She has argued cases in courtrooms, cheered on NFL sidelines, and held her own on national television every day. But the man she chose to marry stayed completely out of all of it. Who is he, what happened between them, and where does Emily Compagno stand today?
Emily Compagno is one of the most recognizable faces on Fox News. As co-host of Outnumbered and a regular on The Five and Gutfeld!, she combines legal expertise with sharp commentary — and has done so for years. Her professional life is well-documented.
Her personal life, much less so. That contrast is exactly why searches for “Emily Compagno husband” have consistently trended. This article covers what is actually known: who Peter Riley is, how they met, what ended their marriage, and where things stand now.
Who Is Emily Compagno?
Before getting into her relationships, it helps to understand the person at the center of the story. Emily Compagno is a Fox News co-host, licensed attorney, and former captain of the Oakland Raiders cheerleading squad.
Her Career Before Fox News
Emily was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in El Cerrito. She earned a political science degree from the University of Washington and a law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2006. After passing the California bar, she practiced criminal defense in San Francisco.
While working as an attorney, she served as captain of the Raiderettes — the Raiders’ cheerleading squad. The NFL later selected her as an ambassador, and the USO chose her as one of five NFL cheerleaders to visit U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait. She joined Fox News as a contributor in 2018 and became a permanent co-host of Outnumbered in January 2021.
Her Public Persona vs. Private Life
Emily is vocal and confident on television, covering legal issues, politics, and culture. Off camera, she keeps an extremely tight lid on personal matters. She rarely discusses family or relationships in interviews, and she has consistently drawn a clear boundary between her public career and private life.
That boundary has only sharpened public curiosity. The less she shares, the more people search — which is why her husband’s identity, their marriage, and its apparent end have all become ongoing topics of interest.
Who Is Peter Riley, Emily Compagno’s Husband?
Peter Riley is the man Emily married in 2017. He was raised in Portland, Oregon, and shares Pacific Northwest roots with Emily, who spent much of her early life in northern California near the Washington border.
His Background and Education
Riley attended the University of Washington, where he studied political science — the same school, and reportedly the same degree, as Emily. Most accounts suggest they crossed paths during their time there, though their romantic relationship did not develop until years later. After graduating, Riley began his career as a data analyst based in Portland, working in that capacity from roughly 2003 to 2008.
He has kept personal details off social media and out of the press throughout his adult life. Even after marrying a nationally known television host, he gave no interviews and maintained no public profile. That level of deliberate privacy is somewhat unusual for a celebrity spouse — and it has only added to the public’s interest in him.
His Professional Career
Riley’s career shifted over time from data analysis to real estate and then into technology sales. He worked as a real estate broker under the Berkshire Hathaway NW Real Estate banner and was reportedly ranked among the top 10 agents in Southwest Washington at one point. He later moved into enterprise technology, holding account management roles at Palo Alto Networks and Netskope — both major players in cybersecurity and cloud security.
More recently, reports identified him as a Senior Account Manager at NVIDIA, one of the most prominent technology companies in the world. His net worth has been estimated at approximately $8 million based on his career trajectory, though that figure has been complicated by financial difficulties that emerged in more recent years.
How Emily and Peter Met
Their story spans two decades, and the way it unfolded makes it genuinely interesting on its own terms. It is not a typical celebrity romance built on proximity or career networking.
From Teenagers to Strangers to Married
Emily and Peter first met as teenagers — long before law school, cheerleading, or television was part of either of their lives. They went separate ways after that early connection. Then, years later, they ran into each other on a Seattle sidewalk by chance. Emily has referred to it publicly as a fateful or happenstance encounter. That reconnection led to a relationship, and eventually to a proposal.
The timeline from their Seattle reconnection to marriage was roughly four years. Emily described approaching their wedding as someone acting “with my full heart,” two decades after they first met. That context — the gap, the rediscovery, the commitment — gave their relationship a narrative that resonated with people who followed it.
Their Wedding at Villa Cimbrone
Emily and Peter married on September 13, 2017, at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy — a historic estate perched above the Amalfi Coast. The ceremony was private and intentionally small, limited to close family and close friends. No press. No red carpet moment and social media celebration in real time.
The setting was spectacular by any measure: clifftop gardens, Mediterranean views, historic architecture. Emily’s wedding dress drew attention when photos circulated afterward, described as classic and understated. The choice of venue — beautiful but private — fit the pattern of how both she and Peter approached public attention throughout their relationship.
Quick Facts: Emily Compagno and Peter Riley
| Detail | Emily Compagno | Peter Riley |
|---|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1979 | circa 1979, Portland, OR |
| Education | Univ. of Washington; USF Law | Univ. of Washington |
| Career | Attorney, Fox News host | Tech sales, real estate |
| Wedding Date | September 13, 2017 | |
| Wedding Location | Villa Cimbrone, Ravello, Italy | |
| Children | None publicly confirmed | |
| Current Status | Divorced (by late 2025) | |
Financial Troubles and the End of the Marriage
For several years, Emily and Peter maintained their privacy and appeared to be doing so successfully. That changed when reports surfaced about serious financial difficulties tied to Peter Riley. The trouble drew media attention precisely because of Emily’s public profile.
