a wonderful love story with Jorge they’re going to have a life together outside of prison walls,” says our source. “But the fact is they’re going to be separated by the courts before the year is out and may never see each other again.”