Emily Vakos is an American real estate professional born on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. She studied Nutrition and Food Management at Arizona State University and gained early experience in nutrition. She later moved into real estate and built her career in Chicago.
Emily is best known as the wife of MLB player Anthony Rizzo. They first met during spring training in Arizona in 2016, became engaged in 2017, and married in South Florida on December 29, 2018. Their relationship has attracted interest from baseball fans over the years.
Beyond her marriage, Emily has developed her own career and interests. She has worked in nutrition and real estate, completed the New York City Marathon, and supported charity work for families affected by pediatric cancer. This biography covers her early life, education, career, marriage, fitness, family, and pregnancy announcement.
Quick Bio
| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emily Vakos |
| Known For | Wife of Anthony Rizzo |
| Date of Birth | January 9, 1994 |
| Age in 2025 | 31 years old |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christian |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (160 cm) |
| Weight | Around 114 lbs (51 kg) |
| Eye Color | Grey |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Father | Mark Vakos |
| Mother | Stephanie Sudwischer |
| Brother | Michael Vakos |
| Education | Arizona State University |
| Degree | Nutrition and Food Management |
| Profession | Real Estate Broker |
| Real Estate Company | @Properties, Chicago |
| Previous Work | Nutrition and Health-Related Roles |
| Husband | Anthony Rizzo |
| Marriage Year | 2018 |
| Children | First baby announced in 2025 |
| Pet | Kevin, a dachshund |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
Emily Vakos’ Early Life and Family
Emily was born on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. Her parents are Mark Vakos and Stephanie Sudwischer. She also grew up with an older brother named Michael Vakos.
Her early years were spent in Texas, where she attended Highland Park High School. Her later education took her to Arizona, opening the way for her studies in nutrition and her eventual meeting with Anthony Rizzo.
Family remains an important part of Emily’s story. Although her marriage brought greater public attention, she has generally kept many parts of her personal and family life away from constant publicity.
Her Education and Nutrition Studies
Emily attended Arizona State University after completing high school. She studied Nutrition and Food Management, a field closely connected with her interest in food, wellness, and healthier lifestyles.
She graduated in 2016. During her studies, she also completed additional coursework through the College of Health Solutions, helping her develop a broader understanding of nutrition and health.
Her education influenced the beginning of her professional journey. Before moving toward real estate, Emily gained practical experience through internships and health-related positions that allowed her to use what she had learned at university.
Emily Vakos’ Early Career
Emily gained experience in nutrition while she was still building her professional life. Her early work included an internship with Herbalife and involvement with St. Mary’s Food Bank.
She also gained experience connected with school nutrition programs in Arizona. These positions matched her university studies and allowed her to explore how food and nutrition can affect everyday health.
Emily later moved away from nutrition as her main profession. However, this early period remains an important part of her career because it shows that she had established her own professional interests before becoming widely known through Anthony Rizzo.
Her Food and Wellness Interests
Emily’s interest in nutrition extended beyond university classes and internships. During college, she created a food-focused blog called Food-1-1, where she shared material related to recipes and nutrition.
The project reflected her interest in making healthier eating easier to understand. Although the blog is no longer regularly updated, it represents an early example of Emily developing something around her own interests.
Health and fitness have continued to appear in other parts of her life. Her later marathon participation, for example, showed that an active lifestyle remained important even after her professional direction shifted toward real estate.
How Emily Vakos Met Anthony Rizzo
Emily and Anthony Rizzo first crossed paths in 2016 during Chicago Cubs spring training in Arizona. Emily was completing a nutrition internship connected with the team while Anthony was already an established Cubs player.
Anthony became interested in her and asked for her phone number. Emily initially gave him a fake number because she did not want to date a player while she was working around the organization.
Their story did not end there. After her internship finished, they eventually reconnected. Anthony continued showing interest, and the two began dating, starting a relationship that would later lead to marriage.
Anthony Rizzo’s Surprise Proposal
Anthony proposed to Emily in 2017 during a cruise on Lake Michigan. He carefully planned the occasion so Emily would not realize that an engagement was about to happen.
Emily believed she was preparing for a photo shoot. She dressed for the occasion and had her makeup done without knowing Anthony had a much bigger surprise planned for her.
When Anthony presented the engagement ring, Emily was initially so surprised that she thought he might be joking. Fireworks were also arranged for the occasion, turning the proposal into a memorable moment for the couple.
Emily Vakos and Anthony Rizzo’s Marriage
Emily Vakos and Anthony Rizzo married on December 29, 2018, in South Florida. Their wedding brought together close family, friends, and several people from Anthony’s baseball circle, including David Ross, Kris Bryant, and Dexter Fowler.
The celebration included several personal touches. Dexter Fowler’s daughter served as the flower girl, while country singer Brett Eldredge performed live during Emily and Anthony’s first dance.
The wedding menu also reflected their backgrounds and included Anthony’s favorite cannolis from New Jersey. The special celebration marked a new chapter for the couple after meeting in 2016 and becoming engaged in 2017.
Emily Vakos’ Real Estate Career
Emily eventually entered the real estate industry after beginning her career around nutrition and wellness. She worked as a real estate broker with @Properties in Chicago.
Moving into property represented a significant professional change. Instead of focusing mainly on nutrition, she began helping clients navigate homes and real estate decisions.
Her career is an important part of her individual identity. While much public interest in Emily comes from her marriage, her professional history shows a path that has included education, nutrition, health-related work, and property.