What the Reports Said
Multiple sources reported that Peter Riley faced a federal judgment of roughly $880,000 in unpaid taxes, penalties, and fees. The financial issues were reportedly connected to failed investments in cryptocurrency and a space technology startup. Spending on travel and personal expenses reportedly compounded the problem, pushing his financial situation into a more serious place.
These reports began circulating in late 2024 and drew attention partly because of their scale and partly because Emily had never publicly addressed them. She continued appearing on Fox News as normal, making no reference to any personal difficulties. That silence, in the context of visible financial controversy involving her spouse, increased speculation about the state of their marriage.
The Divorce
No formal public statement was ever made by Emily or Peter about a separation or divorce. Neither granted interviews on the subject. What the public noticed was more indirect: Emily stopped wearing a wedding ring during on-air appearances, joint public sightings became nonexistent, and any reference to Peter in her public commentary essentially disappeared.
Multiple outlets and public records searches reported that the couple’s marriage had ended by late 2025. The divorce, like nearly everything else in their relationship, was handled quietly. Emily confirmed nothing dramatically — she let the facts emerge on their own schedule. That approach is consistent with how she has managed her personal life throughout her public career.
The Jon Skoog Mix-Up
Search results for Emily Compagno’s husband have been cluttered for years by a widespread piece of misinformation. Jon Skoog is not Emily Compagno’s husband. He never was.
Setting the Record Straight
Jon Skoog is the husband of Julietta Compagno — Emily’s sister. He is Emily’s brother-in-law. The error appears to have originated from a misreading of a social media post or family photo, and it then spread widely enough that it now appears in search results and tabloid articles. The confusion has been debunked by multiple outlets, but the misinformation continues to circulate. If you see Jon Skoog described as Emily Compagno’s husband anywhere, that is simply incorrect.
Emily has two sisters — Natalie and Julietta. Julietta is married to Skoog. There is no credible source, including Emily herself, that has ever connected Jon Skoog to Emily romantically or legally.
What Happened After the Divorce
Emily moved forward with the same level of public restraint she applied to every other aspect of her personal life. She continued her work at Fox News without interruption and without public commentary on her marriage ending.
Her Engagement in August 2024
On August 28, 2024, Emily confirmed her engagement during an appearance on Fox Business. She was discussing work-life balance with Walser Wealth Management President Rebecca Walser when the topic came up. She confirmed she was engaged but did not name her partner. That deliberate omission — confirming the fact, withholding the detail — is exactly in line with how Emily has handled personal news throughout her career.
The mystery created a predictable rush of speculation online. Various names circulated, with the Jon Skoog misidentification surging again in that period. The actual name — Derek Hedt — eventually emerged through reporting. Hedt works as a real estate broker at Berkshire Hathaway NW Real Estate in Vancouver, Washington.
Her Marriage to Derek Hedt in 2026
Emily and Derek Hedt married in 2026, making it Emily’s second marriage. The ceremony was private, consistent with her history. No venue photos, guest list details, or ceremony footage were released publicly. Emily later shared some details on air during an episode of Outnumbered, describing the event as intimate, family-focused, and meaningful.
Hedt, like Peter Riley before him, maintains no notable public presence. He does not appear to have social media profiles or press coverage of his own. Emily has again chosen a partner who operates entirely away from the media environment she works in daily — a pattern that seems intentional rather than coincidental.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Emily Compagno’s husband?
As of 2026, Emily Compagno is married to Derek Hedt, a real estate broker based in Vancouver, Washington.
Who was Emily Compagno previously married to?
Emily was previously married to Peter Riley, a technology sales professional; they wed in 2017 and divorced by late 2025.
Where did Emily Compagno and Peter Riley get married?
They married on September 13, 2017, at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy.
Is Jon Skoog Emily Compagno’s husband?
No. Jon Skoog is the husband of Emily’s sister Julietta — he is Emily’s brother-in-law, not her husband.
Why did Emily Compagno and Peter Riley divorce?
No official reason was stated publicly; financial difficulties tied to Peter Riley’s failed investments were widely reported around the same period.
Does Emily Compagno have children?
No children have been publicly confirmed from either of her marriages.
When did Emily Compagno get engaged to Derek Hedt?
Emily confirmed her engagement on August 28, 2024, during an appearance on Fox Business, though she did not name her fiancé at the time.
What does Peter Riley do for work?
Riley has worked in data analysis, real estate, and technology sales, with roles at Palo Alto Networks, Netskope, and NVIDIA.
How did Emily and Peter Riley meet?
They first met as teenagers, lost touch, and reconnected years later by chance on a Seattle sidewalk.
Is Emily Compagno still on Fox News?
Yes, she continues to co-host Outnumbered and appear regularly on The Five and Gutfeld!
Conclusion
Emily Compagno’s personal life has followed a consistent pattern: she shares what she wants, when she wants, and nothing more. Her marriage to Peter Riley, built on a decades-long story that wound from teenage acquaintance to an Italian clifftop ceremony, ultimately did not last — but it ended as privately as it began. She has since moved forward, remarried, and continues to do the work that made her a well-known name in the first place.
Hayat has 10 years of experience creating content on Bible verses, prayers, and blessings. She runs PrayerAndWish.com, sharing simple and meaningful spiritual guidance.
