Jill Rhodes is an American journalist and editor best known publicly as the former wife of Fox News host Sean Hannity. Before that high-profile marriage ever made her a subject of public curiosity, she had already built her own career in political journalism in Alabama, working as a political columnist for The Huntsville Times. Unlike many people connected to celebrity, Rhodes has kept a deliberately low profile, and her story is as much about a working journalist as it is about a famous marriage.
If you came here searching for Jill Rhodes net worth, here is the honest answer first: her exact net worth has never been publicly disclosed. No reliable financial publication, court filing, or verified source has published a figure for her personal wealth, and much of what circulates online about celebrity ex-spouse fortunes is guesswork. This article will not add to that guesswork. What is verifiable is her biography, her journalism career, and the documented sources of income connected to her life and her 26-year marriage.
Because Rhodes avoids interviews and social media almost entirely, reliable information about her is limited. The facts below come from reported biographical sources and the couple’s own public statements, not from speculation. Understanding her life means looking past the famous last name she once shared and focusing on the journalist she was first.
Jill Rhodes was born on August 27, 1962, in Alabama, which makes her 64 years old in 2026. She attended the University of Alabama, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. That education became the foundation of her early career in political reporting, a path she chose years before she ever met Sean Hannity.
After college, Rhodes joined The Huntsville Times as a political columnist, covering local and state political matters in Alabama. It was through this work that she crossed paths with Hannity in the early 1990s. At the time, he was a radio host at WVNN in Huntsville, and their professional conversations about news stories gradually turned personal. They met in 1991 and married on January 9, 1993.
Key Takeaways
Jill Rhodes is an American journalist and former political columnist for The Huntsville Times, best known as the ex-wife of Fox News host Sean Hannity, to whom she was married from 1993 to 2019. She also worked as a book editor and provided editorial support behind the scenes of Hannity’s early career. Her exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, and no reliable source has published a verified figure. She has two adult children, Patrick and Merri Kelly, and has lived a private life since her divorce.
Who Is Jill Rhodes?
Jill Rhodes is a former journalist who spent more than 25 years married to one of the most recognizable names in American cable news. Born and raised in Alabama, she trained as a journalist at the University of Alabama and worked as a political columnist before her marriage placed her, reluctantly, in the public eye.
Within the Hannity story, she is often described as the quiet force behind the brand. Sean Hannity himself credited her as the “brains” behind much of his early success and dedicated his first book, Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism, to her. Since their divorce was finalized in 2019, she has remained a private citizen and has not returned to public journalism.
What Is Jill Rhodes Known For?
Rhodes is known for two things: her own early journalism career and her behind-the-scenes role in the rise of the Hannity media brand.
Her journalism career
As a political columnist for The Huntsville Times, Rhodes reported on Alabama politics and built a reputation as a working journalist. She later worked in radio and in Manhattan as a book editor, broadening her experience across print, broadcast, and publishing.
Her role behind the scenes
When Hannity moved to New York in 1996 to join the newly launched Fox News, Rhodes went with him and became deeply involved in his work. Reports describe her as an editor, advisor, and sounding board during the foundational years of the network. Her understanding of conservative politics, sharpened in the South, reportedly helped shape the tone and substance of Hannity’s early commentary.
What Is Jill Rhodes’ Net Worth?
The exact net worth of Jill Rhodes is not publicly disclosed. That is the complete and honest answer. No court documents from her 2019 divorce have been published, she has never given a financial interview, and no credible financial outlet has issued a verified estimate.
Why is there no reliable figure? Several reasons:
- Private settlement: The divorce agreement was described by both parties as amicable, and its financial terms were never made public.
- No public filings: Unlike public company executives or elected officials, Rhodes is not required to disclose assets or income.
- Deliberate privacy: She avoids interviews, social media, and public appearances, which removes the usual sources of financial clues.
What can be said with confidence is that her financial position was shaped by two things: her own working career in journalism and publishing, and a 26-year marriage to one of the highest-earning broadcasters in American cable news. Beyond that, any specific dollar figure you see attached to her name online should be treated as unverified.
Where Does Jill Rhodes Get Her Money? A Look at Her Income Sources
While her total wealth is undisclosed, the sources of her income over the years are a matter of record:
- Political columnist: Her staff position at The Huntsville Times in the early 1990s, a salaried journalism role.
- Book editor in Manhattan: After moving to New York in 1996, she worked as a book editor, a professional publishing role.
