Barounis was born in Kalamata, Greece and served in the Hellenic Armed Forces. While in Athens, he met his wife, Tricia. The couple later migrated to Australia, eventually settling in Maryborough. Barounis managed various businesses across Queensland and New Zealand.[1][2][3]
Barounis is married to Tricia, and they have two children, Zoe and Yiannis. In 2018, Yiannis died by suicide. In response, the family initiated a project to plant 200 trees across Maryborough as a tribute to Yiannis.[4]