Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has been named the grand marshal for the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s iconic Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A decorated Army veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth, will join representatives from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Navy to honor America’s service members during the event.

Table of Contents

1. Who is Pete Hegseth?
2. What is Pete Hegseth’s height and age?
3. Who is Pete Hegseth’s wife? 
4. Does Pete Hegseth have any kids?
5. Is Pete Hegseth the Grand Marshal for the Coca-Cola 600?
6. Who are Pete Hegseth’s Parents? 
7. Pete Hegseth’s Net Worth in 2025

Who is Pete Hegseth?

Pete Hegseth, the current U.S. Secretary of Defense, was born on June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated as valedictorian from Forest Lake Area High School in 1999. At Princeton University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in politics in 2003, participated in the Army ROTC program, played basketball, and served as publisher of the conservative student newspaper, The Princeton Tory. He later obtained a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2013.

What is Pete Hegseth’s Height and Age?

Pete Hegseth was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 6, 1980, and is currently 44 years old. His height is roughly 185 cm, or 6 feet 1 inch.

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Who is Pete Hegseth’s Wife?

Jennifer Rauchet, a former executive producer at Fox News, is Pete Hegseth’s wife. Rauchet was a producer, and Hegseth co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend when the couple first met at Fox News. Both of them were married to other people when they first started dating. Hegseth divorced his second wife in 2017 after Rauchet gave birth to their daughter, Gwendolyn. Donald Trump and Sean Hannity attended their August 2019 wedding at the Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Jennifer Rauchet graduated from Towson University with a degree in journalism. Beginning in 2006, she contributed to shows like Watters’ World and Fox & Friends Weekend while working at Fox News.

Does Pete Hegseth have any kids? 

Pete Hegseth is a devoted father to seven children in a blended and vibrant household. He has a daughter, Gwendolyn, with his current wife, Jennifer Rauchet, and three sons, Gunner, Boone, and Rex, with his second wife, Samantha Deering. Through Jennifer’s prior marriage, he also became a loving stepfather to Jackson, Luke, and Kenzie, completing their dynamic family unit.

Their life together is often shared on social media, where milestones, holiday celebrations, and everyday moments reflect their close bond. In a powerful display of family unity, all seven children stood proudly by Hegseth’s side when he was sworn in as the U.S. Secretary of Defense in early 2025.

Rooted in public service and shared values, Pete and Jennifer have embraced the joys and challenges of raising a large, modern family. Hegseth has even expressed his hope that his sons will one day follow in his footsteps and serve in the military, continuing the legacy of service that defines their home.

Is Pete Hegseth the Grand Marshal for the Coca-Cola 600?

In his capacity as a grand marshal for the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, which will take place on Sunday, May 25, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will honor U.S. military service members with the traditional “Start your engines!” command and the annual State of Freedom address, a patriotic pre-race speech. Hegseth previously attended the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022, calling the event “deeply patriotic and memorable.” His participation this year carries on NASCAR’s tradition of commemorating military service over Memorial Day weekend.

Who are Pete Hegseth’s Parents? 

Brian and Penelope “Penny” Hegseth are the parents of Pete Hegseth. In 2019, his father, Brian, retired from his position as a high school basketball coach in Minnesota. Penny, his mother, is an executive business coach who has participated in the Minnesota Excellence in Public Service (MEPS) Series, a center-right and Republican women’s leadership program.

The Hegseth family has occasionally shared personal moments with the public. In May 2019, Brian and Penny shared tales about Pete on Fox News in honor of Mother’s Day. In a social media post in August 2024, Pete Hegseth referred to his parents as the “Hegseth patriarch & matriarch” and publicly honored their 70th birthdays.

Pete Hegseth’s Net Worth in 2025

Numerous financial records and media reports place Hegseth’s estimated net worth in the $3–$6 million range for the year 2025. As a Fox News host, Hegseth made about $4.6 million in 2024. Additionally, he earned between $765,000 and $900,000 from 40 speaking appearances. Royalties on his books, such as Battle for the American Mind and The War on Warriors, ranged from $100,000 to $1 million each title, adding to his riches.

In 2023, he also made between $100,000 and $1 million on the sale of a Baltimore property. Since taking office as U.S. Secretary of Defense in January 2025, Hegseth has received a yearly government salary of about $256,000, which is a substantial drop from his prior income from media and public speaking.

Hegseth has established himself as a well-known figure in American political and media circles and is currently employed in the public sector. These factors collectively demonstrate his sustained influence and the evolving nature of his professional endeavors.