Sue Aikens Wiki/Bio, Age, Net Worth, Husband, Children, Life in Alaska.

Sue Aikens is an American television personality, outdoorswoman, survival expert, and the longtime face of National Geographic’s Emmy-winning series Life Below Zero. Best known for managing the remote Kavik River Camp in Alaska, Aikens built her life around self-reliance, bushcraft, and off-grid living. From a turbulent childhood in Chicago to surviving a near-fatal bear attack in the Arctic, her story is one of endurance, ingenuity, and resilience. She has also experienced multiple marriages and divorces and speaks openly about personal loss and family hardships—elements that further shaped her identity and public journey. This in-depth biography offers a comprehensive look at her early life, wilderness transformation, subsistence and carpentry skills, television career, marriage and family history, and her lasting legacy in the Alaskan wild.

Early Life and Upbringing in Chicago

Sue Aikens was born on July 1, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and identifies herself as part of the last wave of the Baby Boomer generation. She spent her formative years in the suburbs of Chicago. From a remarkably young age, Sue showed signs of advanced intellectual development—her mother claimed she began walking by seven months and speaking in full sentences by the age of two.

Her early childhood routine was highly unusual: every morning, her mother left taxi fare on the kitchen table, and Sue would walk outside alone and ride a cab to daycare. According to Sue, this independent routine was already in place when she was only two years old. While the circumstances sound extraordinary, they reflect the unconventional and often difficult environment in which she was raised.

Sue has spoken candidly about experiencing extreme violence and emotional trauma in her early life. Corporal punishment and volatile family dynamics were common. Despite this harsh upbringing, she maintained an inner world rich with imagination and curiosity. She described herself as someone who always “lived between her own ears,” relying on her inner resilience to cope with her surroundings.

Academically, Sue was ahead of her peers. She started kindergarten at three and a half years old and regularly skipped grades. She learned to count using an abacus, and notably, she studied Latin before she became fluent in English. 

Sue’s fascination with animals began during her childhood and became a defining feature of her personality. On a family trip to Yellowstone National Park in the 1960s, she wandered off alone and was later found sleeping beside bear cubs, mistakenly believing they were puppies. The incident, where she mistook bear cubs for puppies and was later found sleeping beside them, ended without injury.

Transition to Alaska and Early Wilderness Adaptation

Sue lived in the Chicago suburbs until her parents separated when she was 12 years old. Following the divorce, her mother brought her to Fairbanks, Alaska, to stay with a family friend. Not long after arriving, Sue’s mother returned to the Lower 48, and Sue was left to survive on her own.

With no consistent adult supervision, Sue quickly adapted to life in a tent. She began hunting, fishing, and managing her own survival, acquiring the foundational skills that would later define her life above the Arctic Circle. This shift to extreme self-reliance suited her natural disposition. As she once shared, while most girls in her generation aspired to be wives and mothers, she dreamed of becoming a lighthouse keeper—craving solitude even from a young age.

Academically gifted and determined, Sue graduated high school just before her 13th birthday, reflecting the accelerated and unconventional path her life had taken. She rarely speaks in detail about her mother’s departure but has emphasized forgiveness and staying focused on the present.

As she continued growing up through her teenage years in Alaska, Sue’s bond with nature deepened in profound ways. One especially emotional turning point came when she encountered a raven in the wild—a bird she named George. At a low point in her life, the raven approached her and gently spread its wings around her in what she interpreted as a comforting embrace.

Embracing Subsistence Living

Sue embraced Alaska fully as a place of freedom, healing, and self-reliance. She developed a rigorous subsistence lifestyle. She trained and managed a team of large Alaskan Malamutes, ran extensive traplines across Coldfoot and the North Slope, and lived nomadically off the land.

Her relationship with Kavik River Camp began long before the public knew her. Sue first passed through the Kavik area as a dog musher and trapper. The camp, formerly a major petroleum outpost with over 1,500 workers, had deteriorated after the industry’s shift to Prudhoe Bay in 1968. In the early 2000s, former owner Mike Tolbert asked Sue to caretake the property for the summer. She countered with a firm condition—she would only accept the position if it allowed her to live there year-round. He agreed.

