Who Is Susan Waren? The Amazing Life Story of Joe Scarborough’s Ex-Wife

Susan Waren is best known to the public as the second wife of American television host and former politician Joe Scarborough. While her ex-husband has built a hugely visible career as the co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Susan has largely kept out of the spotlight, choosing instead to focus on raising her two children and working quietly in philanthropy. Her story, however, is far more interesting than a simple footnote in someone else’s biography. From working as an aide to a state governor to becoming a respected figure at one of America’s most prominent charitable foundations, Susan Waren has carved out a life of her own. This article explores everything worth knowing about her, including her background, her marriage and divorce, her career, her children and where she is today.

Susan Waren: Bio Table

Category	Details
Full Name	Susan Waren
Category	Former political aide, writer and philanthropist
Born	1970, United States
Known For	Second wife of Joe Scarborough
Marriage	To Joe Scarborough, October 2001
Divorce	Finalised January 2013
Children	Katherine Clark Scarborough (b. 2003) and Jack Scarborough (b. 2008)
Career Background	Aide to Florida Governor Jeb Bush; congressional committee staff
Writing	Contributor to country lifestyle blog SouthXNortheast
Philanthropy	Associated with the Sherwood Foundation, Nebraska
Estimated Net Worth	Approximately $300,000 to $500,000
Current Status	Not remarried; maintains a private lifestyle
Related Public Figure	Ex-husband Joe Scarborough, co-host of Morning Joe

Who Is Susan Waren?

Susan Waren is an American former political aide and philanthropist, widely recognised as the second wife of broadcaster Joe Scarborough. She was born in 1970 in the United States and later worked as a legislative aide before marrying Scarborough in 2001. The couple divorced in 2013 after twelve years together, and Susan has since maintained a relatively private life while raising their two children.

Unlike many people who become known primarily through a marriage, Susan Waren had already built a career in public service before she and Scarborough tied the knot. That background is worth understanding on its own terms, not simply as a prelude to her marriage.

Early Life and Background

Detailed information about Susan Waren’s early life, family and upbringing has never been widely publicised, and she has consistently avoided media attention throughout her adult life. What is known is that she was born in 1970 in the United States, which puts her in her mid-fifties as of 2026.

Before entering public life through her marriage, Susan worked in political and governmental roles. She served as a former advisor to Florida’s then-Governor Jeb Bush and also worked as a staff member for congressional committees. This professional experience shows that Susan built a career in Florida politics well before she became known as Joe Scarborough’s wife, a detail that is often overlooked in coverage that focuses solely on her marital history.

How Susan Waren Met Joe Scarborough

The precise details of how Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough first met have never been made public. What is documented is that the couple married in October 2001 in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends. At the time, Scarborough had recently left Congress, having served as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district from 1995 until 2001.

This was Scarborough’s second marriage. His first marriage, to Melanie Hinton, lasted from 1986 to 1999 and produced two sons, Andrew and Joey. When Scarborough married Susan Waren in 2001, he was beginning a new chapter of both his personal life and his broadcasting career, which would soon take off with the launch of Morning Joe on MSNBC in 2007.

Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough’s Marriage

Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough were married for approximately twelve years, from October 2001 until their divorce was finalised in January 2013. During that time, the couple lived together in Connecticut and welcomed two children.

Timeline of the Marriage

• October 2001 – Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough marry in a private ceremony.
• August 2003 – The couple’s first child, daughter Katherine Clark Scarborough, is born.
• May 2008 – Their second child, son Jack Scarborough, is born.
• 2012 – Joe Scarborough files for divorce, though the filing is kept quiet.
• January 2013 – The divorce is finalised after twelve years of marriage.

The couple kept their separation notably low-key. Court records showed that Scarborough had filed for divorce roughly a year before the split became public knowledge, and the pair only confirmed the news once it was reported by media outlets.

The Divorce: What Happened Between Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough?

Joe Scarborough and Susan Waren divorced quietly in January 2013 after twelve years of marriage. The couple did not publicly disclose the exact reason for their split, though many outlets at the time speculated that tension arose from Scarborough’s close working relationship with his Morning Joe co-host, Mika Brzezinski, whom he later married in 2018.

In a joint statement released at the time, the couple asked for privacy, explaining that the decision followed considerable thought and counselling, and that their focus remained on their children. They described themselves as remaining close friends despite the end of their marriage.

Divorce Settlement Details

According to reports from the time, the financial terms of the divorce included the following:

• A one-off settlement payment of approximately $150,000 to Susan Waren.
• Monthly alimony payments of around $30,000 for five years.
• Reduced monthly payments of approximately $25,000 for a further two years.
• Continued shared use of the family home in Connecticut, where Susan and the children remained for a period after the split.
• No separate child support payments, as the arrangement was factored into the overall settlement while the family continued living together for a time.

Despite the settlement, Susan Waren’s financial position remained modest compared with her former husband’s. Scarborough’s earnings from his broadcasting career were reported to be substantial, while Susan’s net worth has been estimated at a considerably smaller figure. This gap highlights that Susan built her post-divorce life through her own work and charitable involvement rather than relying solely on settlement income.

Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough’s Children

Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough share two children together.

Katherine Clark Scarborough

Katherine, the couple’s first child, was born on 8 August 2003. She was around ten years old when her parents divorced and has largely stayed out of the public eye as she has grown into adulthood.

Jack Scarborough

Jack, the couple’s second child, was born in May 2008. He was approximately five years old at the time of the divorce. Like his sister, Jack has generally been kept away from media attention.

Following the divorce, Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough were granted joint legal custody of both children. Reports from the years following the split indicated that the children continued to divide their time between both parents, with Susan playing a central role in their day-to-day upbringing.

Susan Waren’s Career and Philanthropic Work

One aspect of Susan Waren’s life that deserves more attention is her professional and charitable work, which extends well beyond her marriage to Joe Scarborough.

Political and Government Experience

Before her marriage, Susan worked as an aide to Florida Governor Jeb Bush and held positions with congressional committee staff. This kind of role typically involves policy research, constituent communication and coordination between government offices, giving Susan a solid grounding in public administration.

Writing

Susan Waren also tried her hand at writing. She contributed to a country lifestyle blog called SouthXNortheast, which was published in two parts. The blog has not been updated since around 2015, but it reflects another creative side to her life outside of politics and family.

Philanthropy

In more recent years, Susan Waren has become associated with philanthropic work through the Sherwood Foundation, an organisation based in Nebraska. The foundation focuses on improving community ownership through social justice leadership and enhancing quality of life for people across the state. Notably, the organisation was previously known as the Susan A. Buffett Foundation before its rebrand, linking it to one of America’s most prominent philanthropic families.

Her involvement in this kind of work suggests that Susan Waren has continued to build a meaningful professional identity separate from her past marriage, focusing her energy on causes tied to social good rather than public visibility.

Where Is Susan Waren Now?

Since her divorce from Joe Scarborough in 2013, Susan Waren has kept a low public profile. She has not remarried and does not appear to maintain an active presence on social media, which is part of the reason so little recent information circulates about her day-to-day life.

What is known is that she continues to focus on:

1. Raising her two children, who are now adults or nearing adulthood.
2. Her philanthropic role connected to the Sherwood Foundation.
3. Maintaining a private, settled life away from the entertainment industry that her former husband works in.

Meanwhile, Joe Scarborough went on to marry his Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski in 2018, and the pair continue to co-host the programme together, now aired under the MS NOW banner following the network’s rebrand.

Susan Waren vs Joe Scarborough: A Quick Comparison

Aspect	Susan Waren	Joe Scarborough
Public profile	Private, rarely in the media	Highly public, television host
Career	Former political aide, writer, philanthropist	Broadcaster, former U.S. Congressman
Current relationship status	Not remarried	Married to Mika Brzezinski (2018)
Children from this marriage	Katherine and Jack	Katherine and Jack
Net worth (estimated)	Around $300,000 to $500,000	Around $25 million

Why People Are Interested in Susan Waren’s Story

Susan Waren’s story resonates with many readers because it represents a quieter, more grounded counterpoint to the high-profile world of American television journalism. While her former husband’s career has thrived in the public eye, Susan chose a different path, one built around family, public service and charitable work. Her example shows that a life lived away from cameras can still be full of purpose and achievement.

Conclusion

Susan Waren’s life extends well beyond her twelve-year marriage to Joe Scarborough. Born in 1970, she built a career in Florida politics before her marriage, raised two children, Katherine and Jack, alongside her former husband, and has since focused her time on philanthropy through the Sherwood Foundation. Her divorce from Scarborough in 2013 was handled with notable discretion, and she has maintained that same sense of privacy ever since. While Joe Scarborough has continued his high-profile broadcasting career alongside his current wife, Mika Brzezinski, Susan Waren has built a quieter but no less meaningful life centred on family and community work. Her story is a reminder that public recognition and personal fulfilment do not always have to come from the same source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Susan Waren?

Susan Waren is an American former political aide and philanthropist best known as the second wife of broadcaster Joe Scarborough. She worked in Florida politics before her marriage and later became involved with the Sherwood Foundation.

When did Susan Waren divorce Joe Scarborough?

Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough divorced in January 2013, after twelve years of marriage. The split was kept private, with court filings dating back roughly a year before it became public.

How many children does Susan Waren have with Joe Scarborough?

Susan Waren and Joe Scarborough have two children together, daughter Katherine Clark Scarborough, born in 2003, and son Jack Scarborough, born in 2008. The couple shares joint legal custody.

What does Susan Waren do now?

Susan Waren currently focuses on raising her children and works in philanthropy connected to the Sherwood Foundation in Nebraska. She keeps a low public profile and is not active on social media.

What was Susan Waren’s divorce settlement with Joe Scarborough?

Reports indicate Susan Waren received a one-off payment of around $150,000, along with $30,000 in monthly alimony for five years, followed by $25,000 monthly for two more years.

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