The Truth About Gold Rush's Rick Ness
The Discovery series "Gold Rush" follows the lives of miners on the hunt for hidden treasure. As Discovery points out, the whole appeal to the show is about the endless quest: "Will big risks lead to an even bigger payout?" The series has introduced viewers to Jesse Goins, who continues to make his mark on the show. Meanwhile, Parker Schnabel grew up on the set and has proven to be very savvy with his earnings. Then there was David Turin, who is not on "Gold Rush" anymore.
But with the onset of Season 12, which hit screens on September 24, fans were surprised to find that Rick Ness is returning without a crew, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His goal for Season 12 is to mine 2,000 ounces of gold, the highest goal he's ever made, which will be that much harder considering he doesn't have a crew. With this incredible ambition, let's take a look at the true story of Rick Ness.
How did Rick Ness wind up on Gold Rush?
Shockingly, Rick Ness wasn't planning on becoming a miner since childhood. He was actually a football player in college, but he got injured and had to stop, according to his Discovery GO bio. Rick then channeled his energy into music and became an upright bass player. He started the band .357 Stringband. The band was a huge success, and they released three albums and toured extensively.
The band was enough to put Rick in the spotlight and he met Parker Schnabel, who made it clear that he wanted to work with Rick. Their meetup was totally by chance at the Southeast Alaska State Fair and was clearly serendipitous for both parties.
Sure enough, Rick joined "Gold Rush" in its third season. He started out operating the rock truck, according to TV Over Mind, but Parker saw that Rick had what it took and made him foreman. While Rick has established himself as a fixture on the Discovery show, what's the story about his personal life?
Rick Ness is famously private about his life
Rick Ness is notoriously private about his personal life, as TV Over Mind notes. While there's little we know about his life behind the scenes, we do know that Rick's mother died in 2018 after being diagnosed, according to Pop Culture. Rick jumped on Twitter to share the sad news. He wrote, "RIP Mom. 55 years young. She left us peacefully in her house and with my face resting against hers she took her last breath. It hurts. It's not long enough. Cancer is the devil."
Rick rarely gives fans snippets of his personal life, so when he does, it's very exciting. For example, in 2016, he shared a photo to Twitter of himself with his twin, adding the caption, "This, believe it or not is my twin brother. It's his birthday today which makes it mine [too]. Celebrating in Escanaba." As for his romantic history, Rick hasn't let anyone know anything. Maybe viewers will get more information during Season 12 of "Gold Rush."