Sue Aikens Wiki/Bio shows three divorces and the death of a husband. Her net worth, career facts.
Sue Aikens is not your average woman. She is a survivor, a hunter, a leader and a star. She lives in one of the most isolated and inhospitable places on Earth: the Kavik River Camp in Alaska, where she runs a business and faces the dangers of the wild. She is also a regular on the hit reality TV show Life Below Zero, where she showcases her skills and courage to millions of fans. But behind her tough exterior, Sue has a heart of gold and a sense of humor. She is also a mother and a grandmother, who has endured many hardships and losses in her personal life. She has been married three times and lost two husbands to illness and divorce, and survived a brutal bear attack. She is Sue Aikens, and she is an inspiration to many.
How Rich is Sue Aikens?
Sue Aikens makes her money primarily as the reality television actor in Life Below Zero which follows her and other Alaskan residents as they brave the harsh conditions of the Arctic wilderness. Sue is also the owner and operator of Kavik River Camp, a former oil pipeline camp that offers lodging and services to adventurers, hunters, and researchers. But how much money does she make from her TV show and her camp? Here are some facts about Sue Aikens’ net worth and source of income.
Sue Aikens’ net worth
Sue Aikens has an estimated net worth of $1.2 Million as of 2023. This makes her one of the richest cast members of Life Below Zero. Sue’s net worth comes from two main sources: her salary from the TV show and her income from the Kavik River Camp.
Sue Aikens’ salary from Life Below Zero
Sue Aikens has been a part of Life Below Zero since its debut in 2013. She is one of the longest-running and most popular cast members of the show, which has won several awards and has millions of viewers worldwide. The show documents Sue’s daily struggles and achievements as she lives alone in the Arctic, surrounded by wild animals and extreme weather. Sue Reportedly earns 50, 000 per season she appears in. The show is currently in its 16th season, which means that Sue has made $1 Million from the show alone.
Sue Aikens’ income from Kavik River Camp
Besides being a TV star, Sue Aikens is also a successful businesswoman. She runs the Kavik River Camp, a former oil pipeline camp that is located 197 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The camp serves as a stop for travelers, scientists, birders, and hunters who want to experience the Arctic wildlife and scenery. The camp offers amenities such as WiFi, hot showers, laundry facilities, and meals. The Kavik River Camp charges $35 per night for each guest. The camp operates from June to September, when the weather is more favorable for visitors. Sue hosts around 100 guests per season, which means that she makes about $14,000 from the camp every year. However, Sue does not own the land where the camp is located; she leases it from the government. She also has to pay for maintenance, fuel, supplies, and taxes.
Sue Aikens’ life story
The lady hunter, Sue Aikens was born on July 1, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The birthdate makes her 59 years old. She comes from a European-descended family line tracing to Scotland where her grandfather is from.
Early Life:
Sue Aikens grew up in the suburbs of Chicago until her parents decided to separate when she was only 12 years old. Following the divorce, her mother took her to a family friend in Fairbanks, Alaska. At such a tender age when a typical girl plays with dolls, Sue learned to use guns and bullets. Surprisingly, the girl from the city got along with her new demanding lifestyle. Sue grew up in various places in Alaska, learning how to hunt, fish, and survive in the wilderness. As for her mother, who could not cope with the cold and end up leaving Alaska.
Career:
What others may call lonely living Sue Aikens embraced her life in the Alaskan wilderness and used the opportunity to turn it into financial opportunity. She moved to Kavik River Camp where she lived by hunting and fishing and with no running water, the Kavik River became her water source. On the side, she ran Kavik River Camp providing bedding and food facilities to visitors from the month of June till September.
Television
Sarah Palin’s Alaska:
While Sue Aikens was busy living an extraordinary life in Alaska opportunity came presenting her ways. She was asked to be part of the reality show Sarah Palin’s Alaska hosted by Sarah Palin, the ninth governor of Alaska. She appeared in the fourth episode “She’s a Great Shot” as a Kaviv River camp manager. The episode aired on December 5, 2010. Sue then joined the cast of “Flying Wild Alaska” appearing in four episodes from 2011-2012.
