Anne Steves has never given an interview, yet one site knows her exact birthdate, maiden name, and even her bra size. That’s the giveaway. Rick Steves’ ex-wife of roughly 26 years has stayed genuinely private since their 2010 divorce, which means most of what reads as confident detail about her is either recycled guesswork or, in a few cases, invented outright. This piece sticks to what’s actually corroborated — the marriage timeline, the two kids, her nursing career — and calls out the specific fabrications sitting alongside it.
Most people search her name after watching one of Rick Steves’ PBS travel shows or reading about his relationship history. A few of the better write-ups on her are refreshingly upfront that her early life isn’t publicly confirmed — which makes it all the stranger that other sites hand you an exact birthdate anyway.
In short: Anne Steves was married to travel writer Rick Steves for around 26 years, from the early-to-mid 1980s until their divorce was finalized on March 5, 2010. She worked as a nurse, the couple has two adult children, Andy and Jackie, and she’s kept her life almost entirely private since the split. Her exact birthdate, maiden name, and physical description, all published confidently on at least one site, aren’t backed up anywhere else.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Anne Steves; a maiden name of “Anne Marie Jenkins” appears on some sites but isn’t independently confirmed |
| Birth Date | Not publicly confirmed; one site’s specific “April 4, 1960” claim isn’t corroborated elsewhere |
| Birthplace | Reported roots in Snohomish, Washington, though not officially confirmed by Anne or Rick Steves |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Nurse; some sources add “social activist,” consistent with Rick Steves’ own political advocacy |
| Known For | Former wife of travel writer and PBS host Rick Steves |
| Marriage | To Rick Steves, most likely 1983 or 1984, until their divorce was finalized March 5, 2010 — a span of roughly 26 years |
| Children | Two: son Andy Steves and daughter Jackie Steves, both adults |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Social Media | No verified public accounts found |
Anne Steves Biography
Anne Steves built a career in nursing well before her name became tied to a famous travel writer. She and Rick Steves reportedly met in the early 1980s — one account places it at a restaurant in Barstow, California, in 1982 — and married a year or two later. For the better part of three decades, she stayed close to Rick’s work without becoming a public figure in her own right, and she’s kept that same low profile since their divorce, giving no interviews and maintaining no known public social media presence.
So, 25 Years? 26? Nearly 30? Let’s Sort This Out
Depending which site you land on, Anne and Rick Steves were married for 25 years, 26 years, “over two decades,” or “nearly 30 years.” Their divorce date is one of the few things everyone agrees on: finalized March 5, 2010. Work backward from that using the most commonly cited marriage year — 1983 or 1984 — and you land on roughly 26 to 27 years, which lines up with the most repeated figure. The “25 years” and “nearly 30 years” claims don’t match the dates those same articles cite elsewhere, which suggests nobody did the actual subtraction before publishing.
Heads up: One profile states Anne Steves was born “Anne Jenkins” on April 4, 1960, in Snohomish, Washington, and even lists her height, weight, and body measurements. No other source corroborates any of it, and at least two more careful write-ups explicitly say her birth details have never been officially confirmed by her or Rick. A private person with no known public appearances doesn’t have a documented bra size. That level of precision, with nothing backing it up, is a strong sign it was invented rather than researched.
Marriage, Family, and the Divorce
Anne and Rick Steves raised two children together: son Andy, who followed his father into the travel business and founded Weekend Student Adventures Europe, and daughter Jackie, who’s kept a lower profile but has reportedly helped with the family’s travel writing. The family lived in the Seattle area, in Edmonds, close to where Rick Steves’ Europe is still headquartered.
The divorce petition was filed in 2009 in Snohomish County, and the divorce was finalized on March 5, 2010. Neither Anne nor Rick has publicly explained what led to the split. Some sites speculate about the timing of Rick’s later public relationships, first with travel companion Trish Feaster and, from 2019, with Lutheran bishop Shelley Bryan Wee — but that’s speculation about Rick’s dating life, not a confirmed account of why the marriage ended, and it’s worth treating it that way.
Life Since the Divorce
By every account, Anne Steves chose privacy after the divorce and has stuck with it. She hasn’t remarried publicly, hasn’t given interviews, and doesn’t appear to maintain a public social media presence — a genuinely consistent detail across otherwise contradictory sources, which makes it one of the more trustworthy claims about her.
Net Worth
No independently sourced net worth exists for Anne Steves. Given her career as a nurse and the length of a marriage that likely included a division of shared assets in 2010, a personal financial history plausibly exists, but nothing publicly documented ties a specific figure to her name.
Interesting Facts About Anne Steves
- Reported marriage lengths for her and Rick Steves range from 25 to nearly 30 years across different sites, even though the divorce date is consistently agreed upon.
- A “birth name” of Anne Jenkins, or Anne Marie Jenkins depending on the source, isn’t corroborated by any primary record.
- One profile publishes exact height, weight, and body measurements for a woman who has never given an interview or public appearance — a strong sign the numbers were invented.
- She’s kept a public social media silence for over 15 years since the divorce, one of the few claims about her that’s consistent everywhere.
Conclusion
What holds up about Anne Steves is straightforward: a roughly 26-year marriage to Rick Steves, two kids, a nursing career, and a firm, consistent choice to stay out of public life since 2010. Everything more specific than that — an exact birthdate, a maiden name, body measurements — should be read with real skepticism, since it isn’t backed up anywhere a fact-checker could actually look. For more sourced profiles that separate documented fact from recycled claims, see our celebrity coverage and our life & family features.
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FAQs About Anne Steves
1. Who is Anne Steves?
She’s the former wife of travel writer and PBS host Rick Steves, married for roughly 26 years before their 2010 divorce. She’s worked as a nurse and has kept her life private since.
2. How long were Anne and Rick Steves married?
Roughly 26 years, from the early-to-mid 1980s until their divorce was finalized March 5, 2010. Other cited figures, from 25 to nearly 30 years, don’t match the dates those same sources give.
3. What is Anne Steves’ real name?
Some sites list “Anne Jenkins” or “Anne Marie Jenkins” as her maiden name, but this isn’t confirmed by any primary source, and other profiles say her birth details have never been officially disclosed.
4. When was Anne Steves born?
Not publicly confirmed. A specific “April 4, 1960” date on one site isn’t backed up anywhere else and should be treated as unverified.
5. Does Anne Steves have children?
Yes, two: son Andy Steves, who runs his own travel company, and daughter Jackie Steves, who keeps a lower public profile.
6. What does Anne Steves do for a living?
She’s worked as a nurse. Some sources add “social activist,” consistent with Rick Steves’ own public political advocacy.
7. Is Anne Steves on social media?
No verified public accounts have been found for her, consistent with her general privacy since the 2010 divorce.