Suzanne Rawlings is best known as the two-time ex-wife of Discovery Channel’s “Fast N’ Loud” and “Garage Rehab” host and owner of “Gas Monkey Garage,” Richard Rawlings, but Suzanne was a successful businesswoman before she met her millionaire ex-husband. The couple first married in 1999, divorced in 2009, remarried in 2015, but announced their second separation in March 2019. They don’t have any children together, but Suzanne has a son from a previous marriage. Rawlings was Suzanne’s third and fourth marriage.
Birth, Parents, Siblings
Suzanne was born in 1964 – her exact date of birth is not available to the public, but she is now 55 years old. She was born Suzanne Marie Mergele in Las Vegas, Nevada, to parents Jack Mergele and Betty Koehl-Mergele, but grew-up in Texas and lived most of her life there until she went to high school, when her family moved to Illinois. It is unclear if she has any siblings.
Education, Career, Hobbies, and Interests
Suzanne attended Crystal Lake South High School, then got her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. She enjoys riding motorcycles and loves cars. She is also very health conscious and works out regularly.
Career
After college, Suzanne went to work for the Department of Defense as a contractor for four years, then worked for a consulting firm in Schaumburg, Illinois for a couple of years, before moving back to Texas.
She started a home health agency in Dallas, Texas, in 2004, when she was already married to Richard Rawlings. The move might have been a mutual decision by the couple to support her (now ex-) husband’s business ventures. After four years, Suzanne closed her home health agency and opened her own computer consulting firm. She was also helping her former husband run Gas Monkey Holdings.
Marriage and Divorce with Famous Ex
Suzanne first married her now former husband, Richard, in 1999 in a lavish ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada – their wedding received a lot of media attention.
They stayed married for ten years until their first divorce in 2009, during which time Suzanne helped her husband manage and grow his business into a multi-million dollar empire. They started with a tiny garage until it became very popular, and Richard was signed-up for a reality TV show. The series highlighted the Garage’s work and followed Richard in his day-to-day dealings.
They expanded their business by opening a restaurant called Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill, which Suzanne managed and was crucial to its success.
Under Suzanne’s supervision, the restaurant expanded and opened several more in various top locations. The couple also opened a couple of music venues called Gas Monkey Life, and released Gas Monkey Energy. Working alongside Richard, Suzanne is vital in the success of the Gas Monkey empire. The couple divorced in 2009, apparently due to misunderstandings and other undisclosed reasons. They led separate lives for almost six years, then rekindled their romance in 2015, and remarried later in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The Rawlings surprised everyone when TMZ reported in March 2019 that they had separated again, which seemed final this time. Richard later confirmed the separation, but assured the public that it was a mutual decision, and the divorce was amicable. They two remain friends and will continue to support each other. While Suzanne is mum about her current dating life, Richard has moved on, and is in a relationship with Katerina Deason.
Other Relationships, Divorces, and Children
Suzanne has now been married four times – there is no information about her first husband, but her second marriage was to Carlos Venegas. They have a son together – Sinjin Venegas, who is now an adult and lives independently from his parents, but apparently maintains a loving relationship with both.
Net Worth, Salary
Suzanne has effectively been self-employed for the past twenty years, and as of early 2020 has amassed quite a fortune. She is estimated to have a net worth of $1 million, which includes a $300,000 divorce settlement from Richard.
Physical Characteristics
Suzanne has blonde hair, dark brown eyes, and a fair complexion. She has a fit body, but her height and weight are unknown.