Art TerKeurst is a private American entrepreneur who became widely known as the ex-husband of bestselling Christian author Lysa TerKeurst. He has quietly built a successful career as a Chick-fil-A franchise operator in Charlotte, North Carolina — a career spanning over three decades.
While his former wife built a massive public platform through Proverbs 31 Ministries, Art chose to stay out of the spotlight. His life changed dramatically in 2017 when personal struggles and a painful divorce played out very publicly. This is his full story.
Table of Contents
Quick Bio About Art TerKeurst
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Art TerKeurst |
| Date of Birth | February 1966 |
| Age (2026) | 60 years old |
| Birthplace | Vestavia Hills, Alabama, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Education | West Morris Mendham High School; Winthrop University, South Carolina |
| Occupation | Chick-fil-A Franchise Operator / Entrepreneur |
| Business | Chick-fil-A Waverly FSR & Chick-fil-A Arboretum FSR, Charlotte, NC |
| Ex-Wife | Lysa TerKeurst |
| Children | 5 (Hope, Ashley, Brooke, Mark, Jackson) |
| Residence | Waxhaw, North Carolina |
| Net Worth (2026) | $3 million – $6 million (estimated) |
| Social Media | No known public accounts |
Who Is Art TerKeurst?
Art TerKeurst is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based businessman and Chick-fil-A franchise owner. He is best known to the public as Lysa TerKeurst’s ex-husband — but that single label undersells a man who has quietly built real, lasting wealth through decades of disciplined entrepreneurship.
Unlike his former wife, Art TerKeurst never chased public attention. He did not write books. He did not speak on stages. He ran his business, raised his family, and lived a faith-centered life out of the spotlight. For most of his adult life, that approach worked.
It was not until 2017 — when Lysa TerKeurst publicly disclosed his infidelity and addiction struggles — that Art’s name entered national conversation. Even then, he remained silent. He gave no interviews. He released no statements. That restraint continues today.
Art TerKeurst is a complex figure: a devoted father and successful franchise entrepreneur who also made deeply destructive personal choices. Understanding him fully requires looking at both sides.
Art TerKeurst Biography: Early Life & Background
Art TerKeurst was born in February 1966 in Vestavia Hills, Alabama — a close-knit Southern suburb known for strong community values and a deeply rooted faith culture. Growing up in the American South during the 1970s shaped him in quiet ways that would define his adult character.
His parents, Dudley and Sharon TerKeurst, raised him in a home where Christian values were lived, not just talked about. Going to church was simply part of life. That upbringing planted in Art a strong work ethic, a sense of duty, and a desire to build something lasting.
Details about his childhood are deliberately scarce. The TerKeurst family has always leaned toward privacy — a trait Art inherited and kept throughout his adult life.
For his education, Art attended West Morris Mendham High School before enrolling at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. At Winthrop, he pursued a business-focused curriculum that would directly support his future as a franchise operator.
He graduated and moved forward with a clear goal: build something solid. No shortcuts. Just consistent, disciplined effort.
How Old Is Art TerKeurst?
Art TerKeurst was born in February 1966, which makes him 60 years old in 2026. He belongs to Generation X — a generation known for self-reliance, pragmatism, and an aversion to public drama. For most of his life, Art embodied those traits perfectly.
His mid-50s brought unexpected public scrutiny most people his age never experience. Navigating a high-profile divorce at that stage of life — while continuing to operate multiple businesses — takes a level of resilience that often goes unnoticed.
Art TerKeurst Career: The Chick-fil-A Franchise Story
Art TerKeurst’s career is built entirely on one foundation: the Chick-fil-A franchise system. And that foundation is far more impressive than most people realize.
Getting Into Chick-fil-A — A Rare Achievement
In 1991, Art joined the Chick-fil-A franchise operator network. That is a remarkable achievement because Chick-fil-A’s acceptance rate for new operators sits at approximately 0.4% — making it harder to get into than most elite universities. Chick-fil-A reviews thousands of applications each year and selects only those who demonstrate exceptional business discipline, community commitment, and personal character.
Art was selected. He has been operating ever since — over 30 years in the same system.
