You know how some people just seem to disappear from the spotlight, even when they’re married to someone famous? That’s exactly what Sharon Mobley Stow did during her 23-year marriage to CNN journalist Jim Acosta.
While her ex-husband was making headlines and asking tough questions in press rooms, Sharon was quietly building her own life as a registered nurse in Maryland. She kept her family protected from the media circus and stayed true to her values.
What makes Sharon’s story so compelling isn’t just that she was married to a famous journalist. It’s how she managed to keep her private lifestyle intact while raising three kids and building a solid career in healthcare.
Sharon Mobley Stow Quick facts
Personal Details | Information |
Full Name | Sharon Mobley Stow |
Birth Date | December 26, 1970 |
Age (2025) | 54 years old |
Birthplace | Severna Park, Maryland |
Height | 5’5″ (165 cm) |
Weight | 126 lbs (57 kg) |
Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
Profession | Registered Nurse |
Education | James Madison University (1993) |
Marriage Duration | 23 years (1994-2017) |
Children | 3 (Hartley, Peter, unnamed daughter) |
Net Worth | Over $2 million (2019) |
Current Status | Single, living in Maryland |
Sharon Early Life & Family Background
Growing up in Severna Park, Maryland, Sharon had the kind of childhood that shaped her into the private person she is today. Her parents, Joy Johnson and Kent W. Stow, raised her in a Christian upbringing alongside her siblings Michelle Marie Stow Vance and Steven Stow.
Born on December 26, 1970, this Capricorn learned early about the importance of hard work and helping others. Her family wasn’t in the public eye, which probably explains why Sharon values privacy so much today.
The Stow family instilled service values that would stick with Sharon for life. These early lessons about putting others first became the foundation for every major decision she’d make.
Professional Healthcare Career
Sharon didn’t just stumble into nursing – she was drawn to it from the start. After finishing at a medical high school Maryland offered, she headed to James Madison University where she earned her nursing degree in 1993.
Her nurse license Maryland journey began with getting her medical license on September 14, 2015. Since then, she’s worked at several respected Maryland hospitals throughout her career.
What’s really impressive about Sharon isn’t her nurse salary Maryland of around $68,500 annually. It’s how colleagues describe her as someone who brings genuine compassionate nurse care to every patient she meets, treating each person with dignity.
Sharon College Romance to Marriage
Picture this: two college students at James Madison University meeting and falling in love. Sharon was focused on her nursing profession while Jim Acosta (whose full name is Abilio James Acosta) was studying mass communication with a political science minor — a path that eventually led him to become a CNN chief White House correspondent.
Their college romance wasn’t just a campus fling – it lasted through their university years and beyond. They supported each other’s dreams and grew up together during those formative years.
By 1994, they were ready for marriage. Their Summer 1994 wedding at Wye of Carmichel United Methodist Church in Queenstown, Maryland was intimate and beautiful, followed by a romantic Greek Islands honeymoon.
Sharon Mobley Stow Family Life & Motherhood
Sharon and Jim welcomed three children: daughters Hartley Acosta and another daughter whose name remains private, plus their son Peter Acosta. From day one, Sharon made it clear her kids would have normal childhoods.
Protecting children’s privacy became Sharon’s specialty. Even as Jim’s career at CNN brought more attention to their family, she successfully kept the kids out of the media spotlight.
Think about how challenging that must have been. Your husband is on TV asking presidents tough questions, but you’re making sure your kids can attend school without reporters bothering them.
Sharon Mobley Stow Marriage Dynamics & Support Role
Being an American journalist spouse meant Sharon had to be incredibly strong behind the scenes. She supported Jim’s rising career while building her own identity as a health professional during crisis situations at hospitals.
Their three-bedroom Maryland home worth $660,000 became a sanctuary where Sharon could focus on what mattered most: family and her nursing work. Fame was never her goal – being a good mother and healthcare worker was.
The balancing act wasn’t easy. Jim’s demanding schedule meant long hours, constant travel, and intense public scrutiny of their family life that Sharon had to navigate carefully.
The 2017 Divorce

After 23 years together, Sharon and Jim’s marriage ended in 2017. The divorce filing date was July 6, 2017, and proceedings concluded at Charles County District Court, Maryland.
What’s remarkable is how they handled the split. No messy tabloid stories, no public arguments, no courtroom drama. Just two adults who realized their marriage wasn’t working and dealt with it maturely.
The quiet divorce reveals everything about Sharon’s character. She could have made it a public spectacle or given tell-all interviews, but she chose dignity and discretion instead.
Post-Divorce Life & Resilience
Following the divorce, Sharon’s net worth $2 million came from her settlement combined with her own earnings. But financial security wasn’t what defined her new chapter – it was her resilient woman spirit moving forward.
Single motherhood brought fresh challenges, but Sharon was prepared. She continued working at Maryland healthcare facilities while ensuring her children felt stable and loved through the transition.
Her decision to maintain no social media presence became even more important after the divorce. While other ex-spouses might have gone public, Sharon chose complete privacy.
Sharon Mobley Stow Current Status (2025)
As of 2025, Sharon continues her private lifestyle in Maryland. At 54, she remains single and dedicated to her dual roles as healthcare worker and mother.
Her children are older now, which likely makes parenting easier. But Sharon’s commitment to shielding them from public attention hasn’t wavered one bit over the years.
