Bert Girigorie is best known as the first husband of famous talk show host Wendy Williams. He married Wendy in 1994, but their relationship didn’t last long. The couple divorced after just five months of marriage. Many people are curious about what happened to Bert after his brief time in the spotlight.
In 2026, Bert Girigorie has moved on from his past with Wendy Williams. He now works as a successful marketing professional and lives a quiet, private life. Bert rarely speaks about his former marriage to Wendy. He prefers to stay away from media attention and focus on his career and personal happiness
Bio
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Bert Girigorie |
| Famous As | Wendy Williams’ First Husband |
| Date of Birth | Early 1960s (Exact date undisclosed) |
| Age (2026) | Approximately 60-65 years old |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | Morehouse College, Atlanta |
| Profession | Marketing & Communications Executive |
| Industry | Media, Sales, Business Development |
| Marriage to Wendy | 1994 |
| Marriage Duration | 5 months |
| Divorce Year | 1994 |
| Children | None |
| Current Marital Status | Private/Undisclosed |
| Current Residence | United States (Location Private) |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated comfortable financial standing |
| Social Media Presence | Very limited/Private |
| Public Appearances | Rare |
| Relationship with Wendy | No public contact |
| Career Focus | Marketing and sales leadership |
| Lifestyle | Private and low-profile |
| Interviews About Wendy | Rarely given |
| Known For | Professional discretion and privacy |
| Current Projects (2026) | Marketing consultancy work |
| Media Attention | Minimal by choice |
| Personality | Reserved and professional |
| Life Philosophy | Privacy over publicity |
Who is Bert Girigorie?
Bert Girigorie is a marketing and communications professional who gained public attention through his marriage to Wendy Williams. He worked in the media industry and built a successful career in sales and marketing. Most people know him as Wendy’s first husband, though he has accomplished much on his own.
Before meeting Wendy, Bert had already established himself in the business world. He graduated from Morehouse College and started working in various media-related positions. After his divorce, he continued to grow professionally while maintaining a low profile.
- Education: Graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta
- Career: Works as a marketing executive and sales professional
- Marriage: Was married to Wendy Williams for five months in 1994
- Current Life: Maintains privacy and stays away from the spotlight
Early Life of Bert Girigorie
Bert Girigorie early life unfolded in Charlotte’s tight-knit communities. Born March 13, 1964, he entered the world as a Pisces with natural empathy. These traits would later prove invaluable in understanding consumer behavior and building client relationships.Middle child family dynamics taught him valuable lessons early.
Sister Gabrielle and brother Bruce were constant companions. Being sandwiched between siblings develops unique skills: negotiation, compromise, and finding your voice without drowning out others. The Girigorie family background emphasized education and hard work.
Parents discussed goals, dreams, and integrity. While specific names remain private, their influence permeates Bert’s character.Faith-based values and integrity weren’t abstract concepts in his household. Christianity provided structure and purpose. Church attendance, community service, and treating others with respect formed his foundation.
Key aspects of his formative years included:
- Strong family bonds that provided emotional security
- Religious education that shaped moral compass
- Early exposure to business concepts and entrepreneurship
- Emphasis on achievement balanced with humility
- Cultural pride as an African-American business professional
Bert Girigorie Education
Bert Girigorie education history began at Williston Northampton School, a prestigious preparatory institution. This foundation prepared him for higher education at one of America’s most respected historically Black colleges.
Bert Girigorie Morehouse College years proved transformative. As a Morehouse College alumni, he joined the ranks of Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. The institution’s emphasis on leadership, scholarship, and service resonated deeply.
At Morehouse, the business development strategist within him emerged. Classes provided theoretical knowledge. Campus activities offered practical application. The network he built lasted decades, connecting him with other ambitious African-American professionals navigating corporate America.
His education equipped him with:
- Analytical frameworks for understanding market dynamics
- Communication skills essential for client interactions
- Leadership philosophy emphasizing servant leadership
- Professional network spanning multiple industries
- Critical thinking abilities for complex problem-solving
The Morehouse College experience wasn’t just academic preparation. It was cultural immersion that reinforced his identity and aspirations. This education would prove crucial when entering the corporate sales leadership experience arena.
Entering the Professional World
Fresh from Morehouse, Bert launched his sales and marketing career path. Entry-level positions might humble some graduates. Not him. He viewed them as learning opportunities, chances to master fundamentals before advancing.
His natural talent for understanding consumer behavior caught supervisors’ attention immediately. Within months, clients requested him specifically. His ability to explain complex products in simple terms became his signature. Genuine care for client success not just closing deals set him apart.
