Anthony Rizzo Wife
Introduction
Anthony Rizzo’s wife is Emily Vakos, an American nutritionist and real estate broker born on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. Anthony Rizzo is a longtime MLB first baseman best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs, where he helped end the franchise’s 108-year World Series drought in 2016, and for his later stint with the New York Yankees.
Off the field, Rizzo is just as well known for his marriage to Emily Vakos, who has built her own career in nutrition and real estate while quietly supporting her husband through his baseball journey and his cancer-survivor advocacy work. This article covers everything fans want to know about Anthony Rizzo’s wife, including her background, career, how the couple met, their wedding, and their growing family.
Who Is Emily Vakos?
Emily Vakos was born Emily Ann Vakos on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. She is an American citizen and grew up with a strong interest in health and wellness from a young age. Her parents are Mark Vakos and Stephanie Sudwischer, though Emily has generally kept details about her extended family and childhood private, preferring to stay out of the spotlight even as her husband’s baseball career grew more public.
For her education, Emily attended Arizona State University, where she studied nutrition and food management. She graduated in May 2016 after completing coursework that combined food science with practical health training. While still in school, she gained hands-on experience through internships, including a stint with the Scottsdale Unified School District and time working in the food-health sector at Herbalife.
This academic background in nutrition became the foundation for her professional life and, notably, the setting where she first crossed paths with Anthony Rizzo. Unlike many partners of professional athletes, Emily built a career-focused identity long before she became known publicly as Anthony Rizzo’s wife.
Emily Vakos’s Career & Professional Life
Professionally, Emily Vakos has worked in two very different fields: nutrition and real estate. She is recognized as a certified school nutrition specialist, a credential tied directly to her university studies. Early in her career, she worked as a health assistant at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, an organization focused on fighting hunger, and she also spent time on the food-health side of Herbalife’s business.
Later, Emily Vakos moved into real estate, working as a licensed broker based in the Chicago area. Her real estate work has given her a professional identity that is separate from her husband’s baseball fame, something she has been intentional about maintaining. Emily has also taken an active role in the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, the charity her husband founded to support families dealing with pediatric cancer.
She has participated in fundraising efforts for the foundation, including running the New York Marathon in 2023 to raise money and awareness for the cause. While Anthony Rizzo’s own net worth is estimated at around $27 million thanks to his MLB salary and endorsements, Emily’s earnings from nutrition and real estate work have not been publicly disclosed.
How Did Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos Meet?
Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos met in 2016 during Chicago Cubs spring training in Arizona. At the time, Rizzo was the Cubs’ established first baseman, while Emily was finishing her final year at Arizona State University and working as a nutrition intern with the team. When Rizzo first tried to get her number, Emily reportedly gave him a fake one, since she was focused on finishing her internship and wasn’t looking to date at the time.
Rizzo didn’t give up, though, and the two eventually started dating after her internship ended. Their relationship developed over the next year, and in 2017, while the couple was vacationing on a cruise on Lake Michigan, Rizzo proposed during a fireworks display. Emily initially thought the moment was part of a staged photoshoot and didn’t immediately realize what was happening. Once she understood Rizzo was serious, she said yes, and the couple got engaged. Their timeline lines up neatly with Rizzo’s career highlights, since the proposal came not long after his World Series win with the Cubs in 2016, a year that also marked a turning point in his public profile.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos got married on December 29, 2018. The wedding took place in South Florida, close to Rizzo’s hometown, and was described as an elegant, star-studded affair. Several of Rizzo’s Chicago Cubs teammates and friends attended, including manager David Ross, along with other notable guests from the sports and entertainment world.
The couple shared a formal wedding photo afterward that captured the elegance of the event, and details from the ceremony highlighted a classic, sophisticated style rather than an over-the-top celebrity spectacle. Emily has spoken about the wedding as a deeply meaningful day, describing it as exceeding what she had imagined for her own ceremony. The pairing of Rizzo, a World Series champion, and Vakos, his behind-the-scenes partner throughout his rise, made the wedding a natural milestone that fans and teammates alike celebrated.
Children & Family Life
Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos announced in January 2025 that they were expecting their first child together, with a due date in June 2025. The couple shared the news on social media using their dachshund, Kevin, who wore a “Big Brother” bandana in the announcement photo, alongside sonogram images and a onesie reading “Baby Rizzo, June 2025.” The announcement drew congratulations from friends and former teammates, including Aaron Judge and Alex Verdugo.
Family life for the couple has generally stayed low-key, with Emily maintaining a private personal life even as public interest in the pregnancy grew. As of this writing, further public details about the baby’s birth, name, and gender have not been widely confirmed, and readers should expect updated family news as the couple shares more.
Emily Vakos on Social Media
Emily Vakos keeps a relatively low profile online compared to many spouses of professional athletes. She is not a frequent poster and tends to avoid heavy self-promotion, but she does occasionally share glimpses of her life with Anthony Rizzo, including moments from their marriage, travels, and charity involvement. Her social media presence leans personal rather than curated for a large following, which fits her preference for privacy. Most of her public visibility comes through appearances tied to Anthony Rizzo’s career and their shared charity work rather than through her own platform.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emily Ann Vakos |
| Date of Birth | January 9, 1994 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Nutritionist and Real Estate Broker |
| Married to | Anthony Vincent Rizzo |
| Marriage Year | 2018 |
| Children | Expecting first child (announced January 2025) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed (Anthony Rizzo’s is estimated at $27 million) |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Anthony Rizzo’s wife’s name? A: Anthony Rizzo’s wife is Emily Vakos, an American nutritionist and real estate broker. The couple has been married since December 2018.
Q: How old is Emily Vakos? A: Emily Vakos was born on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. That makes her in her early thirties as of 2026.
Q: What does Emily Vakos do for a living? A: Emily Vakos works as a certified nutritionist and a licensed real estate broker based in the Chicago area. She also supports the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation.
Q: When did Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos get married? A: Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos got married on December 29, 2018, in a ceremony held in South Florida near Rizzo’s hometown.
Q: How many kids do Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos have? A: The couple announced in January 2025 that they were expecting their first child together, due in June 2025. Updated details about the child have not been widely confirmed publicly.
Conclusion
Emily Vakos is far more than just a baseball player’s spouse. She’s a nutrition professional and real estate broker who built her own career before her relationship with Anthony Rizzo brought her into the public eye. From meeting during Cubs spring training to a fairytale wedding in 2018 and now preparing for their first child, Anthony Rizzo and Emily Vakos have shown a partnership grounded in shared support and genuine connection. As Anthony Rizzo’s wife, Emily continues to balance her professional life with her role in the family’s charitable foundation, making her an admirable figure in her own right alongside her husband’s baseball legacy.
