Gold mining may not be easy, but it can provide a substantial source of income. That’s why Rick Ness left his music career behind to start digging. He joined the cast of the Discovery Channel reality show, Gold Rush. As a gold miner and TV personality, Rick Ness has an estimated net worth of $3 million in 2022.
Youth
Richard “Rick” Ness was born on March 5, 1981 to his twin brother Randy. He is originally from Michigan, Escanaba. His father owned a construction company, so he grew up working with big machines.
He graduated from Escanaba Area High School in 1999. As a teenager, he had many interests, but he chose to play football in college. However, an injury shattered his hopes of becoming a professional sportsman.
In 2003 he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his mother. He decided to start a career in music by forming a band called the .357 String Band. They went on to produce three albums and tour the world.
Join the Gold Rush
Ness was introduced to gold mining by Gold Rush fan favorite Parker Schnabel. Although he had no previous mining experience, he quickly became a trusted crew member of Parker.
He first appeared on Gold Rush during the show’s third season. Fans know him for his hatred of sleeves. He used his construction knowledge to operate a loader, a grader and a bulldozer.
Rick eventually became Parker’s right-hand man and was promoted to foreman. Parker assigned him to his second operation, which was located on the Indian River.
Leaving Parker’s Crew
Rick Ness’s role as Schnabel’s foreman was to keep his employer informed of their operations at all times. However, this was not accomplished at the Panama Canal site.
He acted on his own accord, hiring four workers. It cost Parker about $50,000, so he called Rick and suggested he run his own gold mine. After that, Ness decided to start her own mining team in the ninth season of Gold Rush.
Luckily, it became a hit, and Rick held the show’s record for the most gold mined by a pit boss in its first year. Additionally, he and Parker remained friends.
Net worth and earnings
His main source of wealth is his pay per episode as a Gold Rush cast member. Rick Ness is reported to earn $25,000 per episode from the series. That number is only expected to grow as the show continues to grow.
Of course, there are his earnings as a gold mine operator. Besides his success on reality TV and in the mining industry, Rick previously made a living as a musician and singer. All of his ventures translate to a net worth of $3 million.
Private life
Rick Ness is currently dating a woman named Leese Marie. They announced their relationship in 2020. A year later, they starred together in Gold Rush. Leese, along with their dog Ruby, are helping Ness prepare for the show’s upcoming Season 12. Before that, they can visit Rick’s house in Milwaukee.