Meanwhile, Jim Acosta departed CNN on January 28, 2025 after 18 years with the network, but Sharon’s life continues at her own steady pace.
Co-Parenting Relationship
Here’s something beautiful: Sharon and Jim figured out how to be excellent co-parents even after their marriage ended. No custody battles, no public disputes, just two people prioritizing their children’s wellbeing.
Shared custody works when both parents act maturely. Sharon and Jim demonstrate that respectful co-parenting is absolutely possible, even when one parent lives in the public eye.
Maryland property records show both names still appear on deeds for homes in Maryland and Georgia. This arrangement suggests ongoing cooperation to provide stability for their family.
Understanding Jim Acosta’s Public Profile
To understand Sharon’s choices, you need to grasp what she was dealing with daily. Jim Acosta became one of journalism’s most recognizable faces, especially during politically charged moments.
His Cuban refugee background (his father arrived in America at age 11, just before the Cuban Missile Crisis) and Irish and Czech ancestry on his mother’s side created interesting family dynamics.
But fame brings intense pressure. Sharon watched her husband become a household name while she stayed focused on patient care and raising their children away from cameras.
Read Also: James Westley Welch: Raquel’s First Love Who Chose Privacy
Privacy in the Digital Age
Sharon’s digital privacy strategy is honestly brilliant. In a world where everyone shares everything online, she chose complete silence. Social media absence isn’t easy when you’re connected to someone famous.
Consider this – she could have used her connection to Jim for her own career advancement or business opportunities. Instead, she chose to protect her family values and keep her life completely her own.
Privacy in digital age requires serious discipline. Sharon’s commitment to staying offline demonstrates incredible strong work ethic when it comes to protecting what matters most to her.
Professional Legacy & Healthcare Service
Sharon’s true legacy isn’t about being Jim’s ex-wife – it’s about her years of dedicated service as a healthcare worker. During challenging times, including recent health crises, she kept showing up for patients.
Maryland-based nurse work isn’t glamorous or headline-worthy, but it’s absolutely essential. Sharon’s colleagues know her as someone who brings both professional skill and genuine heart to her job daily.
Her professional dedication remained constant even during personal upheaval. That consistency takes real character and shows what Sharon truly values in life.
Sharon Mobley Stow Character Assessment & Values

What stands out most about Sharon is her quiet strength. She didn’t need fame or recognition to make a meaningful difference. Her personal values guided every major life decision.
Emotional strength shows in how she handled public marriage pressures, divorce proceedings, and single parenting challenges. She faced each obstacle without losing sight of her core identity.
Her Christian upbringing clearly influenced her approach to both marriage and divorce. Even when situations became difficult, she consistently chose grace over drama or revenge.
Lessons & Inspiration
Sharon’s story teaches us that you can be connected to fame without being consumed by it. Being the woman behind the newsman doesn’t have to mean losing yourself in someone else’s narrative.
Parenting in public life requires special skills, and Sharon mastered them completely. Her children got to experience normal childhoods because she made sure of it through careful choices.
Sometimes the strongest choice is stepping back, not forward. Sharon chose a private yet impactful life over public recognition, and that decision worked beautifully for her family.
Current Mysteries & Unknowns
Even now, there’s so much we don’t know about Sharon’s daily routine. Her no social media presence means no Instagram stories, no Twitter updates, no glimpses behind the curtain of her life.
Is she dating anyone special? What are her hobbies outside work? How does she spend her free time? These mysteries exist by design – Sharon values her privacy more than satisfying public curiosity.
What we do know is that she continues nursing, actively parenting, and choosing privacy over publicity every single day without exception.
Read Also: Mary Ryan Ravenel: Thomas Ravenel’s Mysterious Private Ex-Wife
Conclusion
Sharon Mobley Stow proves that meaningful lives can be lived without headlines or fame. Her marriage to Jim Acosta was just one chapter in a story that’s really about service, family, and authentic living.
From her early days in Severna Park, Maryland to her current life as a single mom and nurse, Sharon has consistently chosen substance over celebrity status. Her divorce settlement provided financial security, but her real wealth comes from relationships and patients she’s helped.
In a world that rewards attention-seeking behavior, Sharon’s commitment to privacy feels almost revolutionary. She’s raising her children, helping her patients, and living her values – all away from cameras and social media.
FAQ About Sharon Mobley Stow
How much money does Sharon Mobley Stow make as a nurse?
Sharon earns approximately $68,500 annually as a registered nurse in Maryland, with total estimated net worth over $2 million.
Why did Sharon and Jim Acosta get divorced in 2017?
Neither Sharon nor Jim has publicly discussed the specific reasons for their divorce, keeping their personal matters completely private.
Does Sharon Mobley Stow use social media platforms?
No, Sharon maintains zero social media presence and deliberately stays away from all public online platforms.
How many children do Sharon and Jim share?
They have three children together: daughters Hartley and another unnamed daughter, plus son Peter.
Where does Sharon currently work as a nurse?
Sharon works at various reputable hospitals throughout Maryland, though specific facility names aren’t publicly disclosed for privacy reasons.
When did Sharon obtain her nursing license?
Sharon received her medical license on September 14, 2015, according to official Maryland licensing records.
Do Sharon and Jim still cooperate after their divorce?
Yes, they maintain a respectful co-parenting relationship and continue sharing property ownership for their children’s stability.
Disclaimer: All information in this article is based on publicly available records, reputable news reports, and verified public interviews. Details are accurate as of August 2025.
