George Christie’s First Wife: The Untold Story Behind the Hells Angels Leader’s Early Life
The story of George Christie’s first wife offers a revealing glimpse into the personal side of one of the most famous—and often controversial—figures in motorcycle club history. George Christie, a former leader of the Hells Angels’ Ventura charter, has long been known for his decades spent in the outlaw biker world, his eventual departure from the club, and his subsequent transformation into an author and speaker. While many know the public side of Christie’s life—his clashes with law enforcement, his leadership within one of the most notorious motorcycle organizations in the world—fewer are familiar with his early years, particularly his first marriage to Cheryl Christie. Their relationship, marked by love, tension, and the weight of a lifestyle few could endure, remains an important part of Christie’s personal story and legacy.
Who Is George Christie?
George “Dirty George” Christie was born in 1947 in Ventura, California, and would go on to become one of the most recognizable names in biker culture. As a young man, he was drawn to motorcycles, rebellion, and the brotherhood of the open road. In the 1970s, Christie joined the Hells Angels, one of the world’s most famous motorcycle clubs, and eventually founded the Ventura charter, serving as its president for more than three decades.
Under his leadership, the Ventura Hells Angels became one of the most respected—and feared—chapters in the organization. Christie was known for his intelligence, charisma, and ability to navigate both the internal politics of the biker world and the constant tension with law enforcement. Over the years, he was involved in numerous legal battles, arrests, and investigations, though he often avoided the long prison sentences that many of his contemporaries faced.
But behind the leather jackets, tattoos, and outlaw persona, George Christie was also a husband and father, and his life at home often conflicted with his public one. His first marriage to Cheryl Christie revealed the personal costs of living as both a family man and the leader of a world-famous motorcycle club.
Who Was George Christie’s First Wife?
George Christie’s first wife was Cheryl Christie, a woman whose name still occasionally surfaces in media reports and interviews about his life. The two married during the early years of Christie’s rise within the Hells Angels, a period marked by intensity, loyalty, and constant danger. Together, they had two children: George Christie III and Moriya Christie.
While much of their relationship remains private, what is known from interviews and court records paints a picture of a marriage that struggled under the pressures of the biker lifestyle. Cheryl was not a public figure and rarely gave interviews, but those who have studied Christie’s story recognize that she played a significant role in his early life and career.
According to Christie’s own recollections in interviews and writings, Cheryl found it difficult to adjust to the Hells Angels’ way of life. The club demanded complete loyalty, long absences, and constant risk of violence or arrest. Christie himself admitted that Cheryl never fully embraced the club culture, preferring stability and safety for their family over the chaos that came with his leadership position.
The Challenges of Their Marriage
Life as the wife of a Hells Angels leader was anything but ordinary. The Ventura chapter that Christie led was under constant scrutiny from law enforcement, and club business often came before family life. While George spent countless hours dealing with members, club runs, and external conflicts, Cheryl was left to manage the home and raise their children.
In interviews and blog posts, Christie has acknowledged that the demands of his role created tension at home. He once remarked that Cheryl “never really liked club runs” and struggled with the unpredictable nature of his world. The constant threat of raids, arrests, or internal disputes made it difficult for the family to live a peaceful, private life.
The stress eventually took its toll. Reports suggest that by the 1980s, the marriage had begun to fracture. The strain between George’s devotion to the club and his family’s need for security grew too large to ignore. Their relationship, once a partnership built on youthful passion and shared dreams, could not withstand the pressures of an outlaw lifestyle.
The Separation and Legal Troubles
The dissolution of their marriage did not mark the end of Cheryl’s involvement in Christie’s story. She occasionally appeared in court records and news reports related to George’s later legal troubles. For instance, following one of Christie’s arrests, Cheryl was briefly mentioned in connection with the proceedings, though she was not directly involved in any criminal activities.
Their eventual divorce left George to rebuild his personal life while continuing to navigate the complexities of the biker world. Despite their separation, Cheryl remained an important part of his early narrative. Together, they had raised children who experienced firsthand the unique world of the Hells Angels — a mix of family love, fierce loyalty, and perpetual danger.
George Christie’s Reflections on His First Marriage
In his later years, George Christie has spoken candidly about the toll his choices took on his family. After leaving the Hells Angels in 2011, Christie became a public speaker, consultant, and author, using his experiences to reflect on leadership, loyalty, and redemption. In his book Exile on Front Street: My Life as a Hells Angel and Beyond, Christie discussed how the lifestyle that once seemed liberating came with immense personal costs — including the breakdown of his first marriage.
He has expressed regret that his commitment to the club often overshadowed his responsibilities at home. In one interview, he described how his time in the Hells Angels consumed every part of his life, leaving little room for anything else. The loss of his first marriage became one of several consequences he faced as a result of his deep immersion in the outlaw world.
Christie’s Life After Cheryl
After his separation from Cheryl, George Christie continued to lead the Ventura charter for several more decades. He eventually remarried, though he has kept his second marriage largely private as well. His later years have been defined not by the biker wars of his past, but by storytelling, writing, and public speaking.
Christie’s son, George Christie III, also made headlines in connection to the family name, though in different contexts. The Christie family, once at the center of one of America’s most notorious motorcycle organizations, eventually found new paths outside the club.
In interviews, Christie has acknowledged that while his first marriage ended painfully, it shaped much of who he became. It taught him about loyalty, sacrifice, and the limits of living two lives — one devoted to the Hells Angels and one devoted to his family.
What We Don’t Know
While George Christie’s life has been well-documented through documentaries, interviews, and his own writings, details about his marriage to Cheryl remain limited. The exact timeline of their marriage and divorce has never been publicly confirmed, and Cheryl herself has chosen to live a private life away from the media.
This lack of information has led to occasional speculation online, but most credible sources agree on the basics: Cheryl was George Christie’s first wife, the mother of his two eldest children, and a significant figure in his early years with the Hells Angels.
Why His First Marriage Still Matters
The story of George Christie’s first wife is more than a footnote in his biography—it’s a key chapter in understanding the man behind the myth. His relationship with Cheryl represents the personal sacrifices and human costs that come with a life lived on the edge. While George Christie’s name is often associated with rebellion and freedom, his first marriage reminds us of the emotional toll such a lifestyle can take on those closest to it.
Christie’s later transformation into a public speaker and writer reflects a man who has learned from his past. He often emphasizes the importance of balance, responsibility, and self-awareness—values that likely emerged from the lessons of his first marriage.
Featured Image Source: nypost.com