When Sue arrived, the camp was in ruin: collapsed structures, hazardous garbage buried along the riverbanks, and widespread bear activity. But she saw potential where others saw abandonment. Before she gained national attention, Sue relied heavily on her advanced carpentry and mechanical skills to rebuild Kavik from the ground up. She constructed shelves, repaired cabins, fixed critical infrastructure, and repurposed salvaged materials to create usable equipment. These hands-on abilities played a central role in reviving Kavik into a fully self-sustaining, off-grid outpost—entirely under her control.

Television Career

Before her life in Alaska became nationally known, Sue appeared as an extra in the 1980s television series Jake and the Fatman during a brief work trip to California. Her first on-screen Alaskan appearance came years later through Flying Wild Alaska, where her remote location was featured due to her use of bush planes.

Life Below Zero

Sue Aikens first appeared on Life Below Zero in the episode “End of the Road,” which premiered on May 19, 2013, marking the beginning of her long-running role on the series. As one of the show’s original and longest-serving cast members, she remained a central figure for over a decade. The documentary series followed her life as the sole resident and caretaker of Kavik River Camp—197 miles north of the Arctic Circle—where she battled harsh conditions, isolation, and the ever-present threat of predators.

The show captured Sue’s unique lifestyle and survival skills in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. She hunted, trapped, hauled water, and endured subzero temperatures. In her own words, she was “just another animal on the Arctic,” acknowledging her vulnerability in the food chain. Freeze-up season brought increased risk, as caribou migrated and predators like wolves and wolverines grew bolder. In one tense episode, Sue chose to remain indoors upon hearing heavy crunching outside her shelter—correctly identifying it as a strategic predator behavior.

Throughout the series, Sue’s actions revealed her deep understanding of animal behavior and survival psychology. She once confronted a wolverine head-on to assert her dominance, and in another moment, pursued a bear that threatened her camp. “If I can’t do it the way everyone else does it, how can I do it in a way that works for me?” she reflected. This mantra underscored her approach to every challenge.

Sue also emphasized physical self-sufficiency. She hauled 300–400 lb barrels of fuel alone, repaired infrastructure, and transformed discarded materials into functional items. Viewers watched her weld fuel tanks, skin game, and invent tools—all while maintaining a sense of humor and no-nonsense attitude that resonated with fans.

During one memorable segment, she showcased how she turned an industrial fish tote into a makeshift bathtub—complete with hot and cold water—after nearly a decade without a proper bathtub bath. The project reflected her ingenuity and commitment to creating comfort in the unforgiving Arctic.

As the show progressed, Sue became the literal face of Life Below Zero, appearing in promotional posters and campaigns worldwide. Her presence helped shape the show’s identity and earned her recognition as one of reality television’s most resilient and authentic survivalists.

In a rare departure from her subsistence lifestyle, Life Below Zero featured a moment where Sue visited New York City—an experience that stood in stark contrast to her remote life in Alaska. She humorously commented on the variety of food choices available in the city, compared to the physical effort required to secure caribou or bear meat in the tundra. One of her goals during the trip was to try a New York hot dog—something she had never experienced before. While exploring a local market, Sue expressed amazement at seeing fresh produce like sweet peas and eggplants, noting that she only had access to fresh vegetables during the summer months. She called the taste of a fresh sweet pea “decadent,” underscoring just how rare such luxuries were in her everyday life.

Surviving a Near-Fatal Bear Attack

In one of the most harrowing experiences of her life, Sue was mauled by a juvenile male grizzly bear at Kavik. The bear had become territorial over a buried caribou carcass and viewed Sue as a challenger. The attack left her with serious injuries: dislocated hips, a torn shoulder, deep puncture wounds to her head, and internal trauma.

Sue managed to crawl over a mile back to the camp, administer basic first aid, sew her own wounds, and survive alone for ten days before a passing pilot noticed signs of distress and rescued her. She was later evacuated to Fairbanks, then sent for surgery in Portland. Complications from the attack—including a cracked skull and chronic infection—resurfaced years later, requiring additional surgeries.