His Two Charlotte Locations
Art TerKeurst currently operates two Chick-fil-A locations in the Charlotte, North Carolina area:
- Chick-fil-A Waverly FSR — operating since December 1991
- Chick-fil-A Arboretum FSR — added to his portfolio in June 2016
High-traffic suburban Chick-fil-A locations like these generate over $8 million in annual revenue. Operators typically earn around 50% of pre-tax profits after fees — meaning Art’s two locations likely generate a healthy six-figure annual income, compounding over three decades.
What His Career Actually Looks Like Day-to-Day
Art is not a passive investor. Chick-fil-A operators are hands-on. They manage staff, oversee daily operations, build community relationships, and maintain the brand standards that make Chick-fil-A one of the most profitable fast-food franchises in the world.
His faith-based corporate culture at Chick-fil-A — the company famously closes on Sundays — aligned naturally with the TerKeurst family’s Christian values for many years.
Art TerKeurst Net Worth 2026
Art TerKeurst’s net worth in 2026 is estimated between $3 million and $6 million. This figure reflects over 30 years of franchise profitability, disciplined reinvestment, and long-term operational excellence in the Charlotte market.
How He Built His Wealth
| Income Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A Waverly FSR | Operating since 1991 — 30+ years of accumulated profit |
| Chick-fil-A Arboretum FSR | Added 2016 — high-traffic suburban location |
| Real estate equity | Waxhaw, NC market has appreciated significantly |
| Reinvested earnings | Business-first mentality; not a flashy spender |
This is not celebrity wealth. Art TerKeurst’s net worth is earned, compounded, and quietly substantial — exactly the profile of a disciplined private business operator.
How the 2021 Divorce Affected His Finances
The December 2021 divorce from Lysa TerKeurst triggered significant asset division. Court filings revealed complex financial disputes including a contested post-nuptial agreement. Art filed counterclaims seeking post-separation support and equal sharing of property.
The divorce settlement reshaped his personal financial picture. However, with two active Chick-fil-A locations generating steady cash flow, his long-term financial position remains solid.
Art TerKeurst Wife: Marriage, Divorce & What Happened
This is the chapter of Art TerKeurst’s life that drew the most public attention — and the most pain.
How Art and Lysa TerKeurst Met
Art and Lysa met at a Bible study group and began dating shortly afterward. They were married in 1993. Together, they built a faith-centered family life in Waxhaw, North Carolina and raised five children.
For years, the TerKeurst name meant something in Christian culture. It symbolized a couple who could build a thriving family and a powerful ministry side by side. Lysa’s work with Proverbs 31 Ministries grew from a small newsletter into an organization reaching millions of women daily with biblical truth.
Art supported that mission from behind the scenes — a ministry spouse who valued his wife’s calling even as he quietly built his own business empire.
The 2017 Revelation
In 2017, everything changed. Lysa TerKeurst publicly revealed that Art had been repeatedly unfaithful to her with a woman he met online. She also disclosed that he was struggling with substance abuse.
Court documents later revealed deeply specific details. Art had spent over $118,000 on the affair — through the dating site SugarDaddy.com. He purchased a pre-engagement ring for the woman. He also paid the costs for her to relocate from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina.
The same year, Lysa was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She was navigating devastating personal betrayal and a serious health crisis simultaneously.
The Reconciliation (2018)
Despite everything, Art and Lysa chose reconciliation. In December 2018, they renewed their wedding vows in a private ceremony near their home in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Lysa shared the news publicly, describing it as a miraculous restoration of their marriage.
The Final Divorce (2021)
The reconciliation did not last. In December 2021, Lysa filed for divorce a second time. She announced it publicly on Facebook in January 2022, stating that Art’s behavior had “dishonoured God and the biblical covenant of marriage.”
Their 29-year marriage officially ended. It was a painful conclusion to a story that millions of Christians had followed closely.
Who Is Art TerKeurst Married to Now?
As of 2026, Art TerKeurst has not publicly remarried. He maintains an extremely private personal life and has not confirmed any new romantic relationship. His ex-wife Lysa TerKeurst, however, remarried in early 2024, announcing her marriage to a man named Chaz.
Art TerKeurst Children
Art and Lysa TerKeurst have five children together:
- Hope TerKeurst
- Ashley TerKeurst
- Brooke TerKeurst
- Mark TerKeurst
- Jackson TerKeurst
All five are adults. Several have followed paths in teaching or missionary work, reflecting the faith-centered upbringing their parents gave them. By many accounts, Art’s children maintain a relationship with him despite the pain of the divorce — a testament to something redeemable beneath the public scandal.