Her New York City Marathon Achievement
Emily completed the New York City Marathon in November 2023. Taking part in one of the world’s best-known marathons required months of physical preparation and personal commitment.
She completed the race in 3 hours, 47 minutes, and 54 seconds. She also received running advice from Samantha Bracksieck, the wife of baseball star Aaron Judge, while preparing for the event.
Anthony was waiting and supporting her at the finish. The achievement highlighted Emily’s interest in fitness, but the marathon also had a charitable purpose that connected closely with an important cause in the Rizzo family.
Her Support for the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation
Emily’s marathon run helped raise money for the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. The organization supports families affected by pediatric cancer, making the race more than a personal fitness challenge.
The cause carries special meaning because Anthony Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was younger. His own cancer experience later became an important reason behind his charitable work.
Emily’s participation demonstrates her involvement in causes connected with her family. By combining endurance running with fundraising, she used a major personal achievement to support children and families experiencing difficult circumstances.
Life as Anthony Rizzo’s Wife
Marriage to a famous professional athlete naturally brings Emily attention that most people do not experience. Even normal activities can become public when baseball fans recognize Anthony.
Emily has described situations where fans approached Anthony during ordinary outings. Even something as simple as grocery shopping could turn into an unexpected opportunity for people to stop and take pictures with him.
Private dates can also attract attention. Emily nevertheless appears comfortable balancing these experiences with her preference for a quieter personal life, supporting Anthony while maintaining her own work and interests.
Kevin’s Special Place in Emily Vakos’ Family
Emily Vakos and Anthony Rizzo share a dachshund named Kevin, who has become an important part of their family. He often appears in the couple’s photos and has gained attention from baseball fans.
Kevin had a special role in their January 2025 pregnancy announcement. He wore a “Big Brother” bandana while sitting near ultrasound pictures and a small “Baby Rizzo” onesie.
The sweet family photo helped Emily and Anthony announce that they were expecting their first child. Kevin’s appearance made the moment more personal and memorable.
Emily and Anthony Rizzo’s Baby Announcement
In January 2025, Emily and Anthony announced that they were expecting their first child. The pregnancy news represented an important new chapter after several years of marriage.
They shared their happiness through a family-themed announcement featuring Kevin, ultrasound pictures, and baby clothing. The news quickly attracted attention from people who had followed their relationship through Anthony’s baseball career.
At that point, details such as the baby’s gender and exact due date were not included in the supplied information. The announcement instead focused on the couple’s excitement about becoming parents for the first time.
Where Does Emily Vakos Live?
Emily has established her adult life in Chicago, Illinois, where she has also developed her real estate career. Baseball has required the couple to travel and adjust their routines depending on Anthony’s professional schedule. Chicago, however, has remained an important part of Emily’s personal and professional story.
Anthony’s baseball situation changed after the New York Yankees chose not to renew his contract in late 2024. His next baseball destination could naturally affect some parts of their lifestyle. Meanwhile, Emily continued focusing on real estate and preparing for the couple’s growing family.
Why Emily Vakos Is More Than a Baseball Wife
Emily gained widespread recognition because of Anthony Rizzo, but her own experiences form an important part of her biography. She earned a university degree, gained nutrition experience, entered real estate, and completed the New York City Marathon. She has also participated in fundraising connected with families affected by pediatric cancer.
Her life combines career development, marriage, fitness, and family responsibilities. Rather than building her identity entirely around professional baseball, Emily has continued pursuing interests outside the sport. That balance is one reason people searching for Anthony Rizzo’s family often become interested in learning more about her.
Final Thoughts
Emily Vakos has built a life that combines family, career, wellness, fitness, and charity. She began with an academic interest in nutrition before gaining professional experience and later moving into Chicago real estate.
Her relationship with Anthony Rizzo began during spring training in 2016. They became engaged in 2017 and married in South Florida on December 29, 2018. Their relationship has since remained closely connected with Anthony’s baseball journey.
At the same time, Emily has created achievements of her own, including completing the 2023 New York City Marathon. From her professional career to the couple’s 2025 pregnancy announcement, her story extends well beyond her familiar title as Anthony Rizzo’s wife.
(FAQs)
Who is Emily Vakos?
Emily Vakos is an American real estate broker with a background in nutrition and food management. She is best known as the wife of MLB player Anthony Rizzo, whom she met during spring training in Arizona in 2016.
How old is Emily Vakos?
Emily Vakos was born on January 9, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. She was 31 years old in 2025. She later attended Arizona State University, where she studied Nutrition and Food Management before beginning her professional career.
How did Emily Vakos meet Anthony Rizzo?
Emily Vakos met Anthony Rizzo in 2016 while completing a nutrition internship during Chicago Cubs spring training in Arizona. Anthony asked for her phone number, and after Emily’s internship ended, they reconnected and eventually started dating.
When did Emily Vakos and Anthony Rizzo get married?
Emily Vakos and Anthony Rizzo married on December 29, 2018, in South Florida. Their wedding included close friends and several people connected with baseball, while country singer Brett Eldredge performed live during the couple’s first dance.
What does Emily Vakos do for a living?
Emily Vakos studied Nutrition and Food Management and gained early experience in nutrition-related roles. She later moved into real estate and worked as a broker with @Properties in Chicago while maintaining her interest in health, fitness, and charity.
