Peter Brain Hegseth Biography
Peter Brian Hegseth was born on June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, into a conservative, middle-class family of Norwegian descent. His parents, Brian and Penelope “Penny” Hegseth, were both educators and community leaders—his father a high school basketball coach and his mother a leadership trainer and executive coach. Raised in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Pete was active in sports and student government, laying the groundwork for his future in public service.
He attended Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics. While at Princeton, he wrote for The Princeton Tory, a conservative student publication. After graduating in 2003, he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard. His military service included deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He rose to the rank of Major and earned multiple commendations, including two Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
After returning from Iraq, Hegseth became a prominent veterans’ advocate. He served as executive director of Vets for Freedom and later Concerned Veterans for America, two organizations focused on national security and veterans’ issues. His work in these roles brought him into conservative political circles and eventually to Fox News, where he became a contributor in 2014. From 2017 to 2024, he co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend, gaining national attention for his outspoken conservative views.
Hegseth has authored several books, including In the Arena, American Crusade, and The War on Warriors, the latter becoming a New York Times bestseller in 2024. His writing and commentary often focus on patriotism, military culture, and critiques of progressive ideology.
In 2024, following Donald Trump’s re-election, Hegseth was nominated and confirmed as the 29th United States Secretary of Defense. His confirmation was contentious, requiring a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance—the second such instance in U.S. history. He assumed office on January 25, 2025, becoming the first Minnesotan and the second-youngest person to hold the position.
Hegseth has been married three times: to Meredith Schwarz (2004–2009), Samantha Deering (2010–2017), and currently to Jennifer Rauchet, a Fox Nation executive producer, whom he married in 2019. He has four biological children and is a stepfather to Rauchet’s three children.
Throughout his career, Pete Hegseth has remained a polarizing figure—admired by many for his military service and unapologetic patriotism, and criticized by others for his political partisanship and controversial public statements. His trajectory from soldier to media personality to Cabinet official reflects a uniquely modern blend of military valor, media influence, and political ambition.
Peter Brain Hegseth Age
As of 2025, Pete Hegseth is 45 years old.
He was born on June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, making him a Gemini by zodiac sign. He celebrated his 45th birthday on June 6, 2025.
Hegseth’s age places him among the youngest individuals to serve as U.S. Secretary of Defense, a role he assumed in January 2025. His relatively young age for such a high-ranking position has drawn both admiration and scrutiny, especially given his rapid rise from military officer to media personality to Cabinet official.
Peter Brain Hegseth Education
Pete Hegseth’s educational journey reflects both academic rigor and ideological formation, laying the groundwork for his future roles in the military, media, and politics.
He graduated from Princeton University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics. While at Princeton, he was actively involved in conservative student journalism, serving as the publisher of The Princeton Tory, a right-leaning campus publication. His time at Princeton helped shape his political worldview and introduced him to national-level conservative networks.
A decade later, in 2013, Hegseth earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. His graduate studies focused on public leadership, national security, and governance—topics that would later define his public persona and policy positions.
This Ivy League academic background, combined with his military service and media experience, positioned him as a high-profile conservative voice and ultimately led to his appointment as the 29th U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2025.
Peter Brain Hegseth Religion
Pete Hegseth is a devout Christian, and his faith plays a central role in both his personal life and public identity.
He was raised in a Lutheran household in Minnesota, where Christian values were deeply embedded in his upbringing. He attended Gustavus Adolphus College, a liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which further reinforced his early exposure to Lutheran teachings.
Over time, Hegseth’s religious views evolved toward a more conservative and evangelical interpretation of Christianity. He has publicly aligned himself with Christian nationalist ideals, advocating for a return to what he calls “biblically grounded” American values. He and his wife, Jennifer, chose to live near a Classical Christian school—Jonathan Edwards Classical Academy in Tennessee—so their children could be educated in a faith-based environment that emphasizes Scripture as the foundation of all learning.
Hegseth is also associated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a denomination known for its patriarchal theology and conservative biblical interpretation. His public statements often reflect a belief that America’s cultural decline is tied to a departure from Christian principles, and he has advocated for a revival of faith-based education and civic life.
Peter Brain Hegseth Net Worth
As of 2025, Pete Hegseth’s estimated net worth ranges between $3 million and $18 million, depending on the source and how assets are calculated.
Income Sources
Fox News Salary: Before becoming U.S. Secretary of Defense, Hegseth earned a reported $4.6 million in salary across 2023 and 2024 as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend.
Speaking Engagements: He earned at least $900,000 from 41 public speeches, with fees ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 per event.
Book Royalties: Hegseth received $348,000 in advance for The War on Warriors and $150,000 for Battle for the American Mind. He also earned between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties per book.
