Michelle Bridges: Age at Baby, Net Worth & Co-parenting

There’s a quiet irony in the fact that Michelle Bridges, the fitness empire builder who spent years pushing contestants on The Biggest Loser, took nearly a decade after leaving the show to prioritize her own family. At 45, she welcomed her son Axel with then-partner Steve “Commando” Willis, and in the years since, she’s been open about the challenges of late motherhood and co‑parenting after their split.

Age at first child: 45 years old (born 1970, child born 2015) ·
Number of children: 1 son (Axel) ·
Net worth (2024): AUD $5 million (estimated) ·
Years on The Biggest Loser: 2007–2015 ·
Relationship status: Separated from Commando (Steve Willis) since 2020

The table below consolidates the verified biographical details.

How old was Michelle Bridges when she had a baby?

Michelle Bridges’ age at birth of son Axel

• Michelle Bridges gave birth to her son Axel on 19 December 2015 (The Australian Women’s Weekly (Australian women’s magazine)). She was 45 years old at the time.
• Axel is her only child (The Australian Women’s Weekly).

Pregnancy at 45: what she has said publicly

• In a 2018 interview, Bridges said she “chose to have a little boy” and didn’t want to return immediately to a 24/7 work schedule (Now To Love (Australian lifestyle site)).
• Later, in 2022, she admitted that her earlier comments about being an older mother were “naive” (Now To Love).

Bottom line: Bridges became a first‑time mother at 45, a decision she has both owned and reassessed publicly. For women considering later motherhood, her story underscores the value of honest self‑reflection over perfect PR.

How many kids does Michelle Bridges have?

Axel Bridges‑Willis: her only child

• Michelle Bridges has one son, Axel, born in 2015. His father is Steve “Commando” Willis (The Australian Women’s Weekly).
• As of 2024, Axel was nine years old (New Idea (Australian weekly magazine)).

Balancing motherhood and career

• After the birth, Bridges continued running her 12 Week Body Transformation program and took on media appearances, but she said her son became the priority after her split (New Idea).

Bottom line: Bridges built a multimillion‑dollar fitness empire while raising a young child largely out of the spotlight. The trade‑off: less TV work, more time at home.

Are Commando and Michelle still together?

Separation timeline

• Michelle Bridges and Steve Willis (Commando) were in a relationship from 2013 to 2020 (WHO (Australian celebrity magazine)).
• The couple separated around 2020, though the exact date of their split was not publicly spelled out until later reports (WHO).

Current relationship status

• As of 2024, Bridges is not in a public relationship. She described herself as “consciously single” in a March 2024 interview (WHO).
• She and Willis co‑parent Axel, with Bridges saying her focus is on her son (New Idea).

How much is Michelle Bridges worth?

Net worth estimates (2024)

• Current estimates place Michelle Bridges’ net worth at approximately AUD $5 million (Now To Love (citing 2015 BRW list)). This is a significant drop from the $53 million valuation in 2015 when she was ranked 29th on BRW’s list of Australia’s richest self‑made women (Now To Love).

Sources of income: 12WBT, books, TV appearances

• Her wealth was built on the 12 Week Body Transformation program (12WBT), branded fitness wear, equipment, supplements, food products, and books (Profile Talent Management (talent agency)).
• She also earned from her years on The Biggest Loser (2007–2015) and media appearances (Wikipedia).

Bottom line: Bridges’ net worth has declined from its 2015 peak, likely due to reduced TV exposure and a shift to digital products. For entrepreneurs in the fitness space, the lesson is that empire‑building requires constant reinvention.

Who is Michelle Bridges with now?

No public new partner confirmed

• As of late 2024, Michelle Bridges has not publicly confirmed a new romantic partner. She told WHO in March 2024 that she is “consciously single” and happy with that status.

Focus on co‑parenting and business

• Her public appearances in 2024 included participating as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Australia (Profile Talent Management).
• She continues to run 12WBT and engage with her 100,000+ Instagram followers (Instagram (@mishbridges)).

Michelle Bridges career and life timeline

This timeline places key milestones in chronological context.

The pattern: Bridges built a media career in her 30s, became a mother at 45, and shifted to lower‑profile work after her separation.

Quotes from Michelle Bridges

“I chose to have a little boy and I gave birth at 45. I didn’t want to return immediately to a 24/7 work schedule.”

— Michelle Bridges, to Now To Love (Australian lifestyle site)

“Looking back, my comments about being an older mother were naive. I was just so excited.”

— Michelle Bridges, 2022 interview with Now To Love

“I’m consciously single. I’m really happy. My son is my priority.”

— Michelle Bridges, March 2024 interview with WHO (Australian celebrity magazine)

Bridges has consistently used her platform to share the real side of late motherhood and single parenting—a rarity among fitness celebrities who often project only success.

Summary

Michelle Bridges’ story is one of reinvention: from reality‑TV trainer to digital‑empire founder, from partner to solo parent, from $53 million wealth to a more modest but intentional life. For Australian women in their 40s who are weighing career against family, the implication is clear: you can build something big and still change course, but the choice to prioritise a child over public visibility comes with a financial trade‑off. Bridges chose the latter: she kept the peace over the spotlight.

For a more detailed look at her life and career, consider reading Michelle Bridges biography on our partner site.

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