Who is Linda Ripa? Everything to know about Kelly Ripa's sister
Linda Ripa is an American author best known as the sister of renowned talk show host Kelly Ripa. She is not as publicly visible as Kelly but has been in the limelight a few times. The two sisters are the only siblings in the Ripa family and share a strong bond.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Linda Ripa was an aspiring model before her life took a dramatic turn when she was involved in a near-fatal car accident that almost killed her and her unborn child. After recovery, she chose a different career path and has lived largely out of the spotlight.
Linda Ripa's profile summary
Full name | Linda Ripa |
Nickname | Ladybug |
Date of birth | December 3, 1968 |
Age | 55 years old in 2024 |
Birth sign | Sagittarius |
Place of birth | Camden County, New Jersey, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Mixed Irish-Italian |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Blue |
Gender | Female |
Sexual orientation | Straight |
Marital status | Unknown |
Children | Three, including son Sergio Giuseppe |
Parents | Esther Ripa, Joseph Ripa |
Siblings | Kelly Ripa (sister) |
Relatives | Steve Ripa (cousin) |
Profession | Illustrator, author, former model |
Known for | Being Kelly Ripa's sister |
Linda Ripa's age
Kelly Ripa's sister, Linda Ripa, is 55 years old as of 2024. She was born on December 3, 1968, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. She has mixed Italian and Irish ethnicity.
Linda Ripa's parents
Linda's father, Joseph 'Joe' Ripa, worked as a labour union president and a bus driver before joining politics. He was elected county clerk of Camden County in the state of New Jersey in the early 2000s. He also served in the military in the late 1950s.
Her mother, Esther 'Essie' Ripa, lives a more private life. She met Joe at Cooper University Hospital before they married in April 1962. They celebrated their 62nd marriage anniversary in 2024. They currently live with Kelly Ripa after moving in with her in 2022.
Linda Ripa's siblings
Linda has one sibling, sister Kelly Ripa, who was born on October 2, 1970. The siblings were raised in New Jersey. Kelly is currently married to Mark Consuelos (1996 to date), and they have three children, including Joaquin Consuelos, Lola Consuelos, and Michael Consuelos.
Kelly and Linda have maintained a strong sibling bond. In a 2007 interview with Redbook, the talk show host revealed how proud their parents are of them, saying,
My parents are just so proud of their two children, and it has nothing to do with what we do for a living. For them, it's all about trying your hardest to be a decent person every day and being grateful for what you have.
Is Kelly Ripa's sister married?
Linda leads a private life, and it remains unclear whether she is married or not. In May 1994, she was engaged to Dominick Dandrea. The two were expected to tie the knot in July 1996 but it is not known if Dandrea ever became Linda Ripa's husband.
Linda Ripa's children
Linda is a doting mother of three, including a son and two daughters. Her son, Sergio-Giuseppe, was born on September 8, 1999. He is a talented musician, guitar player, and audio production expert.
Sergio graduated from Camden County College in 2021 with an associate's degree in audio production, according to his LinkedIn profile. Linda's second child, daughter Gianna, was born on May 17, 2006. Her youngest child, daughter Gigli, was born on July 31, 2007.
Linda's children have a great relationship with their aunt Kelly and their grandparents. For Sergio's 21st birthday in September 2020, Kelly uploaded a video collage of his pictures over the years. Grandpa Joe took to Facebook in May 2022 to wish Gianna a happy 16th birthday, writing,
I want to wish my beautiful and sweet granddaughter Gianna a happy birthday! She turned 16 today! I just found out that she has a 4.3 GPA! She definitely gets her smarts from her grandfather. Grandmom and Grandpop love you very much!
In July 2021, Grandpa Joe wished Gigli a happy 14th birthday with a Facebook post and the caption,
Happy 14th birthday, Gigli! Grandmom & pop pop are very proud of you and love you! We wish you all the best in High School!
What happened to Kelly Ripa's sister Linda?
Linda experienced a life-changing event in the summer of 1999 when she was involved in a severe car accident. At the time, Linda was seven months pregnant with her first son, Sergio-Giuseppe. The accident, caused by a drunk driver who ran a red light, resulted in multiple broken bones and a crushed pelvis, which also affected her unborn child.
Linda Ripa's son went into a coma in utero, and she refused anaesthetic for her leg surgery to avoid harming her baby. Sergio was born seven weeks early, and both mother and son faced a long road to recovery. Linda was bedridden for over a year and underwent numerous surgeries.
What does Kelly Ripa's sister do?
Linda is a published children's books author known for her book The Ladybug Blues (2002). She previously worked as a model and actress before leaving the entertainment industry. She also worked in television as a sports show host.
Linda Ripa's net worth
Linda is estimated to be worth around $10 million, according to various sources, including Moz magazine and Married Celeb. Most of her fortune came from a legal settlement.
In February 2004, a Philadelphia surgeon was ordered to pay Linda a $15 million settlement. She had sued the surgeon for failing to properly treat her broken ankle following her near-fatal accident in 1999. In the lawsuit, she claimed the surgery was done without informing her of the risks.
According to her attorney, Linda was unable to continue her modelling and acting job due to the injuries. They also made it impossible for her to work as Kelly's personal assistant, a job that could have paid her $150,000 per year. Her sister Kelly also testified.
Where is Linda Ripa today?
Following Kelly Ripa's sister's accident, she lived with her parents in Camden County, New Jersey. She currently resides in Brigantine, Atlantic County, with her children. She does not have a social media presence but occasionally features on her father's Facebook. In December 2020, Joe celebrated her birthday with the caption,
To our daughter, Linda. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays. Thanks for our three wonderful grandkids. Much love, Mom & Dad
Despite the challenges that Linda Ripa has gone through, she has remained a devoted mother to her three children. She also continues to share a close bond with her sister, Kelly, and her parents, Joe and Essie.
READ ALSO: Meet Anna Eberstein, Hugh Grant's wife and successful TV producer
Briefly.co.za highlighted lesser-known facts about Hugh Grant's wife, Anna Eberstein. The couple tied the knot in 2018 after several years of dating and are currently parents to three kids.
Anna Eberstein had already established a successful career in television before she started dating the British actor. Check the article for more intriguing details about her life.
Source: Briefly News