Sutton Stracke’s story isn’t just about glitz, glam, and Bravo drama—it’s deeply tied to her ex-husband, Christian Stracke, and their three children: Porter, Philip, and James.
Sutton and Christian’s journey began long before Beverly Hills and designer boutiques. They met as teenagers in Augusta, Georgia, while attending Davidson Fine Arts High School. Their romance turned into a lifelong commitment when they married on May 13, 2000, at Central Presbyterian Church in New York. What started as a shared life soon shifted as Christian’s high-powered finance career took off, leaving Sutton to embrace the role of a stay-at-home mother.
Who Is Sutton Stracke’s Ex-Husband? All About Christian Stracke and Their 3 Children: Porter, Philip, and James
Sutton Stracke was married to her ex-husband Christian Stracke for 16 years before he filed for divorce on her birthday in 2016, leaving her with a settlement of $350,000 per month in spousal and child support. They share three children: daughter Porter (born May 2002), son Philip (born December 31, 2003), and son James (born January 2007), with Porter attending law school, Philip studying at The Citadel, and James finishing high school.
Christian wasn’t just any banker—he built an impressive resume, with stints at CreditSights, Commerzbank Securities, and Deutsche Bank before securing a position at PIMCO in 2008. Over the years, he climbed the corporate ladder to become Managing Director and Global Head of Credit Research. His financial expertise translated into serious wealth, and yet, as Sutton has often shared, she wasn’t fully aware of just how deep their financial portfolio ran until their divorce. It turned out they had a timber company and even partial ownership of two minor league baseball teams—assets Sutton didn’t even realize they had.
Their marriage lasted 16 years, but it ended with an emotional gut punch. On Sutton Stracke’s birthday in 2016, Christian not only attended her celebration but also blindsided her by filing for divorce the very next day. As if that weren’t enough, he called her while on a flight to Florida and simply told her to get an attorney. Sutton was shocked—she hadn’t seen it coming. Though the divorce proceedings stretched on for two years, the financial settlement left her in a comfortable position, securing her a reported $350,000 per month in spousal and child support.
Despite their divorce, Christian and Sutton Stracke will always be connected through their three children. Their eldest, Porter Stracke, was born in May 2002 and has since blossomed into an accomplished young woman. She graduated from the College of William & Mary with a degree in history and French, and as of 2024, she’s gearing up for law school.
Then there’s Philip, born on December 31, 2003, who took a different route, attending The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. Sutton Stracke has openly shared her initial hesitations about his decision, but ultimately, she’s proud of his discipline and commitment. And the youngest, James, born in January 2007, is still finding his path as he finishes high school. His grandmother, Reba, once described him as “kind of weird, but smart,” a comment Sutton has taken in stride, knowing that James marches to the beat of his own drum.
Though Sutton has embraced the spotlight, Christian has remained staunchly private, refusing to appear on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and blocking their children from filming during her first season. This restriction ultimately led to her being demoted to a “friend of” role rather than a full-time housewife. In later seasons, as Porter and Philip grew older, they made occasional appearances, but James has stayed away from the cameras completely.
Christian’s presence in Sutton Stracke’s life took another dramatic turn in 2023 when he announced he was moving to London for work. Not only that, but he also informed Sutton that he planned to take James with him—and even expected her to move as well. This declaration hit Sutton hard. She had spent years feeling dictated to in their marriage, and now, post-divorce, Christian was still trying to call the shots. But this time, she pushed back. She told him point-blank that neither she nor James would be uprooting their lives for his job. Surprisingly, Christian relented, and James stayed in Los Angeles with Sutton.
Their post-divorce relationship remains complicated. While they co-parent well enough, their dynamic lacks warmth. Once upon a time, Christian would acknowledge Sutton on Mother’s Day, sending gifts or messages, but in recent years, even that has stopped. Sutton has expressed that while she’s grateful for the financial security she gained from their divorce, money doesn’t replace emotional validation. Still, she acknowledges Christian’s role as a good father, appreciating his efforts even though his frequent travels kept him away from home for much of their marriage.
Though Sutton Stracke has moved on, embracing her RHOBH fame and even dipping her toes into dating again, Christian remains an enigma. With no social media presence and an aversion to public attention, he’s largely stayed out of the limelight. Yet, thanks to Sutton’s candidness on the show, his name continues to surface. Whether he likes it or not, he’s a permanent fixture in her story, woven into the narrative of her life as a reality TV star, boutique owner, and, most importantly, a mother to their three children.
