Emily Ishbia is best known as Mat Ishbia’s ex-wife. But she has her own story too. She worked as a model. She also became a writer and started her own business.
Mat Ishbia is a rich business owner. He also owns the Phoenix Suns. His fame made more people want to know about Emily.
This article looks at Emily Ishbia’s early life, school, work, book, marriage, and family. We will also learn more about her life away from Mat.
Who Is Emily Ishbia?
Emily Ishbia is an American model and writer. She is also a blogger and fashion worker. Many people know her as Mat Ishbia’s ex-wife. Still, Emily had her own work and goals long before Mat became famous.
Her maiden name is Emily Clarke. She has spent many years working in fashion and writing.
Emily is also a mother of three. Family has been a big part of her life.
Emily Ishbia’s Early Life
Emily Ishbia was born in 1980. She grew up in Naperville, Illinois. Her exact birthday is not known to the public. This means her true birth day and month should not be shared as a confirmed fact.
Emily spent much of her young life in Illinois. She kept many family details private.
Her mother later died from cancer. This loss was very hard for Emily and later shaped her writing.
Emily Ishbia profile summary and bio
| Full Name | Emily Clarke Ishbia |
| Known As | Emily Ishbia |
| Birth Year | 1980 |
| Age | About 46 (2026) |
| Birthplace | Naperville, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Height | About 5’5″–5’6″ |
| Hair | Blonde |
| Eyes | Blue |
| Education | Michigan State University |
| Profession | Model, blogger, writer |
| Business | Emily Ishbia Modeling LLC |
| Book | Overcoming Obstacles |
| Ex-Husband | Mat Ishbia |
| Married | 2014 |
| Children | Ben, Joey, Jamie |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Net Worth | Est. $1–$5 million |
| Known For | Mat Ishbia’s ex-wife |
Emily Ishbia’s School and Soccer Years
Emily went to Naperville North High School. She loved sports and played soccer when she was young. Reports say she later went to Michigan State University with help from a soccer scholarship for one year while she studied there.
Sports stayed important in Emily’s life. She later became very interested in health and fitness.
Michigan State was also important because Mat Ishbia studied there. Reports say the two first met during their college years.
Emily Ishbia’s Modeling Career
Emily started working as a model around 2008. She spent many years doing fashion and ad work. Reports say she worked as a freelance model until 2017. This gave her years of skill in the fashion world.
Some reports link Emily with ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She was also linked with Ink Detroit and Sundance Shoes.
She also worked with fashion brands. These reports include Pogo Boutique and Pupa Milano Cosmetics.
Emily Ishbia Modeling LLC
Emily took a new step in 2017. She started Emily Ishbia Modeling LLC. The business let her use the skills she had learned as a model. It also gave her more control over her own fashion work.
The company was a big part of Emily’s career. It carried her own name.
This also showed that Emily had goals outside her marriage. She wanted to build something of her own.
Emily Ishbia’s Blog and Book
Emily also became a blogger and writer. She wrote about things from real life. Her topics included family, food, fitness, children, and fertility. Her writing gave people a closer look at some of the struggles she faced.
Emily later wrote a book called Overcoming Obstacles. The book came out in 2018.
The book talks about loss and hard times. Her mother’s death from cancer was one reason Emily wanted to share her story.
How Emily Ishbia Met Mat Ishbia
Emily and Mat Ishbia both went to Michigan State University. Reports say they met during their college years. They kept most parts of their early love story private, so there are not many clear details about their first dates.
Mat played basketball at Michigan State. He was part of the team that won a national title in 2000.
Emily followed her own path in fashion. Over time, their bond grew stronger and later led to marriage.
Emily Ishbia and Mat Ishbia’s Marriage
Emily and Mat Ishbia got married in 2014. Their life changed a lot as Mat’s business grew. He became the head of United Wholesale Mortgage and later became a major name in the world of pro basketball.
Emily kept working on her own interests. She also spent a lot of time raising their children.
Mat later bought the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. This made the Ishbia name much more famous. Emily and Mat later divorced.
Emily Ishbia’s Three Children
Emily Ishbia and Mat Ishbia have three children. Their names are reported as Ben, Joey, and Jamie. Emily has often put family first, even while working on her own career.
She also shared parts of her journey as a mother. Reports say she had trouble getting pregnant. Her first two children were born with help from IVF. This was a very personal part of her life.
Emily also wrote about parenting and family life. These topics helped readers see a softer and more real side of her.
Why Did Emily and Mat Ishbia Divorce?
Emily and Mat Ishbia are now divorced. They were married for several years, but their relationship later ended. The exact reason for the split has not been made clear in public.
Some older articles still call Emily Mat Ishbia’s wife. That can cause confusion. In 2026, it is better to call her his ex-wife.
The two still share three children. Because of that, they remain linked as parents. Both have kept most details about the divorce private.
Emily Ishbia’s Fitness and Personal Life
Emily Ishbia has always had an active side. She played soccer when she was young. Later, she stayed interested in fitness and health.
Reports also say Emily enjoys jiu-jitsu. This matches her love for sports and staying active. Fitness has remained one of the main parts of her life.
Some reports linked Emily to jiu-jitsu athlete Alex Hodi after she shared a kind birthday post about him. Still, the exact nature of that relationship was never clearly confirmed.
(FAQs)
How old is Emily Ishbia and when is her birthday?
Emily Ishbia was reportedly born in 1980. That means she is about 45 or 46 years old in 2026. Her exact birthday is not clearly confirmed.
What is Emily Ishbia’s ethnicity?
Emily Ishbia is widely described as White in biography reports. However, she has not shared many public details about her family background.
What is Emily Ishbia’s net worth?
Emily Ishbia’s exact net worth is not confirmed. Some websites estimate it at around $1 million to $5 million, but these figures are only estimates.
What is Emily Ishbia’s nationality?
Emily Ishbia is American. She was born in Naperville, Illinois, and later studied at Michigan State University.
Is Emily Ishbia still married to Mat Ishbia?
No. Emily Ishbia and Mat Ishbia are divorced. They married in 2014 and share three children, but they later went their separate ways.
Final Thoughts
Emily Ishbia is more than Mat Ishbia’s ex-wife. She built her own work in modeling, writing, fashion, and business. She is also a mother of three.
Her life includes happy moments and hard ones. She has faced loss, family struggles, and major life changes. She used some of those moments in her writing.
Today, Emily Ishbia keeps a lower profile. Still, her story remains interesting because it shows her own work, her family life, and the path she built for herself.
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