Kelly Ripa is an American television personality, actress, TV host, and producer, best known for her long-running role as the co-host of Live! She gained fame portraying Hayley Vaughan on the soap opera All My Children before transitioning to daytime talk show success.
With a career spanning decades, she has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and built a strong presence in the entertainment industry. Ripa has an estimated net worth of $120 million.
She is married to actor Mark Consuelos, whom she met on All My Children, and together they have three children: Michael, Lola, and Joaquin.
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Who is Kelly Ripa?
Kelly Ripa is an American actress, TV host, and producer. She became famous for playing Hayley Vaughan on the soap opera All My Children. Later, she joined the talk show Live! as a co-host in 2001. She now hosts the show with her husband, Mark Consuelos.
She grew up in New Jersey and started acting in high school. Her big break came with All My Children, where she met her husband. They got married in 1996 and have three children.
She balanced acting and hosting, becoming a well-known TV personality.
She also starred in the sitcom Hope & Faith from 2003 to 2006. Along with her husband, she owns a production company called Milojo. The company produces TV shows and films.
Kelly Ripa is known for her humor, energy, and charisma. She has won awards for her work and remains one of the most popular TV hosts. Fans love her for her fun personality and strong work ethic.
Early Life of Kelly Ripa
Kelly Ripa was born pn October 2, 1970, in Stratford, New Jersey, and grew up in Berlin, New Jersey. She holds American nationality and comes from a mixed ethnic background, with three-quarters Italian and one-quarter Irish ancestry.
Kelly’s parents are Esther Ripa and Joseph Ripa. Her mother was a homemaker, dedicating her time to raising Kelly and her sister. Her father, Joseph, served in the U.S. Army before working as a bus driver.
He later became active in Amalgamated Transit Union Local 880, where he took on leadership responsibilities. Kelly has one sister, Linda Ripa, who pursued a career as a children’s book author.
Despite their different career paths, the sisters have shared a close bond throughout their lives.
Kelly attended Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. During her time in high school, she was a cheerleader and had a growing passion for performing.
Her drama teacher, Jim Boeckle, recognized her natural talent and encouraged her to pursue acting.
He cast her in lead roles for school plays. One of her most memorable performances was in The Ugly Duckling, where she was discovered by industry professionals.
After high school, Kelly enrolled at Camden County College to study psychology. However, she quickly realized her true passion was acting. She made the bold decision to drop out of college and move to New York City.
There, she focused on building her career in the entertainment industry.
Kelly Ripa Age
Kelly Ripa is 54 years old as of 2024 because she came into the world on October 2, 1970, in Stratford, New Jersey. Her zodiac sign is Libra.
Early Career in Television and Dance
Kelly Ripa’s career in the entertainment industry began in the late 1980s when she gained early television exposure as a dancer on Dancin’ On Air, a popular local dance show in Philadelphia.
Her performances on the show led to a recurring role on Dance Party USA, where her charisma and energetic presence made her a standout. Despite initially aspiring to become a newscaster, Ripa discovered her passion for acting, which set the foundation for her future in television.
Breakthrough Role on All My Children
In 1990, Ripa landed her breakthrough role as Hayley Vaughan on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children. Originally introduced as a rebellious party girl.
Her character evolved into a fan favorite, earning her critical acclaim and multiple Soap Opera Digest Award nominations. During her time on the show, she met actor Mark Consuelos, who played her love interest, and the two developed a real-life romance, eventually eloping in 1996.
Ripa remained on All My Children for over a decade, cementing her status as a household name. She briefly returned in 2010 for a special 40th-anniversary episode and pays tribute to the show that launched her career.
Becoming a Talk Show Icon: Live! with Kelly
While still on All My Children, Ripa auditioned for a co-hosting role on Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee after Kathie Lee Gifford’s departure in 2000.
During her audition, a now-famous moment unfolded when a guest psychic, Char Margolis, unexpectedly revealed that Ripa was pregnant with her second child.
Regis Philbin was instantly impressed by her quick wit and natural chemistry with him. After months of guest appearances, she was officially announced as the new co-host in February 2001, and the show was rebranded as Live! with Regis and Kelly.
Ripa’s infectious energy and comedic timing revitalized the long-running morning talk show, which attracts younger audiences and making Live! one of the highest-rated syndicated programs in the U.S.
