Florke was born on a farm in
Iowa to a family of German descent. He graduated from
Washington High School in 1981. Florke moved to
New York City at the age of eighteen to model and enroll in a fashion course. A spring 2007 profile in
O, The Oprah Magazine reported that Florke, a decorator and author, manages six houses and owned a brokerage business and construction company. Florke starred in an
A&E reality show about his real estate business. == Personal life ==