Life Below Zero:
One thing led to another and Sue finally got her big breakthrough as the cast member of the National Georgy show “Life below Zero.” The show follows the lives of various subsistence hunters living in remote areas of Alaska as they work and survive in unforgiving conditions. Alongside Sue Aikens, the show has given a platform to others such as Chip Hailstone, Agnes Hailstone, Andy Bassich, Glenn Villeneuve, Ricko DeWilde, Kate Rorke-Bassich, Erik Salitan, and Jessie Holmes and made them famous.
Sue Aikens made her debut Life Below Zero debut in the episode “End of the Road” (premiered on May 19, 2013). She has since been a regular cast member and made 191 appearances until 2023. On the show, Sue can be seen as the sole resident of a camp along the Kavik River in Northern Alaska, where she runs a B&B for visitors.
More Television works
Sue Aikens also has been asked to appear as a guest on different talk shows on radio and television. She has appeared in his famous podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. She was called in for a guest appearance on the American talk show “Today” in 2015. Sue is also credited as the executive producer of the Hollywood movie Panama (2022).
Injuries & brushing with death:
While Sue Aikens loves her remote lifestyle in Alaskan Wilderness she also has faced many accidents and encounters with predators. One time she barely managed to survive after a surprise attack from a grizzly bear. The bear attacked her leaving her with several head injuries, torn muscles, and a hip socket pulled out. She had no idea of confrontation from a bear. Once the bear left her for dead she managed to drag herself to the camp and gave herself first aid and stitches. Surprisingly she decided to take revenge and tracked the bear, and shot it dead. After that, she lay in her camp for ten days without any medical personnel checkups. A pilot circling around her camp found her and took her to the hospital.
Other than this scary encounter, Sue was reportedly injured in a TV stunt that she was asked to perform for Nat Geo’s show “Life Below Zero.” She filed a lawsuit against the producers of the show. According to the lawsuit filing, Aikens was riding a snowmachine which ended up hitting an ice heave. She said she was seriously injured however instead of rescuing her producer instructed the rescue airplane to land at the far end of the runway for the sake of entertainment and thrill.
Personal Life:
Sue Aikens is married three times, who is her husband?
As much as we think we are familiar with this TV star, Aikens has shared very few details about her personal life. Thanks to our extensive research we have tracked down some confidential information about her husband and married life.
Aikens has been married three times but none of the relationships worked out. Two of her former husband passed away due to disease and one left her to pursue a younger girl.
Later, she married British man Eddie James Aikens on June 13, 1987. Together the couple lived in Portland, Oregon where Eddie worked as a barber. In the years of togetherness as a married couple, the pair gave birth to two children, a boy, and a girl.
After 17 years of marriage, the couple got divorced in 2004. Aikens returned to Alaska and began to live an isolated life in the remote part. While she was busy living day-to-day life her ex-husband Eddie passed away in 2009. She attended the funeral and had some kind words for her departed ex-husband. In a heartwarming tribute, Aikens wrote on his obituary page:
“I remember that you always came up from behind me, put your arms around me, and would say “I love you Mrs. Aikens” Even when we were divorced, two days before your death, you said the words to me again. In friendship, we found the ability to say and do what we needed. I will so miss your sweet face and smile. Your ability to forgive, and open your heart. I was the catalyst… you the sturdy branches. I am sad “
Her third marriage is quite a mystery; however, she did not stay in the relationship for very long.
Current Relationship:
Currently, Sue Aikens is dating a New York native named Michael Heinrich, who works as a journeyman electrician. They have been in touch since July 2018 and are now engaged. However, they are not married yet and are in a long-distance relationship.
Family, children and grandchildren
Sue Aikens has a grown-up daughter and a son both are in their thirties. Both children are married and live far away from her in the lower United States. Her son is younger among the two who got married in September of 2016, and she was present for the occasion.
I slipped the collar last week to see my Son wed his girl. Congrats to them both, yay!! You cant take the Idgie out of this tomato 🙂 pic.twitter.com/F67UsHq2BU
— Sue Aikens (@SueAikens) October 2, 2016
Sue’s daughter was born in November 1984. The grown-up daughter resembles her in appearance whom she also calls “Mini Me.”