Despite the trauma, Sue does not harbor hatred for the bear. She saw it as an animal behaving according to its nature and has since used the experience as a lesson in personal responsibility and respect for the wild.

Health Challenges and Injuries

Beyond the bear attack, Sue sustained severe injuries during a snowmachine accident while filming Life Below Zero. She later filed a lawsuit against the show’s producers, alleging negligence and claiming they delayed emergency rescue to prioritize dramatic footage. The crash caused lasting damage and contributed to her ongoing physical struggles.

Sue has undergone multiple surgeries over the years. In 2015, she took time off to recover from an undisclosed operation, as confirmed in her social media updates. In September 2020, she underwent spinal surgery and humorously referred to her post-operative phase as “Sue 2.0.”

In January 2024, Sue announced via social media that she would undergo long-overdue spinal fusion surgery to treat issues in her cervical spine. The procedure, which took place on February 8, involved discectomies and laminectomies to address multiple vertebrae. She later received injections targeting her lumbar (L1–L5) and sacral spine. In a follow-up post on February 21, Sue provided a visual update of her surgical scars and shared that an old bear bite wound had become infected during recovery but was successfully treated.

Despite ongoing medical challenges, Sue expressed pride in her healing progress and gratitude for the support she received from fans and National Geographic, which sent her flowers in advance.

Sue Aikens Net Worth 2025

As of 2025, Sue Aikens’ estimated net worth is around $2 million, built through years of hard work and her high-profile appearance on National Geographic’s Life Below Zero. Aikens starred in all 23 seasons of the Emmy-winning series from its debut in 2013 until its conclusion, making her one of the longest-standing and most recognized cast members. Her presence on the show significantly boosted her public profile and financial standing.

One of Sue’s key sources of income remains her business, Kavik River Camp, a remote outpost located at 69.4°N, 146.54°W, a few miles from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The camp serves as a seasonal hub for Arctic adventurers, hunters, filmmakers, scientists, and photographers, providing fuel services (Av-gas and Jet A-50), aviation logistics, Wi-Fi, and lodging. With a 5,500 ft runway and self-guided hunting access, Kavik River Camp is both rugged and logistically strategic.

While operating the camp is logistically demanding—located nearly 500 miles from Fairbanks and 80 miles from the nearest road—it generates supplemental income through guest stays, R&B services, and logistical support to clients traveling in and out of the Arctic. The camp’s official website encourages guests to reserve in advance, with special accommodations available for researchers, emergency needs, and solo adventurers.

Together, her earnings from television and her ongoing business ventures in the Arctic sustain Sue Aikens’ self-reliant lifestyle and contribute to her multi-million dollar net worth.

Sue Aikens Personal Life, Marriages, Partner, Children, and Grandchildren (2025 Update)

Sue Aikens was married for 17 years to Eddie James Aikens, the father of her two children. The couple tied the knot on June 13, 1987, and lived in Portland, Oregon, where Eddie worked as a professional barber. Although the marriage eventually ended in 2004, the two remained on good terms until his passing in 2009. Sue attended his funeral and left a heartfelt tribute on his obituary page, reflecting the respect and lasting bond they shared despite the divorce. In her message, she wrote:

“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.”

Following her divorce from Eddie James Aikens, Sue entered into another marriage with a childhood acquaintance she reconnected with after returning to Alaska. While the relationship began with familiarity and shared history, the intense isolation and demands of life at Kavik River Camp eventually put a strain on the partnership, leading to its eventual end.

Reflecting on her personal history, Sue has also acknowledged in a 2017 tweet that she has been married three times. In her own words:

“awww I have been married 3x… and 2 died to get away… I might be a handful. LOL… (thank you though)”

After her previous marriages, Sue Aikens found companionship again with Michael G. Heinrich, a journeyman electrician originally from New York. The couple began their relationship in July 2018 and confirmed their engagement in the following years. Their relationship has remained long-distance, with Sue continuing her life at Kavik River Camp while Michael resides in the Lower 48.

