The Nine Lives Of Zsa Zsa Gabor: Unpacking The Scandalous List Of Her 9 Husbands And Their Wildest Secrets

Zsa Zsa Gabor, the quintessential Hungarian actress and Hollywood socialite, famously claimed that she was a wonderful housekeeper: "Every time I leave a man, I keep his house." Her legendary life was defined by glamour, quotable wit, and a record-breaking number of marriages, making her a true icon of the mid-20th century. Her nine trips down the aisle secured her place in pop culture history, each union a new chapter in a story of love, luxury, and relentless publicity. As of December 2025, the fascination with Zsa Zsa’s romantic history remains strong, especially regarding her final and longest marriage to Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, whose recent activities continue to make headlines. This comprehensive list details every man who was lucky enough to call the dazzling Zsa Zsa "Dahling," from a Turkish diplomat to a purported German prince, revealing the unique secrets and controversies of each union.

Zsa Zsa Gabor: A Complete Spousal Biography

Zsa Zsa Gabor, born Sári Gábor in Budapest, Hungary, on February 6, 1917, was a celebrated actress and socialite whose personal life often overshadowed her professional career. She was the middle of the three Gabor sisters, all known for their beauty and magnetic personalities. Her nine marriages are a central part of her legacy, spanning from the 1930s until her death in 2016. | Husband | Profession/Title | Marriage Date | Divorce/Annulment/End Date | Duration | Key Detail | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. Burhan Belge | Turkish Diplomat | May 17, 1937 | December 4, 1941 | 4 years | Her first husband, a Turkish politician and diplomat. | | 2. Conrad Hilton | Hotel Magnate | April 10, 1942 | October 28, 1947 | 5 years | Father of her only child, Francesca Hilton. | | 3. George Sanders | Academy Award-Winning Actor | April 2, 1949 | April 2, 1954 | 5 years | He later married Zsa Zsa's sister, Magda Gabor. | | 4. Herbert Hutner | Financier/Businessman | November 5, 1956 | March 24, 1962 | 5 years | A prominent New York attorney and financier. | | 5. Joshua S. Cosden Jr. | Oilman/Industrialist | January 21, 1966 | October 18, 1967 | 1 year | A Texas oil magnate and heir. | | 6. Jack Ryan | Toy Designer/Engineer | January 21, 1976 | August 14, 1976 | Less than 1 year | The co-creator of the iconic Barbie doll. | | 7. Michael O'Hara | Divorce Attorney | August 27, 1976 | June 1983 | 7 years | Their divorce was not fully finalized before her next marriage. | | 8. Felipe de Alba | Mexican Actor/Attorney | April 13, 1983 | April 14, 1983 | 1 Day | Marriage annulled because her previous divorce was incomplete. | | 9. Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt | Businessman/Socialite | August 14, 1986 | December 18, 2016 | 30 years | Her longest marriage; 26 years her junior. |

The Million-Dollar Husbands: From Hotel Heiress to Hollywood Royalty

Zsa Zsa’s early marriages established her reputation for marrying men of wealth, power, and high social standing. These unions provided the financial security and social platform that launched her into the stratosphere of Hollywood royalty.

Conrad Hilton: The Hotel Heir and Her Only Child

Her second husband, Conrad Hilton Sr., was the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain and a powerful figure in the American business world. This was arguably Zsa Zsa’s most consequential marriage, as it produced her only child, a daughter named Francesca Hilton. The marriage lasted for five years, from 1942 to 1947. Their relationship was tumultuous, and Zsa Zsa later claimed that Hilton was emotionally abusive. The divorce settlement, however, secured her financial independence and helped cement her status as a fixture in high society.

George Sanders: The Actor Who Married Her Sister

Following her divorce from Hilton, Zsa Zsa married the debonair, Academy Award-winning British actor George Sanders. Sanders was a major Hollywood star known for his smooth, cynical charm. Their five-year marriage was a glamorous pairing of two major celebrity personalities. In a twist of fate that only the Gabor family could deliver, Sanders later married Zsa Zsa’s older sister, Magda Gabor, in 1970. This extraordinary detail highlights the unique, interconnected lives of the Gabor sisters and their shared circle of wealthy, prominent men.

The Shortest, Strangest, and Most Controversial Unions

As her career progressed, Zsa Zsa’s marriages became shorter and, in some cases, more bizarre, adding to her image as a free-spirited, unapologetic celebrity who defied convention.

Jack Ryan: The Man Who Invented Barbie

Perhaps the most surprising entry on the list is her sixth husband, Jack Ryan. Ryan was a brilliant engineer and designer who worked for Mattel and is credited with co-creating the iconic Barbie doll, along with her boyfriend, Ken. This brief marriage, lasting less than a year in 1976, connected the ultimate Hollywood glamour queen to one of the most enduring symbols of American pop culture. The union of the *Barbie* inventor and a real-life "Barbie doll" was a media sensation.

Felipe de Alba: The One-Day Bigamy Scandal

Zsa Zsa’s eighth marriage to Mexican actor and attorney Felipe de Alba in 1983 was her shortest, lasting a mere 24 hours. The wedding took place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but was quickly annulled. The reason? Her divorce from her seventh husband, Michael O’Hara (a divorce attorney himself), was not yet finalized. This legal oversight meant the marriage was invalid, leading to a brief but dramatic "bigamy at sea" controversy that perfectly encapsulated Zsa Zsa's chaotic and high-profile life.

Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt: The Final and Freshest Chapter

Her final marriage to Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt was her longest, lasting 30 years until her death in 2016. This union, which began in 1986, was fraught with controversy due to the significant age gap—Frédéric was nearly 30 years her junior—and his self-proclaimed royal title, which was obtained through an adult adoption. Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt became Zsa Zsa’s primary caretaker during her final, ailing years, and he was fiercely protective of her image and privacy. Despite the skepticism surrounding their relationship, he remained by her side for three decades.

The Current Status of Prinz von Anhalt in 2025

Even after Zsa Zsa’s passing, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt continues to be a figure in the news, providing the most current update on the legacy of Zsa Zsa’s spouses. As of late 2025, the 82-year-old Prinz von Anhalt has been seen out and about in Beverly Hills. He has recently made headlines for his unusual attempts to secure his lineage and fortune, including adopting a sixth person to inherit his title and fortune. Reports from 2025 indicate that he is actively looking for a young woman to marry, stating a desire for a partner who can help him manage his life and estate. These ongoing activities ensure that the name of Zsa Zsa Gabor’s final husband remains a topic of conversation, keeping her dramatic story alive in the present day.

Zsa Zsa's Legacy: A Masterclass in Celebrity

Zsa Zsa Gabor’s nine marriages were not just a series of personal relationships; they were a performance art. Each husband, whether a powerful magnate, a Hollywood star, or the inventor of the world's most famous doll, served as a prop in the grand theatrical production that was her life. Her marriages were a masterclass in leveraging personal relationships for fame and fortune, long before the age of reality television. Her famous quip about marriage—"A girl must marry for love, and keep on marrying until she finds it"—perfectly encapsulated her relentless, glamorous pursuit of happiness and wealth. The list of her spouses is not just a biography; it is a timeline of 20th-century celebrity, power, and the enduring allure of a woman who was truly one-of-a-kind.