Matt Bevin is an American businessman and Republican politician who served as the 62nd Governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019. A former US Army officer and investment-firm executive, he entered politics as a conservative outsider, first challenging a sitting US senator before winning the governorship in an upset. His single term was marked by an ambitious and often combative conservative agenda, particularly on pension reform and education, which frequently placed him at odds with opponents. After narrowly losing his bid for re-election in 2019, he returned to business, and he has continued to draw public and media attention in the years since.
Matt Bevin Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Matthew Griswold Bevin |
| Date of Birth | 9 January 1967 |
| Age (2026) | 59 years |
| Birthplace | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Raised In | Shelburne, New Hampshire, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Profession | Businessman, politician |
| Office Held | 62nd Governor of Kentucky (2015 to 2019) |
| Political Party | Republican |
| Military Service | US Army (1989 to 1993), rank of captain |
| Education | Washington and Lee University (BA) |
Matt Bevin Details
| Area | Detail |
| Military | Served four years as a US Army officer |
| Business | An investment and business executive |
| 2014 Senate bid | Challenged Senator Mitch McConnell in the primary |
| Governor | Won the Kentucky governorship in 2015 |
| Agenda | Focused on pension reform, education and business |
| Post-office | Returned to business as a company CEO |
Matt Bevin Events
| Year | Event |
| 9 January 1967 | Born in Denver, Colorado |
| 1989 | Graduated from Washington and Lee University |
| 1989 to 1993 | Served as an officer in the US Army |
| 2014 | Ran unsuccessfully against Senator Mitch McConnell |
| 2015 | Elected the 62nd Governor of Kentucky |
| 2019 | Narrowly lost re-election to Andy Beshear |
| 2019 onward | Returned to his business career |
Matt Bevin Early Life and Education
Matt Bevin was born Matthew Griswold Bevin on 9 January 1967 in Denver, Colorado, and was raised in the small town of Shelburne, New Hampshire, in a family of modest means. He went on to attend Washington and Lee University in Virginia, earning a bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies in 1989. After graduating, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, serving for four years and attaining the rank of captain, an experience that preceded his long career in business and finance.
Matt Bevin Business Career
Matt Bevin built a career as a businessman and investment executive after leaving the military. He worked in the financial and investment sector, holding executive roles and founding and leading his own investment and consulting firms over the years. He also became involved in a family bell-manufacturing business. His background as a self-made businessman and entrepreneur became a central part of his political identity, and following his time in office he returned to the business world, later serving as the chief executive of a health-technology company.
Matt Bevin Political Career
Matt Bevin’s 2014 Senate Campaign
Matt Bevin first sought public office in 2014, when he launched a high-profile primary challenge against the long-serving US Senator and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Running as a conservative outsider with backing from parts of the Tea Party movement, he mounted a spirited campaign but was ultimately defeated by McConnell in the Republican primary. The race raised his political profile in Kentucky and set the stage for his successful run for governor the following year.
Matt Bevin as Governor of Kentucky
Matt Bevin won the Kentucky governorship in 2015, defeating his Democratic opponent in a result widely regarded as an upset and becoming only the second Republican governor of the state in several decades. As governor he pursued an assertive conservative agenda, making the state’s troubled public-pension system a central priority, along with changes to education, health policy and the business climate. His tenure was frequently marked by confrontation, including disputes with teachers, lawmakers and the state attorney general, and he became known for his combative and outspoken style.
Matt Bevin’s 2019 Defeat and Aftermath
Matt Bevin sought a second term in 2019 but was narrowly defeated by the Democratic candidate, Andy Beshear, in a closely watched election decided by a very slim margin. In the final days of his governorship, he attracted significant attention and controversy for issuing a large number of pardons and commutations, some of which proved contentious. After leaving office, he returned to his business career while remaining a figure of public interest in Kentucky and beyond.
Matt Bevin’s Political Positions
Matt Bevin governed as a strong fiscal and social conservative, emphasising reductions in government spending, pension and tax reform, support for charter schools and business-friendly policies, and conservative positions on social issues. A vocal and confrontational figure, he was admired by supporters as a principled reformer willing to take on entrenched interests, and criticised by opponents over his approach and rhetoric. As with any prominent official, these are matters of political debate, and the profile presents them factually and without endorsement.
