Starting Point
Samantha Hegseth is a private person who came into the public eye through her marriage to Pete Hegseth. He is the former Fox News host who became the 29th United States Secretary of Defense in January 2025. Most people first heard her name during Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearings, when details about their marriage and divorce became part of a national news story. However, Samantha is far more than just a name attached to someone else’s headline.
Hegseth was a working professional before she met Pete. She served as a spokesperson for a political advocacy group. Hegseth raised three children largely on her own while Pete built his media career. Furthermore, she handled one of the most difficult and public divorces in recent American political life with quiet dignity. This complete guide covers her early life, her career, her marriage, her children, the divorce, and what her life looks like today in 2026.
Who Is Samantha Hegseth? Early Life and Background
Samantha Hegseth was born Samantha Succop on January 1, 1970, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She is 56 years old as of 2026. Some sources list her maiden name as Deering rather than Succop. She is an American national and holds a degree in journalism. Her upbringing in Minneapolis shaped strong values around family, service, and privacy that have defined her adult life.
A Quiet Childhood in Minnesota
Very little has been made public about Samantha’s childhood or her family background. She has never spoken to the media about her early years. However, what is clear is that she grew up with a strong sense of personal values. Those values – focused on family, discretion, and hard work – show up consistently throughout every chapter of her adult story.
Journalism Education
Samantha studied journalism and graduated with a degree in the subject. That academic background gave her the skills and knowledge to move into a professional advocacy role after finishing university. Furthermore, it reflects a sharp, informed mind that helped her navigate the complex world of political communications that she stepped into in the mid-2000s.
Samantha Hegseth’s Career: Vets for Freedom
Before her marriage to Pete Hegseth, Samantha had her own professional identity. She worked in political advocacy – a field that placed her at the centre of some of the most important veterans’ issues in early 21st century America.
Spokesperson for Vets for Freedom
Samantha accepted a position as spokesperson for Vets for Freedom in 2008. Vets for Freedom was a politically affiliated advocacy group founded in 2006 by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The group focused on supporting the military mission in both countries and pushing back against political efforts to withdraw troops. It relied on donations and had major backing from well-known political donors.
How This Role Connected Her to Pete
It was through this work that Samantha first met Pete Hegseth. At the time, Pete served as the executive director of Vets for Freedom between 2007 and 2010. Their shared values around military service, patriotism, and advocacy created a natural connection. Furthermore, working side by side in a fast-paced political environment gave them the chance to build a relationship grounded in shared professional purpose before it became personal.
A Career Put on Hold
After her marriage to Pete, Samantha stepped away from her professional career to focus on family life. This was a personal choice – one that millions of parents make every year. However, it also meant that her own professional identity became less visible to the public as Pete’s media profile grew rapidly during the 2010s. As a result, many people now know her only through her connection to him rather than through her own work.
The Marriage to Pete Hegseth
Samantha and Pete Hegseth’s marriage was the central chapter of her public life. It lasted seven years and produced three sons. Understanding it fully requires some background on how it began.
Pete’s First Marriage and How They Met
Pete Hegseth was previously married to his high school girlfriend, Meredith Schwarz, from 2004. That marriage ended in divorce in 2009 after Pete admitted to multiple affairs. One of those affairs was with Samantha. Their relationship therefore began while Pete was still technically married to Meredith.
The Wedding
Samantha and Pete welcomed their first son, Gunner Hegseth, before they married. They then tied the knot in 2010 at St John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. The ceremony was attended by family and close friends. It marked the start of what appeared, from the outside, to be a committed family life built on shared faith and values.
Life as a Military Spouse
Pete Hegseth served in the Army National Guard and was deployed overseas on multiple occasions. During those deployments, Samantha held the family together on her own. She managed the household, raised the children, and maintained stability for her sons while their father served abroad. Less than two weeks after Pete deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, he announced a run for Minnesota’s US Senate seat – a decision made while Samantha was home alone with their young children. That kind of background responsibility rarely makes headlines. However, it is a central part of her story.
Three Sons Together
During their marriage, Samantha and Pete had three sons.First son, Gunner Hegseth, was born in mid-2010. Their second son, Boone Hegseth, was born in August 2012. All three boys attended Liberty Classical Academy in Maplewood, Minnesota. Samantha took an active, hands-on role in their education and day-to-day lives throughout their childhood. That commitment to her children has remained the defining feature of her post-divorce life as well.
Growing Apart
As Pete’s media profile grew through his work at Fox News, the pressures on their marriage increased. He became a familiar face on Fox and Friends Weekend. His public role brought with it a lifestyle and set of relationships that eventually caused serious problems at home. Samantha stayed out of the spotlight throughout this period. However, events in 2017 made that impossible.
The Divorce: What Happened in 2017
The end of Samantha and Pete’s marriage became public knowledge in a painful and very visible way.
