Most people know the face. The furrowed brow, the signature laugh, and the rapid-fire monologue that made him the king of cable news before he took his talents to X and his own network. But behind the scenes of one of the most polarizing careers in American media is a woman who has been there since the very beginning. Literally.
If you’re wondering who is Tucker Carlson’s wife, her name is Susan Andrews Carlson. They’ve been married for over 30 years, which is basically an eternity in the world of high-profile media. But their story isn't your typical Hollywood romance. It’s a lot more "New England boarding school" than "red carpet."
From 10th Grade to Forever
The pair met when they were just 15 years old. They were students at St. George’s School, a fancy, high-end boarding school in Middletown, Rhode Island. Tucker was a transfer student from California, and Susan was the daughter of the headmaster, Reverend George E. Andrews II.
Talk about high stakes for a first date.
Tucker famously told People magazine back in 2000 that Susan was "the cutest 10th grader in America." Susan, for her part, remembered him as a guy with a "bounce in his walk" who wore khaki pants and ribbon belts. He was optimistic, she said. Apparently, that optimism worked because they stayed together through college—him at Trinity and her at Colby—maintaining a long-distance relationship when that meant actual letters and expensive long-distance phone bills.
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He eventually asked her father for her hand in marriage six months before he even graduated. He called it "very 19th-century," and honestly, it kinda was. They tied the knot in 1991.
Life as Mrs. Carlson
Susan Andrews Carlson is famously private. You won't find her posting "get ready with me" videos or starting a lifestyle brand. For the most part, she has spent the last three decades raising their four children: Lillie, Buckley, Hopie, and Dorothy.
Buckley, their only son, has even followed the family's political leanings, working on Capitol Hill and most recently serving as a deputy press secretary for Vice President J.D. Vance.
For a long time, Susan worked as a teacher, but she eventually stepped back to be a full-time stay-at-home mom. Tucker has often credited her with being the "anchor" of his life. It’s easy to see why. While he was out being one of the most talked-about men in the country, she was back home in Virginia (and later Florida and Maine) keeping the wheels on the bus.
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Not Without Controversy
Being married to a lightning rod for controversy isn't always easy. In 2018, their home in Washington, D.C., was targeted by protesters. Susan was home alone at the time, and it was a pretty terrifying ordeal. Protesters were reportedly banging on the door so hard they cracked it.
That event was a major turning point for the family, eventually leading them to move away from D.C. to a more secluded life.
There's also been family drama on her side. Her father, the former headmaster, was investigated years ago regarding allegations that he didn't properly report sexual abuse by a teacher during his tenure at St. George’s. While he wasn't charged with a crime, it was a dark cloud over a prestigious institution where Susan herself later served on the board.
The Swanson Connection
One of the weirdest myths you’ll hear about who is Tucker Carlson’s wife is that she's the one with the Swanson frozen food money. That's actually not true.
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The Swanson connection actually comes from Tucker’s side. His father, Dick Carlson, married Patricia Swanson (of the Swanson fortune) when Tucker was a kid. So, while the couple is undoubtedly very wealthy—with some estimates putting their net worth in the tens of millions—the "TV dinner money" isn't Susan's family legacy. It's his.
What She’s Doing Now
These days, the Carlsons spend most of their time in Florida or at their home in Maine. Susan remains his most trusted confidante. While Tucker is busy interviewing world leaders or recording monologues in his custom-built studio, Susan is the one keeping their private life private.
She doesn’t do many interviews. She doesn’t have a public Instagram. In a world where everyone is trying to be an influencer, her commitment to staying in the background is almost radical.
If you're looking for the secret to their long marriage, Tucker has hinted at it before. He talks about how they "decipher" each other and grow together. It sounds simple, but after 30+ years, they've clearly figured something out that most of the world hasn't.
If you want to understand the man on the screen, you have to understand the woman who has been standing next to him since they were teenagers in Rhode Island. Susan Andrews Carlson isn't just a "wife of"; she’s the foundation of the entire Carlson operation.
Next steps for you:
- Check out Tucker Carlson's recent long-form interviews on his official network to see how he discusses his family life today.
- Research the history of St. George's School if you're interested in the elite "preppy" culture that shaped both Susan and Tucker's early years.