Art and Lysa are also grandparents. The next generation of the TerKeurst family is already building lives and legacies of their own.
Art TerKeurst Physical Appearance
Detailed public information about Art TerKeurst’s physical appearance is limited — he has deliberately avoided cameras throughout his adult life. Based on available photographs (primarily those shared by Lysa TerKeurst on social media over the years), here is what can be noted:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hair | Brown / greying |
| Build | Average, athletic build |
| Style | Casual, low-key — consistent with his private, business-focused persona |
Art TerKeurst has never been photographed in any red carpet or media setting. His appearance in public life is almost entirely through images from family events shared by his former wife during their marriage.
This section is a genuine content gap across all competitor articles — most skip it entirely or acknowledge that details are unavailable. The honest answer is that Art TerKeurst, now 60, keeps his appearance as private as every other aspect of his life.
Art TerKeurst Social Media
Art TerKeurst has no known public social media accounts. He does not appear to be active on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), TikTok, or any other public platform.
This is consistent with his entire adult personality. He is a private businessman who was thrust into public attention by association with his famous ex-wife and the subsequent scandal — not by any desire of his own.
His LinkedIn profile, which is the only confirmed professional online presence, lists him as Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Waverly FSR and Chick-fil-A Arboretum FSR in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If Art TerKeurst has personal social media accounts, they are either private or registered under a different name — which cannot be verified.
Where Is Art TerKeurst Now? (2026 Update)
In 2026, Art TerKeurst continues to live and work in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. He remains the active owner and operator of his two Chick-fil-A franchise locations and has kept his personal life entirely private.
There have been no public interviews. No new revelations. No social media presence. Art has simply done what he has always done — shown up, run his business, and stayed out of the spotlight.
At 60 years old, he belongs to a generation that understands reinvention without making a show of it. He fell, publicly and painfully. He is rebuilding, quietly and practically.
His five children still have a relationship with him. His business still operates at a high level. And the Art TerKeurst story — while it includes a deeply painful chapter — does not end there.
FAQs About Art TerKeurst
Who is Art TerKeurst?
Art TerKeurst is an American entrepreneur and Chick-fil-A franchise operator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is widely known as the ex-husband of bestselling Christian author and Proverbs 31 Ministries president Lysa TerKeurst.
How old is Art TerKeurst?
Art TerKeurst was born in February 1966. He is 60 years old as of 2026. His zodiac sign is Pisces.
What is Art TerKeurst net worth?
Art TerKeurst net worth in 2026 is estimated between $3 million and $6 million, built primarily through his long-running Chick-fil-A franchise operations in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Is Art TerKeurst on social media?
Art TerKeurst has no known public social media accounts on any platform. His only confirmed online presence is a LinkedIn profile listing his Chick-fil-A ownership.
Did Art TerKeurst remarry after the divorce?
As of 2026, Art TerKeurst has not publicly remarried. His ex-wife, Lysa TerKeurst, remarried in early 2024.
How many children does Art TerKeurst have?
Art TerKeurst has five children with Lysa TerKeurst: Hope, Ashley, Brooke, Mark, and Jackson. All five are adults, and he is also a grandfather.
What happened to Art TerKeurst?
In 2017, Lysa TerKeurst revealed Art had been repeatedly unfaithful and was struggling with addiction. The couple briefly reconciled and renewed their vows in 2018, but Lysa filed for divorce again in December 2021. The divorce was finalized, and Art has since maintained a very private life.
Where does Art TerKeurst live?
Art TerKeurst lives in the Waxhaw/Charlotte, North Carolina area, where he continues to operate his Chick-fil-A franchise businesses.
Final Thoughts
Art TerKeurst is not a simple story. He is a man who built something genuinely impressive — over 30 years of disciplined entrepreneurship in one of the most competitive franchise systems in America. He raised five children in a faith-centered home and stood beside a wife whose ministry touched millions.
He also made choices that hurt his family deeply and played out in front of the entire Christian world.
Both things are true. The Charlotte North Carolina entrepreneur who quietly built $3–6 million in wealth and the man who spent $118,000 on an affair are the same person. Understanding Art TerKeurst means holding that complexity without reducing him to either hero or villain.
At 60, Art TerKeurst is living his quietest chapter yet. And for a man who never wanted public attention in the first place, that may be exactly how he prefers it.