When Regis Philbin retired in 2011, Ripa took over as lead host, and the show was renamed Live! with Kelly. A rotating lineup of guest co-hosts filled the vacant seat until Michael Strahan was chosen as her permanent co-host in 2012.
Their on-screen partnership was a success, earning the show its first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show in 2012. In 2016, Strahan’s sudden departure led to another transition period, during which Ripa hosted alongside guest co-hosts for nearly a year.
Ryan Seacrest was eventually announced as her new co-host in 2017 which brings fresh energy to the show. Together, they continued Live!’s strong ratings and won another Daytime Emmy. In 2023, Seacrest exited the show, and Ripa’s husband, Mark Consuelos, joined as her new co-host.
Acting and Other Television Ventures
Beyond her work on Live!, Ripa pursued acting roles in primetime television. In 2003, she starred in the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith. The series ran for three seasons before ending in 2006.
She also made guest appearances in popular TV shows such as Broad City, Riverdale, and Ugly Betty. Additionally, she had a small role in the 1996 film Marvin’s Room in which she acted alongside Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Entrepreneurship and Production Work
Kelly Ripa expanded her career beyond hosting and acting by launching her own production company, Milojo Productions, in 2007 with her husband, Mark Consuelos.
Milojo’s debut project, The Streak, a documentary about a high school wrestling team’s record-breaking winning streak, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008.
The company has since collaborated with networks like Oxygen, Bravo, and Lifetime, producing a variety of content, including true-crime series such as Exhumed, which premiered in 2021.
Brand Endorsements and Business Ventures
Ripa has been a sought-after spokesperson for numerous brands throughout her career. She has partnered with major companies like Electrolux, Tide, Pantene, and TD Bank, further solidifying her influence in the advertising industry.
She also collaborated with fitness brand Rykä to create The Kelly Ripa Collection, a line of activewear aimed at promoting women’s health and wellness.
Kelly Ripa as Author
Kelly Ripa expanded her career by becoming an author with the release of her book Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories in 2022. The book is a collection of personal essays where she shares behind-the-scenes stories about her life, career, and family.
Through humor and honesty, she gives readers an inside look at her experiences in television, marriage, and motherhood. Her book received praise for its wit and relatability and became a bestseller. With this successful debut, Ripa established herself as a talented writer.
Philanthropy and Charitable Work
In addition to her entertainment career, Kelly Ripa is deeply involved in philanthropic efforts. She has supported cancer research, children’s welfare, and education initiatives.
As a longtime advocate for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, she has helped raise awareness and funds for the cause. She has also worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) due to a personal family experience her sister was seriously injured by a drunk driver.
Additionally, she participated in a celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, winning $250,000 for Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund, which supports children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
With Live! with Kelly and Mark continuing to thrive and her business ventures expanding, Kelly Ripa remains a dominant force in media and entertainment.
Kelly Ripa Awards & Achievements
Here are Kelly Ripa’s awards and honors:
- Best Actress Award – New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (1999)
- Five Soap Opera Digest Awards – All My Children
- Three Daytime Emmy Award Nominations – All My Children
- Two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show Host – Live! with Regis and Kelly
- 12 Daytime Emmy Award Nominations – Live! with Regis and Kelly
- Four People’s Choice Award Nominations – Live! with Regis and Kelly
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special – Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade (2006)
- Two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host – Live! with Kelly and Michael (2015, 2016)
- Induction into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame (2010)
- Person of the Year – Broadcast Pioneers (2010)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (2015)
- New Jersey Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host – Live! with Kelly and Ryan (2019)
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host – Live! with Kelly and Mark (2024)
- Guinness World Record Holder – Live! (Banana-cream pie catching & grape trodding attempts)
Movies & TV Shows
Some of Kelly Ripa movies & Tv shows are listed below:
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark
- CNN Heroes
- All My Children
- Generation Gap
- Hope & Faith
- Homemade Millionaire
Kelly Ripa Net Worth
Kelly Ripa has an estimated net worth of $120 million as of 2025. She earns money through multiple income streams, including her long-running role as a co-host on Live! with Kelly and Mark, which reportedly pays her a multimillion-dollar annual salary.
She also profits from acting, brand endorsements with companies like Electrolux, Pantene, and TD Bank, and her production company, Milojo Productions, which creates television content.
Additionally, she has collaborated on business ventures, such as her activewear line with Rykä, and invests in real estate, further adding to her wealth.