In a series of affectionate social media posts between 2019 and 2021, both Sue and Michael expressed admiration and love for one another. Sue referred to him by the nickname “Rooster,” and Michael once wrote, “I finally met the most amazing woman… I love you, sweet pea.” Sue also posted photos of the two together, including updates about Michael’s yellow belt achievement in Haganah martial arts.

Their last publicly shared update as a couple was in 2021. Though they are not yet married, their bond was strong and publicly celebrated during those years. Whether or not they remain together currently has not been publicly confirmed.

Children and Family Life

Sue Aikens is the mother of two adult children. Her daughter Jennifer Payne was born in November 1984, shares a striking resemblance to Sue and is often referred to by her as “Mini Me.” Her son, the younger of the two, Jesse Aikens—born in December 1987—got married in September 2016. Sue attended his wedding and celebrated the occasion publicly on social media.

“I slipped the collar last week to see my Son wed his girl. Congrats to them both, yay!! You can’t take the Idgie out of this tomato :)” — Sue Aikens via Twitter, October 2016

Both of Sue’s children now live in the Lower 48 states, and she maintains contact with them through satellite communication due to her remote location.

Grandchildren and Extended Family

Sue Aikens is also a proud grandmother. Her granddaughter Drew Alexandra Maddison McClurg, born in February 2003, celebrated her 22nd birthday in 2024. Drew is the daughter of Sue’s daughter Jennifer Payne and her ex-husband, Rick McClurg. Drew has remained very close to Sue, who often refers to her lovingly as “Mini Me.”

Earlier in 2025, Drew welcomed a daughter named Alison, making Sue Aikens a great-grandmother for the first time. By June, she marked Alison’s 3-month milestone with photos and posts reflecting her excitement and pride in becoming a first-time mother.

Drew currently lives in Union, Washington, with her partner Harley Jenkins. Sue has not publicly posted about visiting her great-granddaughter, but she continues to express love and support through social media. In previous posts, Sue has also proudly celebrated Drew’s milestones, such as prom events and birthdays, highlighting their close relationship.

Another of Sue’s grandchildren is Amelia Jean Aikens, the daughter of Jesse Aikens. Amelia was born on January 23, 2020, at 11:39 PM, weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and measuring 20 inches in length. Jesse has shared heartwarming posts featuring Amelia, including one where they danced together in the kitchen, showcasing the close bond between father and daughter.

Sue also paid tribute to her late granddaughter Pen in 2022. In a deeply emotional message, she described Pen as an energetic, full-of-life young woman with whom she had nearly two decades of grandmotherly connection. Sue expressed her grief and love through heartfelt words, remembering Pen for her smile, determination, and individuality. She wrote:

“May she be remembered for her smile. May she be remembered for her determination. May she be remembered for her tears. … may she be remembered because of Herself. Just. Sweet. Pen.”

Another grandson, Nathan Payne, was featured in an episode of Life Below Zero where he visited Sue in Alaska from the Lower 48. During the visit, Sue tried to teach Nathan how to hunt caribou and survive the harsh Arctic conditions. Nathan expressed admiration for his grandmother’s lifestyle and acknowledged the importance of learning traditional skills. Sue, in turn, emphasized her desire to pass on survival knowledge to her grandchildren, especially to prepare them for life beyond her own.

Though Sue lives in remote Alaska, she maintains strong emotional connections with her extended family, frequently keeping in touch and exchanging gifts. Her grandchildren have visited her at Kavik River Camp, and she continues to cherish her role as both a grandmother and great-grandmother.

Wiki/Bio Facts:

Fact	Value
Name	Sue Aikens
Date of birth	July 1, 1963
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois USA
Nationality	American
Age	62 years old (As of 2025)
Height	5 feet 5 inches (approx)
Net worth	$2 Million
Profession	Reality Television Actor
Current residence	Kavik River Camp, Alaska
TV show	Life Below Zero
Marital status	Engaged
First husband’s cause of death	Brain tumor
Second husband’s name and cause of death	Eddie James Aikens, unknown cause in 2009
Children’s residence (as of 2025)	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	Previous owner 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 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.”