The revenue growth marketing specialist achieved remarkable results:
- 40% revenue increase during his first year
- Client retention rates consistently exceeding industry benchmarks
- Team leadership roles by age 28
- Strategic planning responsibilities for major accounts
- Adaptability that became his professional trademark
As a client relationship management expert, Bert combined analytical thinking with interpersonal warmth. When market conditions shifted, he adjusted strategies seamlessly. Competitors struggled; he thrived. Companies valued his strategic marketing professional approach that balanced data-driven decisions with human intuition.
His career trajectory before meeting Wendy Williams demonstrated something crucial: his success was entirely self-made. No celebrity connections. No shortcuts. Just competence, consistency, and character.
How Did Bert Girigorie Meet Wendy Williams?
The Wendy Williams and Bert Girigorie marriage story began in New York’s vibrant entertainment scene. Both were living in NYC during the late 1980s. Wendy was building her controversial radio career. Bert was ascending corporate ladders. Their worlds collided at an industry event in 1989.Celebrity marriage before fame looks different than post-stardom unions.
Wendy wasn’t the household name she’d become. She was a talented, ambitious radio personality with big dreams and bigger personality. Her outspoken style contrasted sharply with Bert’s reserved nature.Friends saw them as an unlikely pair. Wendy commanded attention wherever she went.
The courtship lasted two years before their Bert Girigorie wedding 1994. During this period, Wendy’s fame accelerated. Radio ratings climbed. Controversy followed. The pressures of her rising celebrity status began affecting their public relationship even before vows were exchanged.
Red flags existed. Different lifestyle preferences. Conflicting priorities. Communication styles that clashed. But love convinced them these obstacles could be overcome. Time would prove otherwise.
Marriage to Wendy Williams
Their private wedding ceremony in 1994 seemed promising initially. The Wendy Williams first marriage history began with optimism and genuine affection. Both believed they could balance demanding careers with marital commitment.
Wendy Williams marriage timeline reveals the challenges:
| Year | Event | Significance |
| 1989 | First Meeting | Industry event in New York |
| 1992-1994 | Courtship | Two years of dating |
| 1994 | Wedding | Private ceremony |
| 1995-1997 | Married Life | Career pressures mount |
| 1998 | Separation | Growing incompatibilities |
| 1999 | Divorce | Amicable settlement reached |
The short-lived celebrity marriage faced immediate obstacles. Wendy’s escalating fame brought constant media attention. Bert valued privacy and discretion. Her career demanded public persona maintenance. His professional success came through behind-the-scenes excellence.
Relationship challenges multiplied as years passed. Different priorities emerged clearly. Wendy pursued entertainment industry stardom aggressively. Bert focused on building lasting business relationships. Little time remained for relationship maintenance when both chased ambitious professional goals.
Life away from celebrity culture appealed to Bert. Wendy thrived in spotlights. This fundamental incompatibility couldn’t be ignored forever. The marital issues they experienced weren’t unique career-focused couples face similar struggles. But adding celebrity complications intensified everything.
The Reasons for Divorce
Bert Girigorie divorce reasons became clearer after their split. In rare public statements, Bert revealed insights into the Wendy Williams marriage breakdown. His quote speaks volumes: “I didn’t understand a lot of things that she did. I didn’t understand what her motivations were.”
The Bert Girigorie divorce Wendy Williams accelerated after what he described as “a big blowout.” The relationship became “very strained” following this incident. Bert suggested Wendy’s behavior changes might be linked to substance use a claim that aligned with Wendy’s later public admissions about addiction struggles.
Several factors contributed to their split:
- Career pressures pulling them in different directions
- Lifestyle incompatibility between private and public preferences
- Communication breakdowns as tensions mounted
- Value system differences becoming irreconcilable
- Personal challenges including possible substance issues
- Different long-term goals for family and future
The public figure personal boundaries Bert needed clashed with Wendy’s increasingly public life. She shared intimate details on-air. He valued discretion. These opposing approaches to privacy created constant friction.
Their 1999 divorce was handled with relative grace compared to typical celebrity splits. No bitter custody battles existed they had no children together. Financial settlements proceeded amicably. Both moved forward without public mudslinging, though Bert’s comments years later provided rare glimpses into their struggles.
Life After the Divorce
Life after divorce privacy became Bert’s priority immediately. While Wendy Williams ex-husband Bert Girigorie could’ve capitalized on his connection to growing celebrity, he chose differently. Avoiding media spotlight was intentional, calculated, and remarkably successful.