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Kelly Ripa Husband
Kelly Ripa is married to her husband Mark Consuelos, a well-known television actor. The couple first met in 1995 while starring together on the soap opera All My Children. Their on-screen chemistry quickly turned into a real-life romance, and they eloped on May 1, 1996.
Since then, they have built a strong and lasting marriage. Mark Consuelos was born on March 30, 1971, in Zaragoza, Spain, to an Italian mother and a Mexican father.
He was raised in the United States and attended the University of South Florida before pursuing acting.
His breakthrough role as Mateo Santos on All My Children made him a household name. Beyond soap operas, Mark has had a successful television career.
He has appeared in shows like American Horror Story: Asylum, Pitch, and most notably, Riverdale, where he played the villainous Hiram Lodge. In 2023, he joined his wife as co-host of Live with Kelly and Mark which brings their professional lives together.
Mark and Kelly have been married for nearly three decades and are known for their strong relationship. Together, they have three children Michael, Lola, and Joaquin and often share glimpses of their family life on social media.
Their love story remains one of Hollywood’s most admired.
Kelly Ripa Children
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have three children two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son, Michael Joseph Consuelos, was born on June 2, 1997, and is 27 years old as of 2024.
Following in his parents’ footsteps, Michael pursued acting and has appeared as a younger version of his father’s character, Hiram Lodge, on Riverdale. He also has an interest in screenwriting and directing.
Their daughter, Lola Grace Consuelos, was born on June 16, 2001, and is 23 years old as of 2024. She is a singer and has occasionally joined her parents at public events. Lola studied music at New York University and is passionate about singing and also fashion.
Their youngest son, Joaquin Antonio Consuelos, was born on February 24, 2003, and is 22 years old as of 2025. Joaquin has pursued wrestling and was recruited to the University of Michigan’s wrestling team.
His parents have shared their pride in his accomplishments, especially as he has overcome challenges related to dyslexia and dysgraphia. Despite their parents’ fame, all three children have maintained relatively private lives.
Kelly and Mark often share stories about their kids on Live with Kelly and Mark.
What Happend to Kelly Ripa Son?
Joaquin Antonio Consuelos has faced challenges with dyslexia and dysgraphia. These conditions affect his ability to read and write. Despite this, he remained determined and worked hard in school.
His parents have always supported him and encouraged him to overcome these obstacles. In addition to academics, Joaquin found success in sports. He became a member of the University of Michigan’s wrestling team. Wrestling helped him build confidence and stay focused.
His dedication to both education and athletics has been inspiring to many. Unlike his older brother Michael, who pursued acting, Joaquin focused on his studies and wrestling.
His parents are proud of his achievements and perseverance. He continues to work hard and strive for success. His journey serves as motivation for others facing similar struggles.
What Does Kelly Ripa Daughter Do?
Kelly Ripa’s daughter, Lola Consuelos, is a singer and social media personality. She gained public attention as the daughter of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and has frequently appeared at red carpet events with her parents.
Lola studied music at New York Unbiversity (NYU) and released her debut single, Paranoia, in 2022. She continues to explore a career in music while maintaining a private life compared to her famous parents.
In addition to music, she shares glimpses of her lifestyle and fashion on social media, where she has a growing following. While she keeps much of her personal life low-key, she occasionally makes appearances on her mother’s talk show.
Kelly Ripa Height and Weight
Kelly Ripa stands at a height of 5 feet 1 inches which is equal to 157 centimeters or 1.57 meters and weighs approximately 60 kilogrmas which is euqal to 110 pounds. She is known for her slim and toned physique, which she maintains through a healthy lifestyle and regular workouts.
With her signature blonde hair, bright brown eyes, and radiant smile, Ripa exudes a youthful and energetic appearance that has made her a recognizable and beloved television personality.
Bottom Line
In the Bottom line, Kelly Ripa’s journey from a young actress to a well-known TV star shows her hard work, talent, and strength. She has managed to build a great career while taking care of her family and staying active in the entertainment world.
Many people admire her for her strong work ethic and real personality. She continues to grow, entertain, and connect with her audience. Her story proves that dedication and passion can lead to success.
As she moves forward in both her career and personal life, Ripa remains a great example of ambition, grace, and determination.
Stay tuned for our next article! We’d love to hear your thoughts, so don’t forget to drop a comment.
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