Nicholas Riccio, the husband of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has an estimated net worth of $6-10 million. His wealth was built through three decades of real estate investment in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Riccio's success story is one of rags-to-riches, having risen from homelessness as a young adult to become a successful property developer. He founded Riccio Enterprises LLC in 2005 and also owns Nautical Beach Properties.
Riccio's journey in real estate began in 1990 when he took a real estate class after graduating from Plymouth State University. In the 2000s, he advanced his property career by flipping houses in Hampton Beach. His first property purchase was in 1993, using loans from friends to buy a condemned building on M Street. Over the next twelve years, he acquired 15 buildings containing 70 units after extensive renovations.
Riccio's background is marked by poverty and homelessness. In an interview with the Sunday Herald in 2005, he recalled his struggles, saying that at one point, he would call friends to go to their houses to watch a game just so he could take a shower. His mother, Marilyn, passed away in 1997, and he honors her memory through community improvement work.
Riccio is married to Karoline Leavitt, and the couple has two children: Nicholas "Niko" Robert Riccio, born on July 10, 2024, and Viviana "Vivi" Riccio, born on May 1, 2026. The couple met in 2022 through a mutual friend at a restaurant Riccio owns in New Hampshire, during Leavitt's congressional campaign. They got married in January 2025 at Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire.
Karoline Leavitt's relationship with Riccio has been subject to scrutiny due to their 32-year age gap. In an interview on the Pod Force One with Miranda Devine podcast in November 2025, Leavitt recalled that discussing the age gap with her parents was a challenging conversation initially, but they eventually came to appreciate Riccio's character.
Riccio's business ventures include property renovation, management, and vacation rental operations focused on transforming distressed properties into valuable assets. His companies, Riccio Enterprises LLC and Nautical Beach Properties, have contributed significantly to his net worth. In August 2026, Leavitt announced her departure from her role as White House Press Secretary, drawing significant media attention to the family's future plans.
Comparing Nicholas Riccio's net worth to Karoline Leavitt's, her net worth estimate ranges between $3 million and $7 million, primarily derived from her political career and media profession. The couple's combined wealth and public profiles have sparked interest in their financial lives and future plans.
Key points
- Nicholas Riccio's net worth is estimated at $6-10 million.
- Riccio built his wealth through real estate investments in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
- Riccio's rags-to-riches story is marked by his rise from homelessness to becoming a successful property developer.