View this post on Instagram
The family line extends with grandkids. While Sue hasn’t shared about her all-family line we do know that she has a granddaughter and grandson who have visited her in Alaska. While away, she keeps in touch through the satellite phone. Sue loves to exchange gifts with her kids and grandkids. On one occasion, her grandkids gave her a puppy as a gift. Sue’s granddaughter Drew Mcclurg is quite grown up now even celebrating her 18th birthday. Drew’s father Eddie Mcclurg passed away some years ago.
Wiki/Bio Facts:
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Sue Aikens |
| Date of birth | July 1, 1963 |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Age | 59 years old (As of May 2023) |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (approx) |
| Net worth | $1.2 Milliom |
| Profession | Reality Television Actor |
| Current residence | Kavik River Camp, Alaska |
| TV show | Life Below Zero |
| Marital status | Divorced thrice |
| First husband’s cause of death | Brain tumor |
| Second husband’s name and cause of death | Eddie James Aikens, unknown cause in 2009 |
| Third husband’s reason for leaving her | N/A |
| Number of children and their gender | Two sons (one from the second marriage and one from the third marriage) |
| Children’s residence (as of 2023) | United States with their families |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Gray |
| Early life challenge faced at age 12 in Alaska village north of Fairbanks after mother left her father and then her too to pursue her own life. | Fending for herself with a gun and a few bullets given by a homesteader. |
| Early life lesson learned from killing animals for food and clothing. | Separating animals as friends and food. |
| How she got to run the Kavik River Camp | A friend asked her to take care of the camp for him |
| How she got contacted by the executive producers of Life Below Zero | They had previously highlighted the airplanes she used in logistics for another series. |
| How she feels about the fame that came with the series | She finds it intrusive. |
| How she got attacked by a grizzly bear | She was checking on a fuel tank when the bear ambushed her and bit her head, arm and leg. |
| How she survived the bear attack. | She stitched her own head wound with a needle and thread, wrapped her injuries with duct tape, and waited for ten days until a hunter found her and took her to a hospital. |
| How she described living in Alaska in an interview. | “Living here is not about being comfortable. It’s about being alive.” |
| How she described her relationship with nature in an interview. | “Nature is my church. I don’t need four walls to tell me what I believe.” |
| How she described her philosophy of life in an interview. | “I don’t live every day like it’s my last. I live every day like it’s my first.” |
| How she described her personality in an interview. | “I’m not a social butterfly. I’m more like a social spider.” |
| How she described her sense of humor in an interview. | “I have a very dry wit. Sometimes people don’t get it. Sometimes they do and they laugh. Sometimes they do and they don’t laugh.” |
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I think Sue is an incredible and brave person. I can only imagine people thinking shes gay because she strong. Nothing in her demeanor ever made me think she was. All I know is I look up to her and wonder if I could ever live that life. Being alone that much might make most people crazy. Sue is it ever too late to get it right?
I think Sue is one of the toughest people I have seen. Of all the people on the show, I enjoy her segments the best. She is very brave, independent and tougher than most men or women I know. I really have to admire her. I know I could not do what she does. Sue, you make me want to be adventurous get out there more. Keep up the good work! I do envy your strength, guts, and ability to adapt!
And I agree with you…Sue is a tough cookie.
I have always had a crush on Sue and always will. . Such a BEATIFULL lady
I love Sue. She is the strongest and bravest of all
Love Sue A segments, while Hailstones are my second choice. Andy B presents as a bit cold and aloof in his relationships. His new partner Denis3 is a smart tough cookie, amazing to live with him in that harsh lifestyle.
Sue is so incredibly talented in all ways. She can repair anything and all participants are well schooled in Alaska lifestyles and hunting.
All participants love Alaska.
My wife,Barb,and I enjoy her and the show. We have great respect for her and her courage. We would like to know more about her children and grandchildren
Lawrence I Subrin, Tucson,Arizona
Did I see Sue wearing a sweatshirt that said, “Goosefest, Kenmare, ND” in an episode we watched this week? I was born and raised there.
4 words
Sue is BAD ASS!
