Rick Ness (Gold Rush) Wiki, Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family, and more
Rick Ness is a reality TV star and a gold miner, who is best known for his appearance on the popular Discovery Channel show Gold Rush. But before he became a gold digger, he was a musician who traveled the world with his band. How did he make this career switch? What is his life story? How much is he worth? And who is his girlfriend? Read on to find out more about this fascinating personality.
Rick Ness Wiki/Bio
| Name | Rick Ness |
|---|---|
| Birth date | March 5, 1981 |
| Birth place | Wisconsin, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Occupation | Reality TV star, gold miner, musician |
| Girlfriend | Leese Marie |
| Family | Richard Ness (father), Judy Marie Bedard (mother, deceased), Randy Ness (twin brother) |
| Education | Escanaba Area High School |
| Band | .357 Stringband |
| TV show | Gold Rush |
| Claim | Eureka Creek |
| Links | Instagram- @thebigrickness Facebook- @hebigrickness Homepage- Newsunzip |
Birthday, Mom, Dad
Rick Ness was born on March 5, 1981 (age: 42 years, as of 2023), in Wisconsin, USA. He has a twin brother named Randy Ness, who is not an identical twin. They were born to Richard Ness, his father, and Judy Marie Bedard, his mother.
He was very close to his parents, especially his father, who he called Big Rick. Sadly, his mother passed away on March 20, 2021, after battling cancer for a long time.
Rick attended Escanaba Area High School and graduated in 1999. He was interested in music from a young age and learned to play guitar and bass. He also played football and hockey in school. After high school, he did not pursue higher education, but instead focused on his music career.
Height, Weight
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch
- Weight: 90 kg or 78 kg
- Eye color: Blue or black
- Body measurements: 43 inches chest, 13.5 inches biceps
- Skin color: White
- Hair color: Brown
Music Career
Rick Ness joined a band called .357 Stringband, which was a Milwaukee-based American band that played a mix of bluegrass, country, folk, and punk rock. The band was formed in 2004 and consisted of Rick on bass, Joseph Huber on banjo, Derek Dunn on guitar, and Jayke Orvis on mandolin. The band released three albums: Ghost Town in 2006, Fire & Hail in 2008, and Lightning from the North in 2010. They also toured extensively across the US and Europe, gaining a loyal fan base and a reputation for their energetic live shows.
However, in 2011, the band decided to split up, citing personal and creative differences. He was devastated by the breakup, as he had invested a lot of time and money into the band. He also felt lost and directionless, as he did not have a backup plan for his life. He decided to take a break from music and look for other opportunities.
Gold Mining Career
Rick Ness’s life changed when he met Parker Schnabel, a young gold miner and the star of Gold Rush, at a state fair in 2011. He was a fan of the show and approached Parker to chat with him. Parker was impressed by his personality and invited him to join his crew in Alaska for the summer. He agreed, thinking it would be a fun adventure and a chance to make some money. He packed his bags and flew to Alaska, where he started working as a rock truck driver for Parker.
Rick soon proved himself to be a hard-working and reliable worker, who was willing to learn and take risks. He also became friends with Parker and the rest of the crew. He enjoyed the thrill of gold mining and the beauty of Alaska. He decided to stay with Parker and pursue gold mining as a full-time career.
He appeared on the third season of Gold Rush, which aired in 2012. He continued to work with Parker for the next five seasons, moving from Alaska to the Klondike, and then to Guyana and Papua New Guinea. He also became the foreman of Parker’s crew, managing the operations and the equipment. He was involved in some of the biggest and most successful gold mining seasons in the show’s history, such as the 3,362-ounce season in the Klondike in season 5, and the 6,280-ounce season in Guyana in season 7.
In season 8, Rick decided to leave Parker’s crew and start his own mining operation. He was inspired by his late grandfather, who had always encouraged him to follow his dreams and be his own boss. He also wanted to challenge himself and prove his skills as a gold miner. He leased a claim in the Klondike, called the Indian River, and hired a crew of his own. He also invested in some old and new equipment, such as a wash plant, a dozer, an excavator, and a rock truck.
His first season as a mine boss was not easy, as he faced many difficulties and setbacks. He had to deal with breakdowns, bad weather, inexperienced workers, and low gold recovery. He also had to cope with the loss of his mother, who passed away in the middle of the season. He dedicated his season to her memory and vowed to make her proud. He managed to overcome the challenges and finish the season with 1,105 ounces of gold, worth over $1.3 million.
Rick Ness returned for season 9, with a new claim, called the Duncan Creek, and a new goal, to double his gold total from the previous season. He also added some new members to his crew, such as his girlfriend Leese Marie, who worked as a rock truck driver. He faced some more obstacles, such as a forest fire, a flooded cut, and a frozen water supply. He also had to deal with some conflicts and drama within his crew, such as the departure of his mechanic Mitch Blaschke, and the feud between his friends Karla Ann and Freddy Dodge. He ended the season with 1,330 ounces of gold, worth over $1.6 million, falling short of his target, but still making a profit.
He is currently filming for season 10, which is expected to air in late 2021 or early 2022. He has moved to a new claim, called the Eureka Creek, and has a new ambition, to triple his gold total from the last season. He has also upgraded his equipment, such as a new wash plant, a new dozer, and a new trommel. He is confident and optimistic about his chances of success, and hopes to achieve his dream of becoming a millionaire gold miner.
Spouse
Rick Ness is not married, but he is in a relationship with his girlfriend Leese Marie, who he met through social media. They started dating in 2019, and made their relationship public in November 2020. They are very fond of each other, and often share pictures and videos of their romantic moments on their Instagram accounts.
Leese also joined Rick’s crew in season 9, and worked as a rock truck driver. They support and motivate each other, and have a lot of fun together. They also have a pet dog, named Ruby, who they adopted from a shelter.
He is also very close to his family and friends, who he considers as his biggest support system. He loves his father, Big Rick, who he calls his hero and his best friend. He also misses his mother, Judy, who he says was his biggest fan and his inspiration. He has a twin brother, Randy, who he is very proud of. He also has a lot of friends, who he met through his music and mining careers, such as Parker Schnabel, Karla Ann, Mitch Blaschke, Freddy Dodge, and Tony Beets. He values their friendship and loyalty, and often hangs out with them.
Net Worth and Salary
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $3 million |
| 2022 | $3 million |
| 2023 | $3.4 million |
Rick Ness is a fun-loving and adventurous person, who likes to travel and explore new places. He has visited many countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Thailand. He enjoys experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes. He also likes to indulge in various hobbies and activities, such as fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, biking, golfing, and playing poker. He is a fan of sports, especially football and hockey, and supports the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Red Wings.
