Charlie Kirk's parents were Robert W. Kirk and Kathryn Kirk (née Smith). His father, Robert W. Kirk, was an architect who owned his own design firm and was involved in projects like the Trump Tower. His mother, Kathryn, initially worked as a trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange before becoming a licensed mental health counselor. They raised Charlie Kirk in a politically moderate household in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Illinois. His parents were influential in shaping his values of hard work, patriotism, and faith, although they maintained a relatively private life compared to their son.