Susie Wiles, born Susan Summerall on May 14, 1957, in New Jersey, was married to Lanny Wiles, a Republican political consultant originally from Wilkes County, North Carolina. The couple tied the knot in 1985, and their marriage lasted 32 years before ending in divorce in 2017. Their relationship was marked by both professional collaboration and personal turbulence, including financial struggles that culminated in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in 1991.
Back in 1991, when Susie and Lanny Wiles filed for bankruptcy, they owed a shocking total of $3,025,215.15 to various creditors. Some of the biggest debts included: $353,476.71 to JC Faw, a North Carolina real estate mogul, $725,000 to the city of Wilkesboro, North Carolina (likely tied to one of Lanny’s business ventures), and $710,970 to a now-defunct construction company, John S. Clark.
Their bankruptcy case was officially closed by September 1991, but money troubles followed them for years. Between 1991 and 2019, the IRS slapped them with seven federal tax liens, the largest being $59,126.21 in 2019—two years after their divorce. Even though they were no longer together, some of those liens still listed both of them as responsible.
Who Was Susie Wiles’ Husband, Lanny Wiles? All About Their Two Daughters
Lanny, described as a golf enthusiast and Porsche aficionado, was often at the center of these financial missteps. Susie later reflected on the ordeal, telling the Daily Mail, “I was drawn into it. My former husband, sadly, made a series of poor business decisions nearly 35 years ago. As I recall, monies owed were paid in full. This was an unfortunate time in our lives and ultimately these issues led to a divorce some years later.”
The divorce, finalized on November 30, 2017, awarded Susie exclusive use of their Ponte Vedra Beach home until its sale, with Lanny ordered to pay $1,500 monthly toward the mortgage. Lanny kept a 2017 Porsche 911, while Susie retained a 2014 Mercedes.
The couple had two daughters, Katie and Caroline Wiles, both of whom followed their parents into the world of politics and lobbying. Katie, the elder kid, made headlines in November 2024 when she was promoted to director of Continental Strategy’s lobbying and consulting offices in Jacksonville and Washington, D.C., just one day after her mother was named White House chief of staff.
The timing was no coincidence. Continental Strategy’s president, Carlos Trujillo, tied the promotion directly to Trump’s election victory, stating, “We know she will shine in this new role and will provide new avenues for growth as we continue to build from the momentum of a landslide victory for President Donald Trump on Election Day.” Katie’s career mirrored her mother’s early trajectory. From October 2021 to June 2023, she served as chief of communications for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a role akin to Susie’s tenure as chief of staff to Mayor John Delaney in the 1990s.
Caroline Wiles, the younger daughter, had a more tumultuous stint in politics. During Trump’s first term, she was hired as deputy assistant to the president and director of scheduling in January 2017. However, her time in the White House was cut short when she resigned just over a month later after failing an FBI background check, a requirement for high-level security clearance. The check reportedly scrutinized credit scores, substance use, and other personal history.
In a written statement, Caroline downplayed the setback, saying, “It has been my honor to serve President Trump in the campaign and the transition. I resigned my position and look forward to serving the Administration in a new capacity.” By 2025, she had rebounded professionally, joining lobbying firm Rubin, Turnbull & Associates as vice president of federal affairs.
The Wiles family’s political ties run deep. Lanny, a Wilkes Central High School and NC State University graduate, worked as a special assistant to Ronald Reagan after his 1980 election and later advised John McCain’s presidential campaigns. Susie’s father, Pat Summerall, was an NFL legend and iconic sportscaster who called 16 Super Bowls. Her upbringing in Saddle River, New Jersey, was shaped by her mother, Katharine “Kathy” Summerall, whom Susie described as “the picture of calm through this tempest,” a nod to Pat’s struggles with alcoholism.
Susie’s own career began in 1979 as an assistant to Congressman Jack Kemp, a former NFL teammate of her father’s. She later joined Reagan’s 1980 campaign as a scheduler, cementing her place in Republican circles.
Despite the family’s political pedigree, Susie’s personal life with Lanny was fraught with challenges. Beyond the bankruptcy, they were sued in 1996 by James and Evette Meni, resulting in a court order to pay $75,695.66. A garnishment attempt on Susie’s wages while she worked for Jacksonville’s mayor added to the strain.
Yet, Susie’s resilience shone through. By 2024, she had ascended to the pinnacle of political power as Trump’s chief of staff, earning the nickname “Ice Maiden” for her steely demeanor. Her children, meanwhile, carved their own paths in Washington’s lobbying world, with Katie leveraging her mother’s connections and Caroline rebounding from her early career stumble.
