Mary Ryan Ravenel may not be a household name, but her story remains an interesting chapter in the life of Thomas Ravenel, the former South Carolina politician, businessman, and reality TV personality. While Thomas has spent years in the spotlight through politics, controversy, and his role on Bravo’s Southern Charm, Mary Ryan has chosen an entirely different path, one defined by privacy and discretion. Her decision to remain away from media attention has only added to the mystery that surrounds her.
Early Life and Background
Much of Mary Ryan Ravenel’s early life remains undocumented, a reflection of her deliberate choice to maintain privacy. While public records confirm her marriage to Thomas Ravenel, details about her upbringing, education, and family background are sparse. What is known is that she preferred to live her life out of the spotlight even before meeting Thomas, and that choice became even more pronounced after their marriage ended. Based on the timeline of her marriage in the mid-1990s, Mary Ryan is estimated to be in her late 50s today.
Marriage to Thomas Ravenel
Mary Ryan married Thomas Ravenel in 1995, during a period when he was already gaining prominence in South Carolina’s political and business circles. Their marriage lasted just 13 months, with the couple separating in 1996. By 1998, their divorce was finalized, bringing a quiet end to their brief union.
The couple did not have children together, and Mary Ryan has not spoken publicly about the reasons for their separation. While her ex-husband’s later relationships and controversies have played out in the media, Mary Ryan’s marriage to him remains a relatively private chapter, mentioned mostly in the context of Thomas’s personal history.
Life After Divorce
Following her divorce, Mary Ryan Ravenel made a conscious choice to step away from public life. Unlike Thomas, who went on to build a career in both politics and television, Mary Ryan avoided media appearances and never attempted to use her marriage to gain attention. She does not maintain any public social media accounts, and little is known about her professional or personal endeavors since her divorce.
Her ability to remain out of the public eye for nearly three decades is a testament to her determination to live on her own terms. While her ex-husband’s life has been filled with headlines—both positive and negative—Mary Ryan has built her own quiet existence away from scrutiny.
Thomas Ravenel’s Path After Mary Ryan
In contrast, Thomas Ravenel’s post-divorce life has been well-documented. He rose to political prominence as South Carolina’s State Treasurer before resigning in 2007 following a legal scandal. Later, he became a well-known figure on Southern Charm, a Bravo reality show that chronicled the lives of Charleston’s elite.
His relationships, particularly with Kathryn Dennis and Heather Mascoe, have been the subject of tabloid coverage. Ravenel has three children—two with Kathryn Dennis, Kensie and Saint, and one son, Jonathan, with Heather Mascoe. His tumultuous personal life has made him a frequent subject of entertainment news, standing in stark contrast to Mary Ryan’s deliberate invisibility.
Net Worth and Financial Standing
While Mary Ryan Ravenel’s personal net worth is not publicly documented, her ex-husband’s finances have been widely reported. As of 2025, Thomas Ravenel’s estimated net worth is around $6 million, stemming from his career in real estate and inheritance from his wealthy Charleston family.
Mary Ryan, on the other hand, has no public financial records. Given her decision to avoid media attention, it is presumed that she has lived independently since her divorce, focusing on personal stability rather than public recognition. Her wealth, if any, has never been tied to her ex-husband’s fortunes in the public record, which further demonstrates her separation from his high-profile life.
The Power of Privacy
What makes Mary Ryan Ravenel especially fascinating to the public is not what is known about her, but what is unknown. At a time when most figures connected to celebrities embrace social media and interviews, Mary Ryan has remained absent from the digital world. Her lack of online presence and refusal to engage in public commentary has preserved her privacy in an extraordinary way.
In a sense, her silence has given her control of her own narrative. By never participating in interviews or media exposure, she has ensured that her story remains hers alone. While she is still mentioned in articles about Thomas Ravenel, she has never allowed herself to become part of the spectacle that surrounds him.
A Contrast of Lives
Mary Ryan and Thomas Ravenel’s post-divorce lives could not be more different. Thomas has thrived in the limelight, whether in politics, real estate, or reality television, while Mary Ryan has built her life far away from cameras and headlines. This contrast is perhaps why her name continues to resurface whenever Thomas’s history is revisited. She represents a quieter chapter in his otherwise public and controversial life.
At approximately 58 years old today, Mary Ryan remains an example of someone who values personal peace over public exposure. For fans of Southern Charm and those who follow Thomas Ravenel’s turbulent story, Mary Ryan remains a mystery—a figure who entered his life briefly and then vanished from view.