Sue Aikens stands alone at Kavik River Camp, 197 miles north of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures drop to minus 60°F and darkness lasts for months. For 23 seasons, viewers watched her survive in one of Earth’s harshest environments on National Geographic’s Life Below Zero. But how much did this extreme lifestyle actually pay? As of 2025, Sue Aikens has built an estimated net worth of $600,000—a fortune earned through grit, business smarts, and years of reality television.
After the show’s cancellation in November 2024, Sue’s financial story takes on new meaning. She’s purchased property near Fairbanks and continues managing her remote camp while dealing with chronic injuries from a bear attack and snowmachine crash. Her wealth didn’t come from overnight fame. It came from decades of surviving Alaska’s brutality while building multiple income streams that most people can’t imagine maintaining.
Sue Aikens Net Worth
Sue Aikens’ net worth sits around $600,000 in 2025, though estimates vary across sources. Some outlets claim $500,000, while others push figures to $1.5 million. The confusion comes from limited public financial records and the private nature of her business operations.
Her wealth grew steadily during Life Below Zero‘s run from 2013 to 2024. Before the show, Sue earned modest income from Kavik River Camp and occasional work in Alaska’s tourism industry. The reality series changed everything. Her annual earnings reportedly reached $200,000 at the show’s peak, with per-episode payments around $4,500. Over 23 seasons, that television salary alone contributed significantly to her current financial standing.
Unlike other reality stars who splurge on luxury items, Sue invested her earnings back into survival. She maintains expensive equipment, aviation fuel supplies, and emergency resources needed for Arctic living. Her recent property purchase near Chena shows smart planning for aging—she’s securing a more accessible location while keeping Kavik operational.
Reality Television Star
Sue’s television career started small. She appeared on Sarah Palin’s Alaska in 2010 and Flying Wild Alaska from 2011 to 2012. These shows introduced her to producers, but Life Below Zero made her famous.
The BBC Studios and National Geographic production followed Sue’s daily life managing Kavik River Camp. She became the show’s most recognizable face—the tough woman who survived alone in conditions that would kill most people within days. The series earned eight Emmy Awards from 16 nominations, with Sue attending several ceremonies.
Her authentic personality set her apart. While other reality shows manufacture drama, Sue’s struggles were real. Viewers watched her hunt for food, repair buildings in subzero temperatures, and handle medical emergencies without help. She didn’t need scripted conflict—living at the edge of the world provided enough tension.
How Sue Aikens Makes Money
Sue’s income comes from several sources, with television salary forming the foundation. During Life Below Zero‘s run, her $200,000 annual payment covered living expenses and allowed savings. That income stream ended with the show’s cancellation, making her other revenue sources more critical.
Kavik River Camp generates year-round income despite its remote location. Sue charges roughly $350 per day for hunting expeditions and tourist accommodations. The camp serves as a refueling station for small aircraft crossing Alaska’s North Slope, selling aviation fuel at premium prices due to transportation costs. She also offers guided hunting trips and emergency services to travelers stranded in the Arctic.
Merchandise sales and public speaking add smaller amounts. Sue sells branded items through online channels and occasionally speaks at outdoor and survival events. These income streams pale compared to her camp operations and former TV salary, but they supplement her earnings.
Early Life and Journey to Alaska
Born Susan Aikens on July 1, 1963, in Mount Prospect, Illinois, Sue’s childhood was anything but typical. Her parents separated in the early 1970s, and her mother moved them to Alaska when Sue was 12. Life got harder when her mother left her to survive on her own.
Sue learned independence fast. She attended Lowell Whiteman School and graduated high school at 13—an unusual achievement that speaks to her intelligence and determination. Alaska became home not by choice but by necessity. She couldn’t return to Illinois, so she adapted to a state where survival skills matter more than social status.
Those early years taught her everything needed for later success. She learned to hunt, fish, manage cold-weather equipment, and handle isolation. By the time she reached adulthood, Sue possessed skills most Alaskans never develop.
