Michael Joseph Consuelos: The Life of Kelly Ripa’s Son

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' eldest son, Michael Joseph Consuelos, is the carbon copy of his famous father. He is so private about his love life that fans have speculated about his sexuality.

Michael Joseph Consuelos has been on everybody's radar since he was born due to the successful career of his parents, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa. Michael also followed in his parent's footsteps and is involved in showbiz.

While he landed his first role in 2004, he has also made multiple appearances on his mom's talk show. Read on and learn everything about Michael Consuelos, including the "extreme poverty" he faced in New York.

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONSUELOS' BIOGRAPHY

Born on June 2, 1997, Michael is not only Ripa and Consuelos' eldest child but also the one who looks like their famous dad the most. He studied Film at New York University for four years and graduated in 2020. More on his life as a college student later.

It is essential to point out that Michael became involved in the entertainment industry over a decade before college. In 2004, he voiced Alien Gremmie in the animated series "Duck Dodgers." Two years later, he did the same for multiple characters in "Go, Diego! Go!"

Michael's acting debut came in 2012's short film "The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee," but his most important job so far has been playing the younger version of Hiram Lodge, Consuelos' character in "Riverdale," in 2018.

Consuelos proved he was proud of his son by posting a black-and-white photo of himself and Michael on Instagram. The Consuelos patriarch wrote in the caption that Michael played the younger and "better looking" Hiram Lodge.

Michael reprised his role in "Riverdale" in 2021. That time, he and Consuelos shared the screen as the latter portrayed Hiram's father. Consuelos took to social media to confess that working with his son was a "great honor."

Apart from his rising acting career, Michael has also been on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" several times and worked as a production assistant for "The Goldbergs" in 2018.

[Michael] was "chronically poor" and had never experienced "extreme poverty" before.

However, he is determined to become a successful actor. In August 2021, Ripa and Consuelos' eldest child admitted that while he was open to anything, he was really passionate about acting.

We have no reasons to doubt Michael's word, especially after Ripa revealed that he was a terrible liar. Michael said his mom would always find out when he tried to hide things from her, and Ripa added:

"You are one of the most honest people that I know. You would fold like a house of cards. Your siblings [Lola and Joaquin], on the other hand, are trained, professional liars."

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONSUELOS HAD A "HARD LIFE" IN NEW YORK

Although Michael grew up in a wealthy family, he had a financially challenging time during his college years in New York. Ripa revealed on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that her son lived in Brooklyn, and it was his first time experiencing adulthood.

Michael loved the freedom but hated paying his rent. Ripa pointed out that he was "chronically poor" and had never experienced "extreme poverty" before.

Unfortunately, some people took offense at Ripa's joke as they considered she made fun of poverty even though she is a successful and wealthy celebrity.

The actress addressed the controversy on Instagram and revealed that Michael not only studied but also worked full-time. Still, it was his first "non-parent subsidized" apartment, which he shared with roommates.

Ripa added that neither she nor Consuelos grew up privileged, so they expected their children to work hard as they did to become as successful as they are, hopefully.

Controversies aside, Michael graduated in 2020 but attended the graduation ceremony in May 2022 as the coronavirus pandemic held it off. All his family members showed up to support him.

WHO ARE MICHAEL JOSEPH CONSUELOS' PARENTS?

Speaking of the success of Michael's parents, it took years for them to make it big in showbiz. In Consuelos' case, he was born in Zaragoza, Spain, on March 30, 1971, but spent most of his childhood between Lebanon, Illinois, and Florida.

In 1995, one year after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in marketing, he made his acting debut in "All My Children." Consuelos worked for 15 years in the soap opera before leaving in 2010. He is now a crucial character in "Riverdale."

Seeing the "nonsense" Ripa and Consuelos frequently share online made [Michael] more private.

On the other hand, Ripa was born on October 2, 1970, in New Jersey. She began acting in high school plays until her manager ushered her to become a professional actress.

She listened and landed her first gig in "All My Children" in 1990. However, she is best known for hosting "Live with Kelly and Ryan" since 2001.

Ripa and Consuelos' love story is one of a kind. They met on the "All My Children" set, but she fell in love with him before their first meeting. She explained:

"When I saw the photograph of him, I saw my entire future with him flash before [my eyes]. Like. I saw it. I [didn't] believe in any of that, and now I do because of that moment."

In May 1996, one year after Ripa and Consuelos met, they eloped in Las Vegas. After welcoming Michael in 1997, Ripa gave birth to Lola in June 2001 and Joaquin in February 2003.

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONSUELOS' TWO SIBLINGS

Michael might be Ripa and Consuelos' most famous kid, but his siblings have also made headlines multiple times. Lola attends New York University and is majoring in music.

She used to post videos showing off her impressive vocal skills on social media. However, she deleted almost all her posts, including those showing her boyfriend, Tarek Fahmy. It is unclear if they are still together.

Michael's younger brother, Joaquin, took a different path. Instead of going to NYU like his siblings, he went to the University of Michigan and joined the school's wrestling team.

The fact that Ripa won the 2015 GLAAD Media Award added fuel to the speculation [that Michael is gay].

FANS SPECULATED ABOUT MICHAEL JOSEPH CONSUELOS' SEXUALITY

Ripa and Consuelos famously share risqué pictures on social media showing off their stunning physiques, but Michael's internet behavior is entirely different.

He once joked that having young parents was great because he could spend more time with them, but it was also a curse because they "post stuff like this."

Michael added that seeing the "nonsense" Ripa and Consuelos frequently share online made him more private, meaning he doesn't share sexy photos or talk about his dating life.

The lack of information about Michael's love life has attracted much attention, with some claiming he is gay. The fact that Ripa won the 2015 GLAAD Media Award added fuel to the speculation.

She didn't mention Michael specifically during her acceptance speech but admitted to feeling blessed that her children grew up in an environment of acceptance.

Ripa pointed out that getting the award for treating people like people was odd. So far, neither Michael nor his family has addressed the rumors about his sexuality.

HOW IS MICHAEL JOSEPH CONSUELOS' RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PARENTS?

Michael and his famous parents have a beautiful relationship, and the fact that they keep poking fun at each other proves it. Michael once said that Ripa adopted her dog, Lena, to prepare to be an empty-nester.

He joked that Ripa would walk around the house holding Lena like a "Bond villain," adding that something was wrong with her relationship with her dog.

Ripa has also teased her children by saying she and her husband cannot get rid of their kids even after they went to college; the kids would frequently show up at the family home without telling them. Michael Joseph Consuelos has a large, talented, and supportive family. Way to go!