Eduardo Tamayo became known to many people because of his marriage to Tulsi Gabbard, a famous American politician. While Tulsi went on to become well-known in politics, Eduardo chose to live quietly away from cameras. Their love story started in childhood and turned into marriage, but faced challenges that many military families experience.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Eduardo Tamayo |
|---|---|
| Birth Year | 1981 (estimated) |
| Age | Around 43-44 years old |
| Birthplace | Hawaii, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous For | First husband of Tulsi Gabbard |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Marriage | 2002 to 2006 (with Tulsi Gabbard) |
| Current Status | Living privately in Hawaii |
Early Life and Background
Eduardo Tamayo was born around 1981 in Hawaii. Very little is known about his early life because he prefers privacy. Some reports suggest his uncle, Toby Tamayo, lives in the Philippines, and his grandfather might have been General Antonio Tamayo, a Philippine military officer who survived the Bataan Death March during World War II.
Growing up in Hawaii, Eduardo spent his childhood surfing and playing with friends, including a young girl named Tulsi Gabbard. The two became close friends, and their families grew close too.
Young Love and Marriage
Eduardo and Tulsi were childhood sweethearts. Tulsi later described their relationship simply: “Young love. We surfed together and were best friends. His family was like my family.” Their friendship grew into romantic love, and they decided to marry at age 21.
Marriage at Age 21
In 2002, Eduardo and Tulsi got married in a small, private ceremony before a justice of the peace with just a few family members. Tulsi once said, “I was more into martial arts than Barbie dolls, so it never crossed my mind to think about what kind of wedding I wanted to have.”
Eduardo was working as a self-employed businessman with a degree in Business Management. The young couple seemed happy starting their life together.
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The Challenge of War
In 2003, just one year after their wedding, Tulsi joined the Hawaii Army National Guard. When the Iraq War started, she volunteered to go to Iraq in 2004, even though she could have stayed home.
Tulsi spent 18 months in Iraq working in a medical unit. She served as a specialist and received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for her brave service. While she was overseas, Eduardo stayed home in Hawaii, managing everything alone. The long separation put huge stress on their young marriage.
The End of Their Marriage
When Tulsi returned from Iraq in 2005, their marriage was in trouble. The deployment had taken its toll. On June 5, 2006, they officially divorced.
In 2011, Tulsi spoke publicly about what happened: “Sadly, Eddie and I became another statistic, another sad story, illustrating the stresses war places on military spouses and families.” She explained that the stress on those left at home is very difficult and hard to understand unless you experience it.
Life After Divorce
After the divorce, Tulsi kept using the name “Tamayo” for several years, hoping they might get back together. By 2011, she realized that would not happen and wrote: “I had kept the Tamayo name in the hopes that we might still have a future together. However, recently I’ve come to fully realize that that’s not going to happen.”
Despite the divorce, they remained friends, and Eduardo’s family continued to welcome her warmly.
Eduardo’s Private Life Today
After 2006, Eduardo chose to live a very private life away from media attention. Reports suggest he still lives in Hawaii and works as a businessman, with an estimated net worth between $1 million and $2 million. However, specific details about his business, whether he remarried, or if he has children remain unknown because he values his privacy. There are no recent photos of him available, and he does not use social media.
Tulsi’s New Chapter
While Eduardo chose privacy, Tulsi continued her public career. She served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, making history as the first Hindu member of Congress and the first Samoan-American voting member.
In 2015, Tulsi married Abraham Williams, a cinematographer. They had a beautiful Hindu ceremony following Vedic traditions and remain happily married. In 2025, she was appointed as Director of National Intelligence by President Donald Trump.
Lessons from Their Story
Eduardo and Tulsi’s story shows that even strong childhood friendships can face challenges too big to overcome. Their marriage could not survive the pressure of military deployment and long separation—a reality many military families experience.
Their story also reminds us that divorce does not always mean anger. Eduardo and Tulsi ended their marriage but kept their respect for each other and moved forward with their lives.
Today, Eduardo remains a private person who once shared his life with someone who became very famous. While we may never know much about his current life, his story is an important part of understanding the personal sacrifices that military families make.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Eduardo Tamayo?
Eduardo Tamayo is an American businessman best known as the first husband of Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. He was born around 1981 in Hawaii and married Tulsi in 2002 when they were both 21. They divorced in 2006.
2. How long were Eduardo Tamayo and Tulsi Gabbard married?
Eduardo and Tulsi were married for about four years, from 2002 to 2006. They married as childhood sweethearts at age 21, but their marriage ended after Tulsi’s 18-month deployment to Iraq.
3. Why did Eduardo Tamayo and Tulsi Gabbard divorce?
Their divorce happened because of stress from Tulsi’s military deployment to Iraq. The 18-month separation was very difficult for Eduardo. Tulsi later said they “became another sad story, illustrating the stresses war places on military spouses and families.”
4. What does Eduardo Tamayo do for work?
Eduardo Tamayo is a businessman. He was self-employed during his marriage and studied Business Management. His estimated net worth is between $1 million and $2 million, though specific details about his current work are not known.
5. Where is Eduardo Tamayo now?
Eduardo lives a private life in Hawaii. After his 2006 divorce from Tulsi Gabbard, he chose to stay out of the public eye. Whether he remarried or has children is unknown because he values his privacy.
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