Kavik River Camp: Her Alaskan Business
Kavik River Camp sits 500 miles from Fairbanks and 80 miles from the nearest road. It’s not just remote—it’s nearly unreachable except by plane. Sue operates the camp as its sole year-round resident, managing everything from aviation services to tourist accommodations.
The camp’s profitability depends on several factors. Hunters pay for guided expeditions during Alaska’s hunting seasons. Small aircraft operators purchase fuel when flying across the North Slope. Occasional tourists book stays to experience Arctic wilderness. Sue handles all operations herself—cooking, maintenance, fuel sales, and customer service.
Running the business presents constant challenges. The camp sits on government land, limiting her ownership rights. Supply deliveries cost thousands due to aviation requirements. Equipment breaks frequently in extreme cold. Wildlife poses daily threats. Yet Sue maintains operations year after year, proving the business model works despite obstacles.
The Grizzly Bear Attack That Nearly Killed Her
In 2007, Sue experienced the incident that defined her survival reputation. While pumping water, a grizzly bear attacked using what she calls an “alpha push”—aggressive behavior meant to establish dominance. The bear dislocated both her hips, caused severe head wounds, and left her unable to walk.
Sue’s response shows her character. She killed the bear, then sewed her own head wounds shut with whatever supplies she had. With no immediate rescue possible, she waited 10 days before help arrived. Those 10 days involved managing pain, preventing infection, and staying alive in the same conditions that nearly killed her.
The attack left permanent damage. She lives with chronic pain and mobility limitations that affect daily work. Shooting from her right side became impossible, forcing her to relearn skills left-handed. The injuries remind her constantly that Alaska doesn’t forgive mistakes.
Legal Battle: Suing Life Below Zero Producers
Sue sued BBC Worldwide Reality Productions in federal court in 2017, alleging the production company forced her into dangerous situations for dramatic footage. The lawsuit centered on a 2015 snowmachine crash that shattered her collarbone.
According to court documents, producers pressured her to perform stunts beyond normal camp operations. When she crashed, the production team delayed medical evacuation to film her injuries and reaction. Sue required surgery that left her with 14 screws and two titanium plates in her shoulder.
The lawsuit highlighted tensions between reality TV production and participant safety. Sue argued that producers prioritized drama over her wellbeing, creating scenarios that increased injury risk. The case eventually settled, though specific terms remain confidential. The experience damaged her relationship with production staff and highlighted the physical cost of reality television.
Sue Aikens’ Personal Life and Relationships
Sue’s personal life includes three marriages and considerable heartbreak. Her first husband died from brain cancer, a loss that shaped her perspective on life’s fragility. Her second marriage to Eddie James Aikens lasted 17 years, from 1987 to 2004, producing two children. That marriage ended in divorce.
Her third marriage ended when her husband left for a younger woman—a painful experience Sue discussed candidly in interviews. She spent years single, focusing on work rather than relationships.
Currently, Sue’s in a long-distance relationship with Michael G. Heinrich, a journeyman electrician from New York. Their relationship works despite the distance, with Michael visiting Alaska when possible. Sue’s shared her pride in Michael on social media, though both maintain privacy about relationship details.
Children and Family
Sue has two adult children from her second marriage and multiple grandchildren. She’s deliberately kept family details private, rarely mentioning her children on Life Below Zero. This decision protects them from public scrutiny and allows them normal lives outside her fame.
Her relationship with her children appears strong despite her remote lifestyle. She’s mentioned her pride in their accomplishments and her joy in being a grandmother. Balancing family connections with Arctic isolation requires effort, but Sue maintains those relationships through visits during warmer months.
Remarkable Weight Loss Transformation
In October 2018, Sue started a weight loss journey that resulted in dropping 75 pounds. She approached 60 years old carrying injuries from the bear attack and snowmachine crash, realizing excess weight worsened her chronic pain.
Her method was simple but brutal—manual labor instead of machinery. She performed physical chores around camp, hauled supplies without mechanical assistance, and maintained a more active daily routine. The Arctic environment doesn’t allow casual exercise. Every physical task burns calories while serving a survival purpose.
