Fred Tillman is an American yacht broker and businessman best known as the ex-husband of Kelly McGillis, the actress who starred opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986). The couple’s 13-year marriage, their move to Key West and their restaurant venture kept Tillman in the public eye for years — after which he returned to a quiet private life.
Table of Contents
- Who Is Fred Tillman?
- Age and Early Life
- Career as a Yacht Broker
- Marriage to Kelly McGillis
- Children
- Net Worth
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Fred Tillman?
Fred Tillman is a yacht salesman and restaurateur who became publicly known through his marriage to actress Kelly McGillis. A profile of Fred Tillman describes him as a businessman who worked in the yacht industry in Newport Beach, California, before moving to Key West, Florida with McGillis.
Age and Early Life
Reports on Fred Tillman’s birth date vary: some sources give June 1948, while others list 24 October 1949 (see Who’s Dated Who’s profile of Fred Tillman). He is therefore in his mid-to-late 70s as of 2026. He reportedly studied at American University and is an American citizen of Caucasian ethnicity. Little is publicly known about his childhood or parents, as he only became well-known as a celebrity spouse.
Career as a Yacht Broker
Tillman built his career as a yacht broker in Newport Beach, California, in the 1990s. After moving to Key West with McGillis, he continued sailing yachts and also worked as a marketing consultant. The couple opened Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery in Key West, which is still operating today. In April 1996, Tillman suffered a major financial blow when a $1.5 million schooner he co-owned caught fire at a marina in Dania, Florida. He has not been publicly active in the boating industry in recent years.
Marriage to Kelly McGillis
Fred Tillman met Kelly McGillis in 1988, when she was already a famous actress for her roles in Witness, Top Gun and The Accused. They married in a secret ceremony in 1989 — reported as 10 April 1989 — and moved to Key West, Florida. The marriage lasted 13 years but faced serious challenges: McGillis struggled with alcoholism, and Tillman faced financial losses. The couple divorced in 2002. McGillis later came out as a lesbian in 2009 and entered a civil union with sales executive Melanie Leis in 2010, which ended in 2011.
Children
Tillman and McGillis had two daughters together: Kelsey and Sonora. Both are now adults. McGillis largely stepped away from Hollywood to raise the girls, first in rural Pennsylvania and later in North Carolina, where she works as an acting teacher.
Net Worth
Fred Tillman’s net worth is estimated at around $2 million, earned from his yacht brokerage business and the Key West restaurant venture he ran with McGillis. This figure comes from third-party estimates and has not been verified by Tillman himself, who has lived a private life since the divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Fred Tillman?
Reports vary between a 1948 and an October 1949 birth date, making him in his mid-to-late 70s as of 2026.
Who was Fred Tillman’s wife?
He was married to actress Kelly McGillis from 1989 to 2002.
Does Fred Tillman have children?
Yes — two daughters, Kelsey and Sonora, from his marriage to Kelly McGillis.
What is Fred Tillman doing now?
He has kept a low profile since the divorce and is reportedly living in Memphis, Tennessee.
