Jodi Faeth: Who Is Mike Wolfe’s Ex-Wife and What Is She Doing Now?
Jodi Faeth is a professional accountant and the ex-wife of American Pickers star Mike Wolfe. Born on November 2, 1970, in Iowa, she survived stage 2 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, raised a daughter with a cleft palate, and filed for divorce from Wolfe in November 2020.
Jodi Faeth spent most of her life away from public attention. She built a quiet career as an accountant, raised her children, and stood beside her husband through the peak years of his reality TV fame. Most people only started searching her name when news broke that she had filed for divorce from American Pickers host Mike Wolfe in 2020. But her story goes far beyond the end of a marriage.
From a cancer diagnosis to her daughter’s medical challenges, Faeth has faced more than most people deal with in a lifetime. She handled it largely out of the spotlight, which makes her story worth understanding in full.
Early Life and Education
Jodi Faeth was born on November 2, 1970, in Le Claire, Iowa. Her parents, David Collier Faeth and Carol Faeth, raised her in Eldridge, Iowa. She graduated from high school in 1985 and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in 1990. The name of her university has never been publicly confirmed.
She is six years younger than Mike Wolfe, who was born in 1964. The two would not meet until several years after she completed her education.
Some readers may find her story similar to Ashton Meem, another woman who became publicly known primarily through her relationship with a high-profile figure rather than her own career.
Career as an Accountant
Before her marriage became a headline, Faeth worked as a professional accountant. She left the job after giving birth to her daughter in January 2012 to focus on caregiving full-time. She returned to work in 2017, though she has kept the details of her employment private.
She also made occasional appearances on American Pickers and received frequent mentions from Wolfe during the show’s run. However, television was never her focus. She built her professional identity in accounting, not entertainment.
Her Relationship With Mike Wolfe
Jodi Faeth and Mike Wolfe first met in 1994. They dated for close to two decades before getting married on September 8, 2012. Their wedding was a private event styled around the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and held in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. After the ceremony, the couple traveled to Hawaii for their honeymoon.
Their daughter, Charlie Wolfe, was actually born in January 2012, before the wedding took place. Faeth also has a son named Kyle, born in 1989, from a previous relationship. Kyle’s father was not involved in his upbringing, and Faeth raised him on her own.
The couple lived in a Tennessee home filled with vintage antiques collected during Wolfe’s travels. For years, the arrangement worked: Wolfe traveled across the country filming his show while Faeth managed the household and their daughter’s medical needs.
This dynamic, where one partner holds public attention while the other manages family life behind the scenes, is not uncommon. Stories like that of Vanessa Villanueva show how these arrangements often come with their own emotional weight.
Charlie Wolfe’s Health Challenges
Charlie was born with both a cleft lip and a cleft palate. This condition affects feeding immediately after birth. Faeth described the experience directly: Charlie lost weight right after delivery, and the family arranged two surgeries within the first year of her life.
Faeth and Wolfe became ambassadors for Operation Smile, a nonprofit that provides reconstructive surgery to children born with clefts in countries where medical access is limited. Their advocacy grew directly from what they witnessed during Charlie’s treatment.
Faeth has been deliberate about building Charlie’s self-confidence since those early surgeries, focusing on how her daughter sees herself rather than how others see her scars.
Cancer Diagnosis and Recovery
In December 2013, just a year after Charlie was born, Faeth received a diagnosis of stage 2 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The diagnosis came as a complete shock. She had been living a vegan lifestyle, exercising regularly, and juicing. None of it made her immune.
She described her reaction in a 2015 interview with The Glow: she was the last person who expected to get cancer, given how carefully she had been living. Wolfe remained by her side throughout her treatment. Her cancer went into remission in 2014, and she was declared cancer-free in May 2015.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the more common forms of blood cancer in adults. According to the American Cancer Society, it accounts for roughly 4% of all cancers in the United States. The fact that Faeth developed it despite a clean lifestyle is a reminder that lifestyle alone does not determine cancer risk. Genetic and environmental factors play significant roles.
The Divorce
In June 2020, Faeth and Wolfe separated. She filed for divorce in November 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. Their marriage had lasted eight years. The relationship itself had spanned 26 years by the time it ended.
The divorce was settled without major public conflict. Faeth received custody of Charlie. Wolfe did not contest the filing publicly.
Wolfe later entered a relationship with Leticia Cline. Faeth, by contrast, has maintained a low public profile since the divorce.
Where Is Jodi Faeth Now?
Faeth returned to accounting work in 2017 and has continued to keep a low profile since the divorce. She does not maintain a visible public social media presence. Most of what is known about her current life comes from earlier interviews and court records.
She remains focused on raising Charlie and has not sought attention through media appearances or public statements since her marriage ended. Her story echoes that of many individuals connected to public figures who build their lives away from cameras once the relationship ends, much like Elijah Judd, who is known to most people only through a famous family connection rather than any public persona of their own.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 2, 1970 |
| Birthplace | Le Claire, Iowa |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree, 1990 |
| Career | Accountant |
| Marriage to Wolfe | September 8, 2012 |
| Divorced | Filed November 2020 |
| Children | Kyle (b. 1989), Charlie (b. 2012) |
| Health History | Stage 2 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, remission 2015 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jodi Faeth?
Jodi Faeth is a professional accountant and the former wife of American Pickers host Mike Wolfe. She is known for surviving Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and for her advocacy work with Operation Smile.
When did Jodi Faeth and Mike Wolfe divorce?
Faeth filed for divorce in November 2020 after they separated in June 2020. She cited irreconcilable differences.
Does Jodi Faeth have children?
Yes. She has a son, Kyle, from a previous relationship, and a daughter, Charlie, with Mike Wolfe. Charlie was born in January 2012 with a cleft lip and cleft palate.
What cancer did Jodi Faeth have?
She was diagnosed with stage 2 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2013. Her cancer went into remission in 2014, and she was declared cancer-free in 2015.
What does Jodi Faeth do now?
She works as an accountant and lives privately. She has not made significant public appearances since her divorce from Mike Wolfe.