Kristi Noem vs Bryon Noem Net Worth: Inside the $5M Fortune They Built Before Filing for Divorce

Kristi Noem and her husband Bryon Noem are ending their 34-year marriage, putting fresh attention on a multimillion-dollar portfolio built through politics, insurance, property and other investments.

Divorce proceedings between the former Homeland Security secretary and her husband became public this week in South Dakota's Hamlin County, with court records citing 'irreconcilable differences'. The couple married in 1992 and share three adult children.

But determining which of the estranged spouses is individually wealthier is not straightforward. Forbes estimated Kristi's fortune at around $5 million (£3.78 million) in May 2025, but its calculation included major assets connected to Bryon and property associated with the couple.

How Much Is Kristi Noem Worth?

Forbes arrived at its roughly $5 million estimate after examining financial disclosures and property records. However, the figure should not be read as $5 million belonging exclusively to Kristi.

The portfolio included Kristi's pensions, cash and investment accounts, livestock and farming equipment, alongside major assets connected to Bryon.

Kristi spent four terms in Congress before becoming South Dakota governor and later joining President Donald Trump's administration as Homeland Security secretary. Forbes estimated her congressional pension was worth about $140,000 (£105,750) in 2025. She also earned income through her political career and published two memoirs.

The largest single component of the fortune, however, was Bryon's insurance business.

Bryon Noem's Insurance Business Is a Major Asset

Bryon purchased the insurance agency he had been managing in 2010 and turned it into Noem Insurance. Financial disclosures show he is the sole shareholder of the firm.

Reports reveal that the business generated approximately $1.1 million (£830,923.50) in salary and profits for Bryon over the two years preceding its May 2025 analysis. It estimated that the agency could be worth around $2 million (£1,510,770) after debt if sold, although Bryon disputed the publication's valuation and did not provide an alternative figure.

He also co-owned a car wash in Pierre, South Dakota. It was estimated his share of that business at around $300,000 (£226,615.50) after debt. The couple's Castlewood home and approximately 200 acres (809,371.3 m²) of land were estimated to be worth about $1.1 million before factoring in a mortgage of roughly $200,000 (£151,077).

So Who Has More Wealth?

There is no reliable public estimate separating Kristi and Bryon's current individual net worths, making it impossible to say definitively who has more wealth.

The roughly $5 million figure attached to Kristi reflected a broader portfolio that included Bryon's businesses and property associated with the couple. Noem Insurance was identified as its single largest component.

With divorce proceedings now under way, how those assets are owned, valued or ultimately divided has not been publicly established. What is clear is that while Kristi built the higher-profile political career, Bryon's businesses accounted for some of the biggest assets included in the roughly $5 million fortune.