Matt Bevin Personal Life
Matt Bevin was married to Glenna Bevin, who served as the First Lady of Kentucky during his governorship, and together they raised a large family of nine children, several of whom were adopted. The couple’s marriage later ended, with divorce proceedings beginning in the mid-2020s. He has generally centred his public identity on his business and political career and his family. In recent years, aspects of his personal and legal affairs have drawn media attention.
Matt Bevin Height and Physical Profile
Matt Bevin’s public identity rests on his business and political career rather than on physical details, which are not a significant part of his public record. He is recognised publicly as a former governor and businessman.
Matt Bevin Net Worth and Earnings
Matt Bevin is understood to have accumulated significant wealth through his career in business and finance, and he was considered one of the wealthier figures to hold the Kentucky governorship, though a precise, reliably verified net-worth figure is not firmly established in the public record, so this profile does not assert one. His income has derived from his investment and business ventures and his executive roles. Because published figures vary, any estimate should be treated with caution.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Regarded as substantial but not precisely documented (varies) |
| Main income sources | His investment, business and executive ventures |
Matt Bevin Social Media
Matt Bevin has maintained a public presence on social media, which he has used for political and personal communication, and news about him continues to attract media attention.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| X (Twitter) | His official account | Political and personal communication |
| Public information | News and political media | How news about him is reported |
Matt Bevin Controversies and Legal Matters
Matt Bevin’s Pardons and Governorship Disputes
Matt Bevin was a frequently controversial governor, drawing criticism over his confrontational disputes with teachers and lawmakers and, most prominently, over the wave of pardons and commutations he issued at the end of his term in 2019, some of which were strongly criticised. These were matters of significant public and political debate about his conduct in office, and the profile presents them factually and with attribution rather than as any adjudicated wrongdoing.
Matt Bevin’s 2026 Arrest
Matt Bevin was arrested in September 2026 on a bench warrant issued in connection with his ongoing divorce and child-support proceedings, after a family-court judge found him in contempt of court over the handling of required financial documents. He was briefly taken into custody in a civil-contempt matter, not a criminal conviction, arising from the family-court case. The profile reports this factually and with attribution, applying the presumption of innocence and noting it is a civil dispute, and refrains from detailing sensitive family matters.
Lesser Known Facts About Matt Bevin
- His full name is Matthew Griswold Bevin.
- He was born in Denver and raised in New Hampshire.
- He served four years as a US Army officer, reaching captain.
- He studied East Asian studies at Washington and Lee University.
- He challenged Senator Mitch McConnell in a 2014 primary.
- He was only the second Republican Kentucky governor in decades.
- He raised a large family, several of them adopted children.
Matt Bevin FAQ
Who is Matt Bevin?
He is an American businessman and Republican politician who served as the 62nd Governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019.
How old is Matt Bevin?
Born on 9 January 1967, he will be 59 years old in 2026.
What is Matt Bevin best known for?
He is best known for serving one term as Governor of Kentucky, and for his assertive conservative agenda and combative political style.
What did Matt Bevin do before politics?
He was a US Army officer and then a businessman and investment executive, founding and leading his own firms.
Why did Matt Bevin lose re-election?
He narrowly lost the 2019 election to Democrat Andy Beshear by a very slim margin, after a term marked by frequent political conflict.
What happened with Matt Bevin’s pardons?
At the end of his term in 2019 he issued a large number of pardons and commutations, some of which were highly controversial and drew strong criticism.
Why was Matt Bevin arrested in 2026?
He was arrested on a bench warrant in a civil contempt-of-court matter tied to his divorce and child-support case, over the handling of financial documents.
Where is Matt Bevin from?
He was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Shelburne, New Hampshire.
Who did Matt Bevin run against in 2014?
He challenged the long-serving US Senator Mitch McConnell in the 2014 Republican primary, but lost.
What is Matt Bevin doing now?
After leaving office he returned to business, including serving as the chief executive of a health-technology company.
Sources
Louisville Public Media, Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin arrested by Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, https://www.lpm.org/news/2026-09-03/former-kentucky-gov-matt-bevin-arrested-by-bourbon-county-sheriffs-office
UPI, Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin arrested on Kentucky film set, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/09/04/kentucky-governor-matt-bevin-arrested-jailed/8171788532145/
NKyTribune, Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin arrested in Bourbon County, https://nkytribune.com/2026/09/former-kentucky-governor-matt-bevin-arrested-in-bourbon-county/