The weight loss improved her health significantly. Mobility increased despite permanent injuries. Pain levels decreased. Energy improved. Sue’s transformation wasn’t about appearance—it was about extending her ability to live independently in extreme conditions.
Surviving 23 Years at the Edge of the World
Living alone at Kavik River Camp means enduring isolation most people can’t imagine. During winter, darkness lasts 24 hours. Temperatures reach minus 60°F. No roads connect her to civilization. Neighbors don’t exist. Help can’t arrive quickly.
Sue hunts for food, performs her own medical care, and handles every camp maintenance task. Wildlife threatens constantly—bears, wolves, and wolverines view the camp as their territory. Equipment failure means death if she can’t fix it. Weather changes can trap her inside for days.
Yet Sue thrived there for 23 years. She developed systems for every challenge, backup plans for emergencies, and mental toughness that sustained her through endless winters. Her survival wasn’t luck—it was skill, preparation, and psychological strength refined over decades.
Life After Life Below Zero
Life Below Zero ended in November 2024 after 23 seasons, leaving Sue without her primary income source. She’s adapted by purchasing abandoned property near Chena, outside Fairbanks. This new location offers easier access as she ages while keeping her connected to Alaska’s wilderness.
Sue continues managing Kavik River Camp despite the show’s end. The camp generates income independent of television payments, though losing that publicity may affect tourist bookings. She’s exploring new projects, though specifics remain private.
At 61, Sue faces decisions about her future. The Arctic lifestyle becomes harder with age and accumulated injuries. Her Chena property represents smart planning—maintaining independence while acknowledging physical limitations. She’s not retiring from wilderness living, just adapting to reality.
Awards and Recognition
Life Below Zero earned impressive industry recognition during its run. The series won eight Emmy Awards from 16 nominations, cementing its place as quality reality programming. Sue attended Emmy ceremonies, representing the show’s success.
Beyond formal awards, Sue became reality television’s most recognizable female survival expert. Her face symbolizes extreme living and self-sufficiency. Documentaries, news features, and survival shows reference her story as the gold standard for Arctic survival.
Sue Aikens’ Health Challenges
Sue’s body carries decades of Arctic living’s physical toll. The 2007 bear attack left chronic pain and mobility issues. The 2015 snowmachine crash added shoulder injuries requiring metal hardware. In 2024, she underwent vertebrae fusion surgery, addressing back problems from years of heavy lifting and harsh conditions.
These injuries limit her daily activities. She can’t shoot from her right side. Heavy lifting causes pain. Cold weather worsens joint problems. Yet she adapts constantly, finding ways to complete tasks despite physical restrictions. Her survival depends on accepting limitations while working around them.
What Makes Sue Aikens Different
Sue stands apart in reality television for several reasons. She’s the only woman living solo in such extreme Arctic conditions featured on mainstream TV. Her survival skills are genuine, not staged for cameras. She owns and operates a business in an impossible location. Her personality lacks manufactured drama—she’s authentic, blunt, and real.
Most reality stars perform for cameras. Sue simply lives, allowing cameras to document actual survival. Her transparency about challenges, injuries, and failures makes her relatable despite her extraordinary circumstances. She doesn’t pretend life is easy or glamorous—she shows the brutal reality of choosing isolation over comfort.
Where Is Sue Aikens Now in 2025
Sue splits time between Kavik River Camp and her new Chena property in 2025. She maintains her relationship with Michael Heinrich, though they live apart most of the year. Without Life Below Zero, she’s exploring what comes next—potentially new media projects, continued public speaking, or simply managing her camp without cameras.
Her social media presence keeps fans updated on daily life. She shares camp photos, wildlife encounters, and occasional personal thoughts. The connection to viewers remains strong even without the show.
Sue’s legacy is secure. She proved women can survive and thrive in Earth’s harshest environments. She built wealth through determination and business sense in a place where most people couldn’t last a week. At 61, she’s still going—tougher than most people half her age and twice as capable.