- Editorial and advisory work: Her behind-the-scenes contributions to Hannity’s books and broadcasts during their marriage.
- Divorce settlement: The 2019 settlement ending a 26-year marriage to a highly paid television host, with terms kept private.
Unlike celebrity ex-spouse profiles where businesses, endorsements, or real estate portfolios are documented, Rhodes has no publicly known business ventures or brand deals, which fits her consistently private profile.
How Did Jill Rhodes and Sean Hannity Meet?
They met in 1991 in Huntsville, Alabama, through work. Rhodes was writing a political column for The Huntsville Times, and Hannity was hosting a radio show on WVNN. Their professional conversations about news stories turned into long phone calls, then into a relationship. Two years later, on January 9, 1993, they married.
When Did Jill Rhodes and Sean Hannity Divorce?
The divorce was finalized in 2019, ending a marriage of more than 25 years, but the public only learned about it in June 2020. In a joint statement released to outlets including People magazine, the couple revealed that they had reached an amicable agreement years earlier and had been living separate lives for some time, while remaining committed to working together for the best interests of their children.
Celebrity divorces handled this quietly are rare, and profiles of other low-key former spouses, such as our Dixie Brubaker biography and net worth profile, show a similar pattern of privacy after the split.
Does Jill Rhodes Have Children?
Yes. Rhodes and Hannity have two children together: a son, Patrick Hannity, born in 1999, and a daughter, Merri Kelly Hannity, born in 2002. Both are now adults, and the couple’s joint statement emphasized that their children remained the priority through the separation and divorce.
Where Is Jill Rhodes Now?
Rhodes lives a private life and has not returned to public journalism. She has not remarried publicly, gives no interviews, and maintains no verified public social media presence. As of 2026, she remains largely out of the spotlight, a choice consistent with how she conducted herself throughout the marriage.
Readers interested in similar stories of former spouses who stepped away from the public eye may also want to see our Wanda Hutchins net worth profile, which covers another private ex-spouse biography.
Jill Rhodes Biography: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jill Rhodes |
| Born | August 27, 1962, Alabama, USA |
| Age in 2026 | 64 |
| Education | University of Alabama, bachelor’s degree in journalism |
| Occupation | Former journalist, political columnist, book editor |
| Known for | Ex-wife of Fox News host Sean Hannity |
| Married | Sean Hannity, January 9, 1993 |
| Divorced | Finalized 2019, announced June 2020 |
| Children | Patrick (born 1999), Merri Kelly (born 2002) |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Current status | Private citizen, retired from public journalism |
Jill Rhodes Career and Life Timeline
- 1962: Born August 27 in Alabama.
- Early 1980s: Studies journalism at the University of Alabama.
- Late 1980s to early 1990s: Works as a political columnist for The Huntsville Times.
- 1991: Meets Sean Hannity in Huntsville through their journalism work.
- January 9, 1993: Marries Hannity.
- 1996: Moves to New York as Hannity joins Fox News; works as a book editor.
- 1999: Son Patrick is born.
- 2002: Daughter Merri Kelly is born.
- 2019: Divorce finalized after more than 25 years of marriage.
- June 2020: Couple publicly confirms the divorce in a joint statement.
- 2026: Lives privately, out of the public eye.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jill Rhodes
What is Jill Rhodes’ net worth?
Jill Rhodes’ exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. No reliable source has published a verified figure, and her 2019 divorce settlement terms were kept private. Any specific dollar amount you find online is unverified.
Is Jill Rhodes still married to Sean Hannity?
No. Their divorce was finalized in 2019 after more than 25 years of marriage, and they announced it publicly in June 2020. Hannity later became engaged to fellow Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt in late 2024.
What does Jill Rhodes do for a living now?
Her current professional activities are not documented in reliable sources. She worked as a journalist, columnist, and book editor earlier in life, and has lived as a private citizen since her divorce.
How old is Jill Rhodes?
She was born on August 27, 1962, which makes her 64 years old in 2026.
Who are Jill Rhodes’ children?
She has two children with Sean Hannity: Patrick Hannity, born in 1999, and Merri Kelly Hannity, born in 2002.
Did Jill Rhodes work on Sean Hannity’s shows?
She was not an on-air personality, but reports describe her as providing significant editorial support behind the scenes, including editing work on his books. Hannity dedicated his first book, Let Freedom Ring, to her.
Where does Jill Rhodes live now?
Her current residence has not been confirmed in reliable public sources. She maintains a deliberately private life and stays out of the media spotlight.
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