What We Know About Sutton Stracke's Ex-Husband, Christian

Sutton Stracke and her husband, Christian Stracke, were married from 2000 until he filed for divorce in 2016. The move was devastating for the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, especially considering that Christian filed the paperwork on Sutton's birthday and still celebrated it with her. It took about two years for the split to be finalized, and a pricey settlement left Sutton financially comfortable with $350,000 in monthly spousal and child support.

Before he became a wealthy financier, Christian graduated from the University of Chicago and went on to become a member of the Peace Corps from 1992 to 1994. In this position, he taught citizens of Mauritania, West Africa, about agriculture. By the time he and Sutton married, Christian was working as a Latin American currency strategist at Deutsche Bank in New York. He would eventually climb the ranks in his career, something Sutton believes spelled the end of their relationship as she knew it, especially after she had their first child and was no longer working. "My power diminished — this became here's your allowance. I realized, 'Wow, I allowed that to happen.' I will never allow that to happen again," Sutton shared during the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Season 13 premiere. Now officially exes, Christian doesn't appear to enjoy the spotlight, though some fans have been eager to learn more about him based on Sutton's depiction of their marriage.

Christian Sutton has held several high-ranking finance positions throughout his career. He served as a senior credit strategist at CreditSights and head of Latin America fixed income strategy at Germany-based Commerzbank Securities before joining investment management firm Pimco in 2008. He remains a fixture at the company, operating as its president, managing director, and global head of the credit research group, according to his PIMCO bio. Christian's role is the highest at the firm, likely gaining him a handsome salary.

Though it is unknown exactly how much Christian makes yearly with PIMCO, it has been speculated that he is earning over $300,000 annually. However, Christian also owns a timber company and two minor-league baseball teams. With his career and entrepreneurial endeavors combined, Christian is estimated to have an impressive $30 million net worth, which is how he has been able to pay his ex-wife Sutton Stracke so much in their divorce. As a result, this has elevated Sutton's own net worth to roughly $30 million as well.

While Christian Stracke doesn't appear on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," the businessman did have a hand in Sutton Stracke being demoted on the show. In August 2019, Sutton was announced as a full-time cast member of the hit Bravo series. However, with the Strackes sharing three children together, Porter, Philip, and James, Christian refused to let the kids film. Sutton admitted this on the "Reality Life with Kate Casey" podcast in May 2020. "My ex-husband just was adamant that they could not film with me, and I totally get it. It was hard. It was a hard blow because, you know, it's exciting to do," she said. His resistance led to Stracke being a friend of the show.

Sutton has alluded to wanting to be totally free of her ex. In a July 2020 episode of "Watch What Happens Live," Sutton told Andy, "It weighs on me, having to deal with him." Since Christian doesn't seem to have social media, it's unknown how he feels about his former spouse or what he's up to in his personal life. Nevertheless, judging by Sutton's comments, it's highly unlikely that the pair is friendly with one another.

Following the finalization of their divorce, the Strackes slowly but surely established a new normal. Christian Stracke continued to climb the corporate ladder, Sutton Stracke returned to the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," and the couple began to share custody of their three children. However, in 2023, the "RHOBH" star revealed to the cast that her ex-husband had made a decision that threatened their carefully built balance.

He had been promoted and would be moving to London. Even worse, he intended to take their youngest child James Stracke with him. Sutton also shared that Christian had informed her she would have to move with them. "This man gets what he wants," she explained. "I went through my whole marriage being dictated to. [...] When you're trained like that..." (via Bravo TV).

Eventually, she found the courage to decide she didn't want to abandon her life in America and move. Still, she had to consider her child. "I was thinking, 'Can he just take James? And then also, I didn't know if maybe James wanted to go with him.'" However, the Bravo TV cast member stuck to her guns. "I went to him and said, 'I am not moving to London. James is not moving to London. We're staying here.' It took so much courage for me to do that." In the end, her efforts paid off, and Christian moved to London alone.

Considering that Sutton and Christian Stracke are divorced, it's not exactly surprising that they aren't friends, but unlike many other ex-couples, there isn't bitter angst between them. Instead, there's something much more bittersweet evident in the Bravo TV celebrity's pain when she speaks about their failed marriage.

"I texted Christian this morning and said, 'Before you leave, I want to say goodbye and good luck,' because he's got a lot on his plate now, and I want him to be happy," she shared on the After Show of "RHOBH" Season 13, Episode 16 (via YouTube). In response, Christian wrote a "very touching email," which clearly helped her find some peace. Still, Sutton would later reveal that their relationship isn't exactly as she would have liked, post-divorce.

During Episode 2 of the next season of "RHOBH," she shared that Christian initially used to send her Mother's Day gifts, even after their divorce, but had stopped doing so in recent years. "I got nothing — like, not even a text this year" (via Bravo TV). When other Housewives pointed out that she still receives a hefty spousal support, Sutton was quick to tell her "RHOBH" co-stars that the checks hold no emotional value to her.

Despite their differences and complicated relationship, Sutton Stracke has often praised her ex-husband as a devoted father to their kids, Porter, James, and Philip Stracke. She acknowledged that he traveled frequently and was often absent, but appreciated his efforts in providing a lifestyle that benefited their family. "I did want to say to Christian, 'Look, we're always going to have a relationship. We're always going to be parents together, grandparents together, and have lives that intermingle. I want to thank you for being a good dad'" (via YouTube).

Seven months after Christian Stracke's move to London, Sutton gave US Weekly an update on how they were managing co-parenting. "We co-parent very well together, but it's hard to co-parent with someone that's in England while I'm in California. The time [difference] is really far." On the plus side, the "RHOBH" star described her ex-husband's relocation as a "very strange blessing," explaining that it allowed her to become even closer to their youngest child.