The Affair That Ended the Marriage
In August 2017, while Pete was still married to Samantha, he and Jennifer Rauchet – a Fox News executive producer – had a daughter together. Rauchet shared a photo with Pete and the new baby on social media. The news became public almost immediately. A month after the birth, Samantha filed for divorce in Minnesota in September 2017. She did so without making any public statement or giving any interviews. Her response to one of the most humiliating situations imaginable was to act quietly and with complete focus on her children.
The Divorce Is Finalised
The divorce was finalised in 2018. Both Samantha and Pete signed a Minnesota court document in 2021 stating that neither of them claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse during the marriage. The custody arrangement for their three sons has been kept private. However, both parents have remained involved in the boys’ lives. Pete’s current wife Jennifer Rauchet regularly features the Hegseth children on her social media, suggesting a co-parenting arrangement that keeps the boys connected to their father.
The Affidavit and Senate Confirmation Hearings
When Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense in late 2024, their marriage came back into the headlines in a significant way. US Senators received an affidavit from Danielle Hegseth – Pete’s former sister-in-law – as part of his background check. The affidavit alleged that Pete’s treatment of Samantha included repeated drunkenness and situations that reached the point where she feared for her safety.
Samantha’s Own Response
Samantha responded to the affidavit and subsequent media questions with a clear and direct statement. She told NBC News: “There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you. I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.” That statement – firm, clear, and final – is entirely consistent with the approach she has taken to public life throughout her adult years. She said what she needed to say. Then she stopped talking.
Samantha Hegseth’s Life Today: Privacy, Family, and Moving Forward
In 2026, Samantha Hegseth lives a deeply private life. She has kept herself almost entirely out of the public eye since the divorce was finalised in 2018.
No Social Media Presence
Samantha does not maintain any public social media accounts. She has no verified Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter profile. In a world where most adults maintain at least some online presence, her complete digital silence is a deliberate and consistent choice. It reflects the same values she has demonstrated throughout her life – a preference for private living over public exposure.
Focused on Her Sons
Everything that is known about Samantha’s life today points toward one central focus: her three sons. She has consistently protected their privacy throughout the years since the divorce. Even as media attention around their father increased dramatically during his confirmation hearings and subsequent role as Secretary of Defense, Samantha kept herself and her boys out of the coverage wherever possible.
Relationship Status
She is believed to be single as of 2025. There are no credible reports of her entering a new romantic relationship since the divorce. That decision – whether permanent or simply a reflection of her current priorities – aligns perfectly with the values she has demonstrated consistently throughout her public story.
Financial Support
Samantha receives spousal support from Pete Hegseth. The specific terms of their financial settlement have not been made public. However, the arrangement gives her a degree of financial stability as she continues to raise their three sons.
Pete Hegseth: Brief Background for Context
To understand Samantha’s story fully, it helps to know a little about the man she was married to for seven years.
From Fox News to Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth became the United States Secretary of Defense in January 2025. He contributed to Fox News from 2014 and co-hosted Fox and Friends from 2017 to 2024. He was also an Army National Guard officer and former executive director of Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
Three Marriages
Pete married his first wife, Meredith Schwarz, in 2004. They divorced in 2009 because Hegseth admitted to having multiple affairs. He then married Samantha Deering in 2010. They split in 2017 after Hegseth and his third wife, Rauchet, welcomed their first child together. He married Jennifer Rauchet in August 2019 at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.
Samantha Hegseth Complete Attributes at a Glance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Birth Name | Samantha Succop (also listed as Samantha Deering) |
| Married Name | Samantha Hegseth |
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1970 |
| Age (2026) | 56 years old |
| Birthplace | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Education | Journalism degree (university level) |
| Career | Spokesperson – Vets for Freedom (2008–2010) |
| Connection to Pete Hegseth | Met through Vets for Freedom where both worked |
| Marriage Year | 2010 |
| Wedding Location | St John’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia |
| Marriage Duration | Seven years (2010–2017) |
| Divorce Filed | September 2017 |
| Divorce Finalised | 2018 |
| Reason for Divorce | Pete Hegseth’s affair with Jennifer Rauchet and birth of child outside marriage |
| Sons | Gunner Hegseth (born 2010), Boone Hegseth (born August 2012), Rex Hegseth (born 2016) |
| Children’s School | Liberty Classical Academy, Maplewood, Minnesota |
| Family Church | Eagle Brook Church, Centerville, Minnesota |
| Pete’s Role | 29th United States Secretary of Defense (from January 2025) |
| Pete’s Previous Wife | Meredith Schwarz (divorced 2009) |
| Pete’s Current Wife | Jennifer Rauchet (married August 2019) |
| 2021 Court Document | Both parties signed document stating no domestic abuse claims |
| Samantha’s Public Statement | “There was no physical abuse in my marriage.” (NBC News) |
| Affidavit | Filed by Danielle Hegseth (former sister-in-law) during Pete’s 2025 confirmation |
| Financial Support | Receives spousal support from Pete Hegseth |
| Social Media | No public accounts on any platform |
| Current Relationship Status | Believed to be single as of 2025–2026 |
| Current Focus | Raising three sons; private family life |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Public Profile | Deliberately private; rarely makes public statements |
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Samantha Hegseth
Who is Samantha Hegseth?
