Con Artist Frank Abagnale Wife, Kelly Anne Welbes Abagnale: Met Her While For Working For The FBI

Frank Abagnale Jr. and his wife Kelly married in 1976 and shares 3 sons together

Frank Abagnale, a former fraud convict, lives with his wife of four decades, Kelly Anne Welbes Abagnale. Many may be familiar with Mr. Abagnale’s life story, well depicted by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 movie ‘Catch Me If You Can’.

The couple met when Abagnale Jr. was working as an FBI agent leaving out his history of a fraud conviction. Together, they are parents to three sons, one of whom works for the FBI.

Get the full story of Frank’s relationship with his wife in the article below.

Frank Abagnale’s Wife, Kelly Anne: When & How Did They Marry?

Abagnale Jr. and his wife, Kelly Anne Welbes, have been married for nearly five decades. As reported, they tied the knot on November 6, 1976, in a church in a private ceremony; the year 2023 marked their 47th wedding anniversary.

At the time of marriage, Welbes was 22 while her beau Frank was 28.

Frank Abagnale Jr. and his wife, Kelly Anne Welbes
Frank Abagnale Jr. and his wife, Kelly Anne Welbes

There’s an interesting story on how the former fraud-turned-security consultant met his then-future-wife, Kelly.

After multiple arrests and jail time, Frank agreed to work with the FBI; as a part of parole, he would teach the FBI about his ways of defrauding. So, in the mid-1970s, they deployed him as an agent for an undercover assignment.

So, during one of those investigations, he met Kelly who was working at a grocery store, and fell in love with her. Unlike other times when he would leave abruptly, Abagnale Jr. would stay this time.

Even more, according to his interview, he broke the “FBI protocol” and told her the truth. Upon learning his truth, Kelly’s parents didn’t approve of their relationship, but she found a way to be with him anyway.

He said, “I didn’t have a dime to my name, but I eventually asked her to marry me against the wishes of her parents. She did.”

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Frank Shares Three Sons With His Wife, Kelly

Together, the Abagnale couple are parents of three grown-up sons, Scott, Chris, and Sean.

The eldest one, Scott William Abagnale (b. on January 1, 1979) is an FBI special agent; he is the Unit Chief of the Crisis Negotiations Unit. As reported, he was an attorney earlier but joined at the drop of a hat after he got an offer from the FBI.

Furthermore, Scott is the father of two kids (Caleb and Paige) with his wife, Erica Goleman Abagnale.

Frank Abagnale Jr with his wife, Kelly and three sons
Frank Abagnale Jr with his wife, Kelly, and three sons

The second son, Chris Abagnale, is the co-owner of a boutique, House of Sage, with his wife, Erin Hogan Abagnale. The pair has two kids together.

Frank Abagnale’s youngest son, Sean, is a video game producer who currently works for id Software (2018- now)

Where Is Kelly Anne Welbes, Abagnale Jr.’s Wife, From? Age & Family

Frank Jr.’s wife, Kelly, was born on June 26, 1954, in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Houston. As of 2025, her age is 70; she is six years younger than her husband, born on April 27, 1948, who is 76.

Welbes, an American with white ethnicity, comes from a well-settle family.

Her father, Maxine C. Rust Welbes, was a U.S. Army engineer in World War II, who died at 87, on May 4, 2004. Kelly’s late mom, Louis A. Welbes, was a retired professor; she died on December 18, 2008, at 86.

What Does Kelly Do Now?

Currently, in her 70s, Kelly Anne Abagnale (nee Welbes) is a stay-at-home wife. She’s been a homemaker after welcoming three kids with her husband. Previously, she worked in an orphanage.

Welbes is a graduate of Waltrip High School in Houston, Texas. Later, she went to college (name not disclosed) and obtained her Master’s degree in Child Psychology.

On the other, her husband, Frank Abagnale, turned his life around after convictions for numerous frauds and now works as a security consultant and for the FBI. He is the winner of the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Frank Abagnale Jr., an American convicted fraud-turned-security consultant, and author
Frank Abagnale Jr., an American convicted fraud-turned-security consultant, and author

Throughout his life, he saw multiple jail times that included a 12-year sentence (but got out after 2 years on parole).

Now, he is an author who wrote the book based on his frauds, “Catch Me If You Can”, which became the basis for the 2002 movie of the same name.

He also wrote other books: The Art of the Steal (2001), Real U Guide to Identity Theft (2004), Scam Me If You Can (2019), and The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can (2020).

Also Read: Why Is Taylor Giavasis’ Father In Jail? More On Taylor’s Parents And Boyfriend

Kelly Anne Welbes Abagnale’s Net Worth In 2025

Mrs. Abagnale has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of 2025. She is retired and now a homemaker.

On the other, her husband, Frank Abagnale Jr. owns a net worth of $10 million. Thanks to Frank Jr.’s life transition from a fraud conviction to a consultant for the FBI, author and motivational speaker.

Her beau was convicted of cashing over 17,000 bad checks that amounted to $2.5 million, which became an inspiration for Abagnale Jr.’s book Catch Me If You Can and the 2002 film of the same name.

David

David loves to provide his diverse expertise as a content writer in Hollywood and sports niche.

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