Art TerKeurst is a name many associate with Christian author and Proverbs 31 Ministries founder Lysa TerKeurst. But Art’s story stands strong on its own, defined by entrepreneurship, faith, resilience, and a complicated public journey. At 58 years old in 2024, Art is a seasoned businessman and father who has weathered both personal and professional storms with quiet determination.
Early Life and Faith-Based Roots
Art TerKeurst was born in February 1966 in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, to parents Sharon and Dudley TerKeurst. Raised in a devout Christian household, Art’s early years were grounded in faith, community, and traditional Southern values. He attended West Morris Mendham High School and later graduated from Winthrop University in South Carolina. His education and upbringing shaped the spiritual and moral compass that would guide his future.
Entrepreneurial Success with Chick-fil-A
By the early 1990s, Art had moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and in December 1991, he laid the foundation of his business career. Today, he owns and operates the Chick-fil-A Waverly FSR, a full-service location that has become a staple in the local Charlotte community. His commitment to quality, service, and ethics reflects the Chick-fil-A brand’s well-known Christian values.
Running a Chick-fil-A isn’t a passive investment. It requires rigorous daily management, long-term strategic planning, and a genuine connection with both customers and staff. Art’s continued success in this competitive space demonstrates strong leadership and business acumen. With over three decades of dedication, Art TerKeurst has built not just a restaurant but a respected presence in his community.
His financial achievements reflect this as well. As of 2024, his estimated net worth is between $3 million and $5 million. This valuation stems largely from his successful franchise operation and years of wise financial management.
Marriage to Lysa TerKeurst and Family Life
Art met Lysa during a Bible study in the early 1990s. Their shared values and mutual faith laid the groundwork for their marriage in 1993. Over nearly 30 years, they raised five children—three biological daughters named Hope, Ashley, and Brooke, and two adopted sons, Mark and Jackson, who joined the family from a South African orphanage.
Each child has since taken their own unique path. Hope TerKeurst Houser has grown a strong online presence as a fashion and lifestyle blogger. Ashley TerKeurst Hodges is also active in content creation and is a mother. Brooke has established herself in the beauty industry as a makeup artist. Meanwhile, Mark, also known as T. Markus, pursued a career in music, and Jackson is charting his own course as a young adult.
Through the years, Art and Lysa’s family expanded with several grandchildren, cementing his role as a grandfather—a title he embraces with pride and quiet joy.
Challenges in Marriage and Public Divorce
The couple’s marriage, however, was not without serious hardship. In 2017, Lysa publicly filed for divorce, citing infidelity and struggles with addiction as primary causes. The same year was also marked by Lysa’s health crisis, as she underwent surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis.
Surprisingly, in 2018, Art and Lysa reconciled and remarried in a private ceremony in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Their second chance at marriage was widely celebrated by their faith community. But this reconciliation proved temporary.
In December 2021, Lysa filed for divorce again, and in January 2022, she made the separation public. The court case revealed a contentious and emotionally taxing process. Lysa alleged that Art had spent approximately $118,000 on another woman he met through a dating platform, covering items such as a pre-engagement ring and relocation costs from Atlanta to Charlotte.
The legal battle included disputes over a post-nuptial agreement signed during their reconciliation in 2018. Art argued that the agreement was void after their remarriage, but Lysa stood by its legitimacy. The court ultimately ruled in Lysa’s favor, and the divorce was finalized in 2023.
The high-profile nature of their separation placed Art in the public eye, often in a negative light. But for many, it also opened a wider conversation about faith, forgiveness, and the complexities of marriage under public scrutiny.
Life After the Headlines
Today, Art TerKeurst continues to focus on his business and his family. While the divorce undoubtedly altered the fabric of his personal life, he has remained active in his professional pursuits and committed to his children and grandchildren. His Chick-fil-A franchise continues to perform well, thanks to his long-term vision and hands-on leadership.
Although much of Art’s personal life played out in public, he now maintains a more private existence. Friends and close community members often describe him as someone who still values faith, despite life’s complications, and someone who tries to keep moving forward without dwelling on past missteps.
