Who is Erika Kirk? What is her net worth, how did she meet Charlie Kirk, what is her job and previous roles
Erika Kirk is the widow of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk who was shot and killed.
Mr Kirk, who was a prominent political commentator in the US and ally of the president, was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday, in what authorities called a political assassination. On Friday, Erika Kirk delivered her first public remarks since the shooting, from the office where her late husband hosted his podcast. She said he loved America, nature and the Chicago Cubs.
“But most of all, Charlie loved his children and he loved me with all of his heart,” she said. Addressing her husband’s killer, she said: “You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. “The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.” She also thanked US President Donald Trump, saying through tears that her husband loved the president, and vowed to keep her husband’s work alive, continuing his campus tour, radio show and podcast.
A baptized Catholic who attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Erika Kirk currently hosts a podcast called "Midweek Rise Up." It's described on her website as a devotional series released every Wednesday, along with Monday Meditations, "to provide you that deep breath of, ‘God’s got this.’"
Erika and Charlie met in 2018 and then had a "very long dinner." Charlie said that he knew "almost immediately" that she was the one. Erika posted a selfie of her and Charlie on Sept. 5, 2023, marking five years since the two met. She wrote: "5 years ago today, we sat inside Bill's Burgers in NYC deep in conversation and banter over theology, philosophy, and politics and at the end, you paused, looked at me and said, ‘I'm going to date you.’"
Charlie proposed to Erika in December 2020. She captioned photos of the engagement on Instagram: "When God writes your love story, you get to marry your best friend." The two married less than a year later in May 2021.
Erika was no stranger to the limelight when she met Charlie. In 2012, she was crowned Miss Arizona USA. Her Instagram has photos of her bonding with other contestants and visiting the Pentagon while wearing her Miss Arizona USA sash. Her website still features options for those looking to book her as a model or actress.
In addition to her pageant title, Erika was an NCAA basketball player at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Arizona State University after double majoring in political science and international relations. She also earned a Juris Master in American Legal Studies at Liberty University.
In 2016, she started BIBLEin365, challenging others to commit to reading the Bible over the course of a year. The challenge later became a ministry program, which "seeks to help individuals engage with the scriptures daily," according to her website.
Two years later, she launched Proclaim Streetwear, a faith-based clothing company that joined forces with BIBLEin356 in September 2021. Each month, Proclaim hosts a free virtual BIBLEin365 live Q&A with Erika and Pastor James Kaddis.
According to RealityTea, she has an estimated net worth of $2 million in 2025. Her net worth in 2025 consists of earnings from her extensive work as a businesswoman, podcaster, and in real estate.