Paul Edward Hospenthal is an American physical therapist best known as the former husband of retired race car driver Danica Patrick. He built a career in sports rehabilitation and reportedly worked with professional athletes before becoming widely known through his relationship with Patrick.
Paul and Danica met in 2002 when he treated her for a hip injury. They married in 2005 and divorced in 2013. Paul later remarried and has mostly stayed away from public attention.
Paul Edward Hospenthal’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Edward Hospenthal |
| Date of birth | June 5, 1965 |
| Age | 61 as of 2026 |
| Reported birthplace | Tacoma, Washington, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Physical therapist |
| Known for | Danica Patrick’s ex-husband |
| Father | Joseph Pascal Hospenthal |
| Mother | Louise Müller Hospenthal |
| Siblings | Heidi, Karl, Mark, and Kurt |
| Education | University of Puget Sound |
| Ex-wife | Danica Patrick |
| Marriage | November 19, 2005 |
| Divorce | April 17, 2013 |
| Current wife | Reported as Marisa/Marissa |
| Children with Danica | None |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Family
Paul Edward Hospenthal was born on June 5, 1965, in Tacoma, Washington.
His parents were Joseph Pascal Hospenthal and Louise Müller Hospenthal.
His father was born in Arth, Schwyz, Switzerland, in 1933 and moved to the United States in 1952. Joseph later served in the U.S. Army.
Paul Edward Hospenthal therefore has Swiss family roots.
He grew up with four siblings: Heidi, Karl, Mark, and Kurt Hospenthal. Little else has been publicly documented about his childhood.
Education
Paul Edward Hospenthal attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.
Reports say he participated in track and ran the 400-meter event while studying there.
He later continued his education in sports medicine. Several sources identify Western Michigan University as the school where he completed graduate studies.
Some older articles name the University of Michigan instead. Because the sources conflict, Western Michigan University is the more commonly reported school, but the exact details of his graduate education are not strongly documented.
Career as a Physical Therapist
Paul built his career as a physical therapist with a focus on sports injuries and rehabilitation.
He practiced in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has been connected with the Desert Institute of Physical Therapy.
Paul reportedly treated professional athletes from several sports, including golf, football, basketball, and auto racing. Public sources do not provide a reliable list of all his professional athlete clients.
Golf has been an important part of his professional background. Reports say he worked with golfers and also played the sport himself.
His Napa Valley Vineyard
Paul has also been involved in the wine industry.
He has owned a vineyard in Coombsville, Napa Valley, California. The property has been connected with Cabernet Sauvignon grape production.
This gave him a business interest outside his physical therapy work.
How Paul Met Danica Patrick
Paul Edward Hospenthal met Danica Patrick in 2002.
Danica had suffered a hip injury while doing yoga and went to Paul for physical therapy in Scottsdale.
Their relationship later became personal, and they started dating.
There was a significant age difference between them. Paul was born in 1965, while Danica was born in 1982, making him about 17 years older.
Marriage to Danica Patrick
Paul and Danica reportedly became engaged around Thanksgiving 2004.
They married on November 19, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The wedding was kept private. Danica was 23 and Paul was 40 when they married.
Racing team owner Bobby Rahal was among the people reported to have attended the ceremony.
During their marriage, Paul sometimes accompanied Danica to public events and motorsport-related appearances.
The couple also had a miniature schnauzer named William Robert, better known as Billy.
Their Divorce
In November 2012, Danica announced that she and Paul had decided to end their marriage.
She described the decision as mutual and said Paul remained an important person and friend in her life.
Danica officially filed for divorce on January 3, 2013, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Court documents described their marriage as “irretrievably broken.”
The divorce was finalized in April 2013. The consent decree was filed on April 17, 2013.
Paul Edward Hospenthal and Danica had a prenuptial agreement. Neither requested alimony, and their property matters were handled through a settlement.
Some websites have claimed that another relationship caused their divorce. However, there is no reliable evidence establishing infidelity as the reason their marriage ended.
Did Paul and Danica Have Children?
Paul Edward Hospenthal and Danica did not have any children together.
Reliable information about whether Paul has children from another relationship is limited.
Did Paul Hospenthal Remarry?
Paul Edward Hospenthal later appears to have remarried.
His father’s 2017 obituary lists Paul with a wife named Marissa.
Secondary biography sources give her fuller name as Marisa Catherine Henrichs and report that the couple married in 2015. She has also been described as a school teacher.
The exact spelling of her name and details of their wedding have not been confirmed by stronger public records.
Who Is Danica Patrick?
Danica Sue Patrick is a retired American professional race car driver. She was born on March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wisconsin.
She became one of the best-known women in American motorsports.
In 2008, Danica won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race.
She also competed in the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar Series, and NASCAR. She finished fourth in the 2005 Indianapolis 500.
Danica later worked on other projects outside racing, including books and the Pretty Intense podcast.
Her marriage to Paul brought him wider public attention outside his physical therapy career.
Professional Disciplinary History
Paul Edward Hospenthal also faced disciplinary action during his physical therapy career.
Records from the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy show that he faced action related to professional boundaries involving a former patient.
The Board placed him on six months of probation from October 2006 to April 2007. The requirements included professional education related to patient boundaries. Records show that he completed the probation requirements.
A separate earlier Arizona licensing matter involved practicing for a period while his license was not active. That case resulted in probation and other requirements.
In 2007, Paul also voluntarily surrendered his Pennsylvania physical therapy license after disciplinary action had been taken against his license in another state.
These were professional regulatory matters and should be distinguished from his marriage and divorce from Danica Patrick.
Where Is Paul Hospenthal Now?
Paul has kept a low public profile since his divorce from Danica.
Professional records have continued to connect his name with physical therapy in Scottsdale, but there is limited reliable information confirming his current daily work or residence in 2026.
He rarely appears in entertainment news and does not appear to seek public attention.
Social Media
Paul Edward Hospenthal does not have a widely known verified public social media presence.
Most publicly available information about him comes from professional records, older news reports, family records, and coverage of his marriage to Danica.
Net Worth
Paul Edward Hospenthal’s exact net worth is not publicly known.
Several celebrity biography websites estimate it at around $1 million to $2 million.
These estimates have not been confirmed through financial records. His known professional interests have included physical therapy and a Napa Valley vineyard.
Facts About Paul Edward Hospenthal
- Paul was born on June 5, 1965.
- He is an American physical therapist.
- His father, Joseph Hospenthal, was born in Switzerland.
- Paul has four siblings.
- He attended the University of Puget Sound.
- He reportedly participated in college track.
- His career has focused on sports physical therapy and rehabilitation.
- He has been professionally connected with Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Paul has owned a vineyard in Napa Valley.
- He met Danica Patrick in 2002 while treating her hip injury.
- He is about 17 years older than Danica.
- They married on November 19, 2005.
- They had no children together.
- Danica announced their separation in November 2012.
- Their divorce was finalized in April 2013.
- Paul Edward Hospenthal later remarried, according to family and secondary records.
- His exact net worth is not publicly confirmed.
- He has maintained a private life in recent years.
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