Carole Baskin, born on June 6, 1961, is a renowned American zoo proprietor who serves as the CEO of “Big Cat Rescue,” a well-known wildlife sanctuary. She has gained widespread recognition in the United States due to her passion for tigers and her notable conflicts with another zoo owner named Joe Exotic.
They engaged in continuous verbal conflict until 2019, when Joe received a 22-year prison sentence. This was a result of his attempt to hire a hitman to eliminate Baskin, unaware that the purported hitman was, in fact, an undercover FBI agent.
In March 2020, Netflix released a new documentary series titled “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness,” shedding light on the events involving Joe and Carole Baskin.
Childhood, Parents, Siblings & Education
The renowned entrepreneur Carole Baskin was born on June 6, 1961, making her 58 years old in 2019. She is the sole child of her parents, with her father named Vernon Charles Stairs and her mother being Mary Barbara Jean Norris Stairs. Carole hails from a humble background, coming from a family with limited financial means.
During her youth, she expressed to her parents her desire not to attend, citing the financial strain it was causing. However, her parents reassured her not to be concerned. Eventually, she decided to leave home, embarking on an independent journey. She secured a job and began residing in a rented apartment.
Some Hidden Facts about Carole Baskin
| Wiki/Bio | |
|---|---|
| Real Full Birth Name | Carole Baskin. |
| Age (As of 2019) | 58 years old. |
| Date of Birth (DOB), Birthday | June 6, 1961. |
| Birthplace/Hometown | San Antonio, USA. |
| Nationality | American. |
| Gender | Female. |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian. |
| Sexuality (Gay or Lesbian) | Straight. |
| Religion | Christina. |
| Sun Sign (Zodiac Birth Sign) | Gemini. |
| House Location | Tampa, Florida. |
| Physical Statistics | |
| Height (Tall) | Centimeters: 162 cm. Feet & Inches: 5’4″. |
| Weight | Pounds: 123 lbs. Kilograms: 56 Kg. |
| Eye Color | Blue. |
| Shoe Size (UK) | 8. |
| Hair Color | Blonde. |
| Family | |
| Parents | Father: Vernon Charles Stairs. Mother: Mary Barbara Jean Norris Stairs. |
| Siblings | No. |
| Personal Life Relationship | |
| Marital Status | Married (Widow). |
| Husband | Donald Lewis. |
| Kids | No. |
| Social media | N/A. |
| Education | |
| Highest Qualification | School dropout. |
| School | Local high school. |
| Career | |
| Profession | Entrepreneur. |
| Net worth (As in 2020) | $7-20 million. |
Personal Life, Husband & Children
A self-made millionaire named Jack Donald Lewis, known for his deep affection for animals, divorced his first wife to wed Carole, despite a significant 22-year age difference between them.
Carole Baskin, aged 20, and Donald, who was 42 years old at the time, tied the knot in 1991 and established their marital residence in Tampa, Florida, USA.
When news of Jack Donald’s disappearance surfaced, Baskin was the one who reported her husband missing. Despite efforts by the police, Jack Donald remained unfound, eventually being declared deceased. Meanwhile, suspicions arose within the community, with some pointing fingers at Baskin, alleging her involvement in his demise.
Joe Exotic, her rival, went so far as to create a music video in which he depicted a woman murdering her husband, all in an attempt to taunt Baskin. As a result of her status as Donald’s wife, she ultimately gained control of all his assets.
Carole Baskin, Hitman & Joe Exotic
The rivalry between Baskin and Joe is well-known across America. It all began when Carole raised concerns and accused him of engaging in unlawful activities related to animals. She alleged that he was involved in selling crossbred tiger and lion cubs to clandestine buyers and also claimed that he had been responsible for the deaths of tigers.
Both of them constantly sought opportunities to provoke one another. On one occasion, Joe enlisted the help of an individual and offered them $3000 to harm Carole Baskin. However, this individual turned out to be an undercover FBI agent, leading to Joe’s subsequent arrest.
Following an inspection of the G.W. zoo during which two tiger skulls were discovered, Joe Exact was sentenced to 22 years of imprisonment in a trial court. Joe later expressed remorse for his actions in a letter. Currently, Tiger King is incarcerated in the county jail.
Career
After marrying Donald, she established a zoo called “Big Cat Rescue” in Tampa, which is open to the public from 9 AM to 6 PM. The facility is home to a vast array of animals, including cheetahs, caracals, pumas, lions, and tigers.
Carole Baskin, the CEO and founder of the park, boasted a net worth estimated at $7-20 million in 2020. The zoo also maintains an Instagram page, “bigcatrescue,” with a global following of 126k people.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B99NfHzJrYA/
Following her husband’s passing, she became the sole recipient of the entire estate. Subsequently, Donald’s former spouse and children submitted a formal petition challenging both her ownership and the property’s transfer to her.
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Trivia
- Once her husband reported that she wants to kill him and that she also hid his handgun.
- Carole Baskin was only 15 when she left her home.
- She spent nights under the cars and without food after leaving her house at 15.
- She has also created a website for her zoo.
- Some people blame her that she also does unethical activities relating to animals.
- During the trial, she told the judge that Joe gave her death threats a lot of times on the telephone.
- When police were trying to find missing Donald then they found his car in an airport parking lot.