Assets & Investments
Real Estate:Owns a $3.2 million estate in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, with an estimated $19,000 monthly mortgage
Holds $9.2 million in total real estate assets, including a rental property in Baltimore that generated up to $1 million in income
Vehicles:
Owns a luxury fleet including a Rolls Royce Phantom, Mercedes S-Class, BMW X7, Tesla Model Y, and a Lincoln
Cryptocurrency:
Holds between $15,000 and $50,000 in Bitcoin, per financial disclosures
Bank Balance:
Estimated at $1.3 million
Legal & Personal Financial Impacts
Paid $2.9 million in a divorce settlement to his second wife, Samantha Deering, and continues to pay $180,000 per month in child support and alimony
Summary
Low Estimate: $3 million (Forbes-style conservative valuation)
High Estimate: $17–18 million (including real estate, royalties, and vehicles)
Peter Brain Hegseth Net Wife
Pete Hegseth’s current wife is Jennifer Rauchet, a longtime television executive and producer. Their relationship has drawn public attention not only because of their media backgrounds but also due to the timeline of their romance.
Jennifer Rauchet has worked at Fox News since 2006, serving as an executive producer for shows like Fox & Friends and later Fox Nation. She’s known for her behind-the-scenes influence in shaping conservative media content and has been described as a sharp, driven professional with a low public profile—until her relationship with Hegseth became public.
Their relationship began while both were still married to other people. In August 2017, Jennifer gave birth to their daughter, Gwen, while Hegseth was still legally married to his second wife, Samantha Deering. The affair became public, and both Jennifer and Pete finalized their respective divorces before marrying each other.
They were married on August 19, 2019, at Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey, in a ceremony attended by several conservative media figures. Since then, they’ve blended their families: Jennifer has three children from her previous marriage, and Pete has four biological children—one with Jennifer and three from his previous marriages—making them a family of seven children.
Jennifer is active on Instagram under the handle @jennycdot, where she occasionally shares family moments, patriotic themes, and glimpses into their life in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, where they reside near a Classical Christian school their children attend.
Peter Brain Hegseth Children
Pete Hegseth is the father of a blended family of seven children, a mix of biological and stepchildren from his three marriages. Here’s a detailed look at his family life:
Biological Children
Pete has four biological children:
- Three sons with his second wife, Samantha Deering:
Their names are Gunner, Boone, and Rex.
Pete has spoken publicly about raising them with strong Christian values and encouraging them to consider military service.
- One daughter, Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, with his current wife, Jennifer Rauchet:
She was born in August 2017, before Pete and Jennifer were married.
Gwen is often featured in family photos and social media posts, affectionately called “Gweny.”
Stepchildren
Pete is also a stepfather to Jennifer Rauchet’s three children from her previous marriage. While their names are not widely publicized, Pete has said he does not use the term “stepchildren,” instead referring to all seven kids as his own, saying their family was “brought together by the grace of God.”
Family Life
The Hegseth-Rauchet family lives in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, near a Classical Christian school their children attend.
Pete often shares glimpses of their life—bike rides, farm visits, and sporting events—on social media.
He emphasizes faith, patriotism, and traditional values in his parenting, and has written letters to his sons encouraging them to be courageous leaders.
Peter Brain Hegseth Social Media Followers
As of 2025, Pete Hegseth maintains an active presence across several social media platforms, where he shares political commentary, family life, and patriotic content. Here’s a detailed breakdown of his following:
Twitter (X)
Handle: @PeteHegseth
Followers: Over 167,800
Content: Political opinions, military tributes, Fox News clips, and personal reflections
Handle: @petehegseth
Followers: More than 346,000
Content: Family photos, behind-the-scenes from Fox Nation, patriotic events, and book promotions
Page: Peter Hegseth
Followers: Approximately 125,900
Likes: Around 85,000
Content: Video clips, live streams, and reposts from his television appearances
Truth Social
Handle: @PeteHegseth
Followers: Not publicly disclosed, but he is active on the platform
Content: Similar to his Twitter feed, with a focus on conservative values and national defense
Hegseth’s social media presence reflects his dual identity as a media personality and political figure, with a strong emphasis on faith, family, and patriotism.
Peter Brain Hegseth Achievements
Pete Hegseth’s achievements span military service, media influence, authorship, and public office—culminating in his appointment as the 29th U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2025. Here’s a full breakdown of his accomplishments:
Military Service
Commissioned in 2003 as an infantry officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton
Served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he led counterinsurgency training and combat patrols
Rose to the rank of Major, earning:
Two Bronze Star Medals
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Two Army Commendation Medals
Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)
Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB)
Media & Advocacy
Became executive director of Vets for Freedom and later Concerned Veterans for America, advocating for national security and VA reform
Joined Fox News in 2014 as a contributor and later co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend from 2017 to 2024, becoming a prominent conservative voice
Frequently advised President Donald Trump, especially on military and veterans’ issues
Authorship
Authored five books, including:
In the Arena (2016)
American Crusade (2020)
The War on Warriors (2024) – a New York Times bestseller
His books focus on patriotism, military culture, and critiques of progressive ideology
Secretary of Defense
Nominated by President Trump in November 2024 and confirmed in January 2025
Became the first Minnesotan and second-youngest person to serve as Secretary of Defense
Confirmation required a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance—the second such instance in U.S. history after Betsy DeVos in 2017–
Hegseth’s trajectory—from battlefield to broadcast to the Pentagon—reflects a uniquely modern blend of service, media savvy, and political ambition. If you’d like, I can walk you through his most controversial moments or how his leadership style is shaping the Department of Defense.
