Rachel Ramsey Cruze was born the year her parents, Dave (’82) and Sharon (’87) Ramsey, lost everything and filed for bankruptcy. She grew up watching the sacrifices they made and learned early on how to save for the future, spend wisely, avoid debt, and give generously.
Cruze grew up hearing people tell her dad, “I wish I’d heard this message years ago.” That fueled her desire to reach people and share the hard lessons her parents learned. It became her passion. It’s why she spoke to groups as large as 12,000 at the age of 15 and why she traveled the country for Ramsey Solutions, her father’s company, encouraging audiences from universities and nonprofits to corporations and associations over the past decade.
A 2010 graduate of the College of Communication and Information, Cruze has gone on to become a personal finance expert, nationally sought-after speaker and No. 1 New York Times best-selling author. She has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC’s Today show, the Rachael Ray Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and Fox and Friends, among others. Cruze is also regularly featured in magazines like Woman’s Day and Real Simple. She hosts sold-out events like Money & Marriage and Smart Money and is a featured speaker at events like Smart Conference. She is the host of the Rachel Cruze Show and the Rachel Cruze Show podcast, both of which make managing money fun. She’s authored three best-selling books, including Love Your Life, Not Theirs and Smart Money Smart Kids, which she co-wrote with her father, Dave Ramsey. Most recently she released the Contentment Journal, a 90-day journal designed to increase gratitude, humility, and contentment.
She is married to her UT classmate Winston Cruze, and they reside in Franklin, Tennessee, with their two daughters Amelia and Caroline.
2015 Alumni Promise Award Winner
