Pete Hegseth's Three Wives: The Untold Story Of His Marriage To Jennifer Rauchet And His New Role In The Pentagon
The answer to the question "Is Pete Hegseth married?" is a definitive yes, but the full story of his personal life is a complex narrative that spans three marriages, a high-profile Fox News romance, and a blended family of seven children. As of today, December 22, 2025, Hegseth is married to his third wife, Jennifer Rauchet, a former television producer with whom he shares a daughter, and their relationship began amidst the controversy of his second marriage.
The former Fox News host and U.S. Army veteran has recently stepped into one of the highest echelons of government, taking on the role of U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2025, which has brought renewed public interest to his personal life and family structure. This deep dive explores the full, updated biography of Pete Hegseth and the timeline of his three marriages, from his college sweetheart to his current wife.
Pete Hegseth: Full Biography and Profile
Peter Brian Hegseth is an American government official, military veteran, and former television personality whose career has transitioned from the battlefield to cable news and now to the highest levels of the U.S. government.
- Full Name: Peter Brian Hegseth
- Born: June 6, 1980
- Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
- Education: Princeton University (B.A., 2003)
- Military Service: U.S. Army National Guard (Infantry Officer)
- Deployments: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo Bay
- Awards: Two Bronze Stars
- Former Career: Fox News Contributor, Co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend
- Current Role (2025): U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Current Wife: Jennifer Rauchet (m. 2019)
- Children: Seven (three sons from his second marriage, one daughter with his current wife, and three stepchildren)
The Three Marriages of Pete Hegseth: From College to Colts Neck
Pete Hegseth’s marital history is a central part of his public profile, marked by three distinct relationships. The pattern of his personal life reveals a man who has sought stability while navigating a demanding career in the military and media.
1. First Wife: Meredith Schwarz (2004–2009)
Hegseth’s first marriage was to his high school girlfriend, Meredith Schwarz. The couple married in 2004, shortly after Hegseth graduated from Princeton and began his military service. This marriage lasted five years, concluding in a divorce in 2009. Details of this relationship are private, but it marked the start of his adult life and military career.
2. Second Wife: Samantha Deering (2010–2017)
In 2010, Hegseth married his second wife, Samantha Deering. This seven-year marriage was significant as the couple had three sons together: Gunner, Boone, and Rex. However, the relationship ended in 2017 amid public controversy.
The divorce proceedings coincided with the beginning of Hegseth’s relationship with Jennifer Rauchet, who was then a Fox News executive producer. The timeline of events suggested an overlap, a situation that drew significant media attention to his personal life during his rise at the network.
3. Current Wife: Jennifer Rauchet (2019–Present)
Pete Hegseth is currently married to Jennifer Rauchet Hegseth. Rauchet was a colleague at Fox News, working as an executive producer for programs like Watters’ World and Fox & Friends, where Hegseth was a contributor and later a co-host.
Their relationship became public when they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Gwendolyn, in 2017, while Hegseth was still legally married to Samantha Deering. This event was the catalyst for the end of his second marriage.
The couple officially married in 2019 in a high-profile ceremony at the Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Their marriage solidified a blended family that now includes a total of seven children.
A Blended Family of Seven: The Hegseth Children
Pete Hegseth is a father and stepfather to a large, blended family, a fact he often shares on social media. The complexity of his marital history has resulted in a household that includes children from multiple relationships.
The seven children in the Hegseth household include:
- Gunner, Boone, and Rex: Three sons from his second marriage to Samantha Deering.
- Gwendolyn: His daughter with his current wife, Jennifer Rauchet.
- Three Stepchildren: Jennifer Rauchet’s three children from a previous relationship, whom Hegseth is a stepfather to.
The family dynamic, with seven kids under one roof, is a frequent topic of discussion for Hegseth, who has spoken about the challenges and rewards of raising a large, blended, modern family while balancing a demanding public life.
Jennifer Rauchet's Role in Hegseth's New Pentagon Era
Jennifer Rauchet Hegseth, now officially the wife of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has transitioned from her role as a powerful figure behind the scenes at Fox News to a prominent political spouse. Her background as a successful television producer gives her a unique understanding of the media landscape, which is invaluable given her husband’s high-profile and often controversial political career.
The move to the Pentagon in 2025 has placed a new level of scrutiny on the Hegseth family. Their relationship, which began under the bright lights of cable news, is now a fixture in the Washington D.C. political scene. The couple remains a united front, frequently appearing together at public and political events. The story of Pete Hegseth’s three marriages and his current, stable relationship with Jennifer Rauchet provides a complete answer to the question of his marital status, highlighting a personal journey as complex as his military and political career.
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