I love and value her “girl brain” most people don’t pick up on that. Our girl brains interpret obstacles in a different way than “boy brains”, after 52 years of marriage I can attest to “girl brains in practical situations rule. We are logical problem solvers.
We are retired in northern sask. boreal forest
Sue is an. Incredible, amazing woman and my husband and I are totally in see of her every single week. Her history is very interesting including the important fact that she was left in Alaska as a child to fend for herself!! We just love her. More power to you Sue!!!!!
I enjoy you so much. I raised 5 boys with not much.money. they all turned out awesome! I relate to you.having to “do it yourself.” You learn to do a lot of things you never thought you could do. I lived your sayings concerning life. Raising 5 biys alone, I used some of those things myself. You will be missed.
I think sue Akins is great I love her as a person she is really resourceful, figures things out I love to watch her on life below zero.
I thoroughly enjoy the show but more importantly, I admire and respect her courage to live such a challenging life in such a harsh place.
She appears to be well adapted to her lifestyle.
She lives her life as she chooses to make herself have peace.
You are so resourceful and smart that you will always succeed.
I too am a Sue fan. I googled her name and this article was one of the first ones to pop up. Thanks for posting this information.
Lots of good information in the article. Unfortunately though, the grammar and sentence structure of this article are very poor. Almost like English is a second language for the author. This is where an editor would have been very helpful. Please come wider this for future articles.
Sue…Like so many others who have spoken, I greatly admire you as a person and lady of courage. I hate that kind of cold weather….so for you to endure such hardship….YOU GO GIRL!!! YOU ROCK!! And “NO” people…she is not gay…for whatever that means when it comes to enduring cold…wild…winders in Alaska. God Bless you Sue! Oh..my sister was born on July 1st also.
She is not really by herself the camera crew is there I would think , but maybe not all the time she runs the camp 4 months out of the year, so idk how long she really lives out there hmmm
All my women friends think Sue is so great. The fact she lives in such a horrible environment and still manages to make a good living is super great. All of us admire Sue so much and definitely is my favorite of all the characters in the show. Without Sue you would loose a lot of viewers.
Gotta love SueShe is The Woman! I think I’d be too cold even in the summer
Did she not manage Kavic River Camp before the show even started? I do believe she’s there year round to make sure everything is in running order. Plus, she runs a gasoline refueling for the planes on northeast Alaska. So for the inquiring mind who though she was only there for 3 months of the year, the answer is no.
Sue is greatness. Especially having gone through so much due to that producer. I applaud you! You remind me of my mom the strength and wisdom you give off on the show can’t be faked. You are a role model for women around the world and for my daughters. My youngest walks around the house as you do on the show it’s insanely adorable and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I see the change in them in their school work since we’ve been watching you on the show and it is all oh so good! Keep doing what you do ma’am you do it incredibly well!
My wife and I enjoy all of the families and individuals on the series. We have watched all of the episodes and several of them more than once. Sue is without reservation “Wonder Woman” and Andy is perhaps the most talented person on the show. Please keep this great series going. All of these prople are an inspiration to all of us.
Amazing lady
You definitely have my respect and admiration….and envy!! I’m nearly 70 but wish I could have tried living in Alaska for awhile. I always was sort of a tomboy. Anyway, stay safe as you can be!! What a life!!
I admire and respect Sue’s strength, focus and down-to-earthness.
Awesome show-documentary.
Sue, I love the show because of you. I like your personality!
By the way, how did you lose the wt? And, good luck with the new beau!
My husband was scrolling through channels and came across “Life Below Zero”. I am not usually into outdoor shows but we both love this show! It is truly amazing all that you are able to do up there. Question: how did you ever get all those buildings, etc. up there? And how many years did it take you to get to the number of buildings you have there? I am thoroughly impressed, Sue, with all that you are able to do. I use to think I was a tough cookie, but definitely not, compared to you! Stay safe! Peg Wren
Some of your jnformation about Sue is inaccurate.
Sue is an amazing family friend who we don’t get to see as often as we’d like . My father got to meet her up here in Fairbanks in 2017, and loves talking about their visit to this day (He’s from the lower 48). She’s gracious, humble, and so kind.