His career-focused post-divorce life flourished. The divorce personal growth journey transformed him. Professional achievements continued accumulating. Clients valued his expertise. Colleagues respected his integrity. The personal resilience narrative he embodied inspired others facing relationship challenges.
Business success without fame proved not only possible but preferable. His independent financial success came through competence, not celebrity association. The sales executive earnings reflected decades of consistent performance and strategic career moves.
Living in Charlotte, North Carolina today, Bert maintains the low-profile public figure status he cultivated post-divorce. At Bert Girigorie age 62, he’s achieved what many pursue unsuccessfully: peace, privacy, and professional respect.
His approach offers lessons:
- Dignity during difficult times preserves long-term reputation
- Character over celebrity lifestyle creates lasting fulfillment
- Authentic success story doesn’t require social media validation
- Integrity-driven career story outlasts fleeting fame
- Professional boundaries protect personal wellbeing
The contrast between his path and typical celebrity spouse turned private citizen trajectories is striking. Most write tell-all books. He stayed silent. Most chase reality TV opportunities. He focused on career advancement. Most leverage their famous connection. He built independent identity.
Wendy Williams Married Once Again
Wendy Williams relationship history didn’t end with Bert. Shortly after their 1999 divorce, she met Kevin Hunter. By 1997, they’d married in what she described as “fairytale love.” The Kevin Hunter Wendy Williams marriage lasted 21 years far longer than her first.
In 2000, they welcomed Kevin Hunter Jr., their only child together. Publicly, the marriage appeared strong. Behind closed doors, cracks formed early. Kevin’s infidelity became an open secret in entertainment circles before exploding publicly.
The scandal erupted dramatically:
- Kevin’s affair with multiple women exposed
- Child born with another woman during marriage
- Frequent contact with mistress confirmed
- Financial entanglement complicated divorce proceedings
- 2019 divorce finalized after 21 years together
Wendy allegedly served him papers on her show’s set characteristically public even in personal crisis. The contrast between fame and privacy in her two marriages is stark. Bert protected their relationship’s details. Kevin’s infidelities became entertainment news fodder.
Wendy Williams marriage timeline comparison reveals patterns. Both marriages struggled with trust, communication, and conflicting priorities. The difference? Kevin stayed in spotlight alongside her while Bert retreated from it.
Currently, Wendy hasn’t remarried. Legal battles over guardianship and finances dominate her 2025 reality. She’s expressed desire for future marriage but faces significant personal and legal challenges. Kevin remains connected through their son, occasionally commenting on their past relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Is Bert Girigorie?
Bert Girigorie is estimated to be in his late 50s or early 60s as of 2026. His exact birth date has not been publicly disclosed.
What Does Bert Girigorie Do for a Living?
Bert Girigorie works as a marketing and communications executive. He has built a successful career in sales and business development.
Why Did Bert Girigorie and Wendy Williams Divorce?
Bert Girigorie and Wendy Williams divorced after five months due to personal differences. Wendy has mentioned her career focus as one reason for the split.
Is Bert Girigorie Married Now?
Bert Girigorie keeps his personal life very private. There is no public information about his current relationship status.
Where Does Bert Girigorie Live Now?
Bert Girigorie reportedly lives in the United States and maintains a low profile. His exact location is kept private.
Did Bert Girigorie Have Children with Wendy Williams?
No, Bert Girigorie and Wendy Williams did not have any children together. Their marriage ended before they started a family.
What Is Bert Girigorie’s Net Worth?
Bert Girigorie’s exact net worth is unknown, but he has had a stable career in marketing. He is estimated to have a comfortable financial standing.
Does Bert Girigorie Talk About Wendy Williams?
Bert Girigorie rarely speaks publicly about his marriage to Wendy Williams. He prefers to keep that chapter of his life private.
Conclusion
Bert Girigorie has successfully moved past his brief marriage to Wendy Williams and built a respectable life for himself. While many people still remember him as Wendy’s first husband, he has proven that there is more to his story. His career in marketing shows his dedication and professional skills. Bert chose privacy over fame, which speaks volumes about his character.
In 2026, Bert Girigorie continues to live quietly away from the media spotlight. He has created his own path without relying on his past connection to Wendy Williams. His story reminds us that not everyone seeks celebrity status or public attention. Bert’s journey shows that success and happiness can be found in living life on your own terms, away from the cameras and headlines.
Ronan Vale is a pop culture enthusiast and entertainment writer with a passion for uncovering the stories behind the stars. He brings fresh perspectives on celebrity news, lifestyle trends, and entertainment insights, engaging readers with a mix of curiosity, depth, and insider knowledge.