Hegseth is the ex-wife of Pete Hegseth – the former Fox News host and 29th United States Secretary of Defense. Samantha was born Samantha Succop on January 1, 1970, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She worked as a spokesperson for the veterans’ advocacy group Vets for Freedom before her marriage. Hegseth and Pete Hegseth were married from 2010 to 2017 and have three sons together. Today, she lives a very private life focused on raising her children.
Why did Samantha Hegseth and Pete Hegseth divorce?
Pete and Samantha divorced due to Pete Hegseth’s infidelity. In August 2017, while still married to Samantha, Pete had a daughter with Fox News executive producer Jennifer Rauchet. When Samantha learned about it, she immediately filed for divorce in September 2017. The divorce was finalised in 2018. Samantha made no public statements about the split beyond what was absolutely necessary.
How many children does Samantha Hegseth have?
Samantha Hegseth has three sons with Pete Hegseth. All three boys attended Liberty Classical Academy in Maplewood, Minnesota. Samantha has consistently protected her sons’ privacy throughout and after the marriage, keeping details of their lives away from media coverage wherever possible.
What did Samantha Hegseth say about the domestic abuse allegations?
When Senators received an affidavit from Pete’s former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth alleging concerning behaviour during the marriage, Samantha responded directly. She told NBC News: “There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you. I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.” Furthermore, both Samantha and Pete signed a Minnesota court document in 2021 confirming that neither party claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.
Where did Samantha Hegseth and Pete Hegseth meet?
Samantha met Pete Hegseth through shared professional and political circles. At the time, Pete was making a name for himself through his military service and work with Vets for Freedom, a conservative advocacy group. Samantha worked as a spokesperson for the same organisation. Their shared values around military service, patriotism, and advocacy created a natural connection that grew into a personal relationship.
Does Samantha Hegseth have social media?
No. Samantha Hegseth does not maintain any public social media accounts. She has no known Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok profile. This deliberate digital silence is entirely consistent with her broader approach to privacy. Furthermore, she has kept this policy in place even during periods when her name was at the centre of national news coverage – a choice that reflects deeply held personal values rather than a temporary decision.
What did Samantha Hegseth do before she was married?
Samantha Succop accepted a position as spokesperson for Vets for Freedom in 2008, where she met Pete, the executive director of the lobby group between 2007 and 2010. Before that role, she studied journalism and earned a degree in the subject. Her career in political advocacy was her primary professional identity before she stepped back to focus on family life after her marriage.
What is Samantha Hegseth doing in 2026?
In 2026, Samantha Hegseth lives a very quiet and private life. Her name occasionally comes up in news coverage related to Pete Hegseth’s role as Secretary of Defense, but she consistently refuses to engage with media attention of any kind.
Was Samantha Hegseth involved in the Senate confirmation process for Pete Hegseth?
Her name came up during Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearings in January 2025 when an affidavit from his former sister-in-law Danielle Hegseth was submitted to Senators. The affidavit made claims about Pete’s behaviour during his marriage to Samantha. However, Samantha herself was not part of the process. She issued a single, clear statement to NBC News denying physical abuse and then declined to comment further. As a result, she played no active role in the confirmation proceedings.
Has Samantha Hegseth remarried after her divorce from Pete?
It is unknown whether she has remarried or entered into a new relationship, and that discretion aligns perfectly with the values she demonstrated during and after her marriage. Most sources believe she remains single as of 2026. Her focus on privacy means that even if she had entered a new relationship, it would be extremely unlikely to become public knowledge unless she chose to share it herself.
Final Thoughts: What Samantha Hegseth’s Story Tells Us
Samantha Hegseth’s story is one that rarely gets told well. The media tends to reduce her to a footnote in Pete Hegseth’s biography – the second wife, the ex, the mother of three. However, her story is richer and more interesting than that framing suggests.
Furthermore, when that marriage ended in the most painful and public way imaginable, she responded with quiet dignity. She made one clear statement. She signed the necessary legal documents. Then she walked away from the spotlight and got on with her life.
In 2026, Samantha Hegseth is 56 years old.
That kind of quiet strength is easy to overlook. However, it is arguably one of the most admirable things about her story. Not everyone who lives through a difficult and very public experience chooses to heal privately and protect their children fiercely. Samantha Hegseth has done exactly that – and she has done it consistently, for years, without asking for credit. That, in itself, is worth recognising.
