Karoline Leavitt’s older husband was surprising, but what people appreciated most was why he chose Karoline Leavitt as his wife.

At 27, Karoline Leavitt made history as the youngest White House press secretary, impressing audiences with her confidence and composure. As a former Fox News intern and congressional candidate, she is no stranger to pressure.

Her personal life has also attracted attention, especially her marriage to Nicholas Riccio, 59, a low-key but successful New Hampshire real estate mogul. Despite the scrutiny, Leavitt has remained focused on her role, balancing the demands of politics, family, and public life.

Her personal life has also attracted attention, particularly her marriage to Nicholas Riccio, 59, a low-key but successful New Hampshire real estate mogul. Despite the scrutiny, Leavitt has remained focused on her role, balancing the demands of politics, family, and public life.

President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has become a political superstar—but her husband has an impressive real estate career. (karolineleavitt/Instagram)

The mother of one captured the world’s attention when she made her first appearance in the press room on January 28, quickly impressing viewers with her maturity. (karolineleavitt/Instagram)

However, despite enjoying a life of luxury now, Riccio—who has a net worth of $6 million, according to Distractify—didn’t have it easy.

The 59-year-old was raised in New Hampshire by his parents, Anthony and Marilyn, who divorced when he was a child.

Riccio moved around a lot after their split, until he was living on the streets at age 18.

“When I was 19 or 20, I would call my friends to come over to their house to watch a game just so I could shower,” he once told The Portsmouth Herald.

Riccio paid his way through college by stocking shelves at a grocery store and borrowing money, eventually graduating from Plymouth State University.

It was around that time that he became interested in real estate.

The businessman—who often slept in his car when he couldn’t afford rent—took a real estate course in 1990 and fell in love with the world of construction. He decided to turn his interests to New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach when he realized how much real estate in the area was in dire need of renovation.

He told the Sunday Herald in 2005 that he and his mother were driving around Hampton Beach when they came across M Street, a stretch of real estate that had deteriorated over the years—leading to some of the buildings being condemned.

Riccio knew right away that he wanted to make the street his legacy—but without the money to buy the entire street outright, he had to start small.

He leveraged his finances and managed to scrape together enough money to buy one of the buildings. And so his real estate portfolio began.

In addition to her successful resume, Leavitt’s sophisticated demeanor can also be credited to her 59-year-old husband, who has been thrust into the public eye as his wife makes a splash in her new role. (karolineleavitt/Instagram)

Riccio, a private individual, lives a lavish lifestyle as the manager of Riccio Enterprises LLC, a multimillion-dollar real estate company under Nautical Beach Properties. His company owns 10 properties, nine in New Hampshire and one in West Virginia, ranging in value from $5,500 to $400,000. In 2023, one of his New Hampshire homes caught fire, causing severe water and fire damage, though the cause has never been determined.

Nautical Beach Properties offers guests a variety of resort experiences, including beach walks, excursions, restaurants, and family-fun activities. Room rates range from $139 to $154 per night.

Riccio is married to Karoline Leavitt, a former Trump White House staffer. She describes him as her “opposite”: an introvert with no social media. Despite his reserved nature, she calls him her “number one fan” and the best dad.

According to real estate records, there are currently 10 homes registered under Riccio’s LLC, including nine in New Hampshire and one in West Virginia. (Realtor.com)

All of the homes were built in the late 1900s and cost Riccio between $5,500 and $400,000. (Realtor.com)

Riccio and Leavitt may have met through a mutual friend at a political event. In 2022, Riccio endorsed Leavitt’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, which she lost. The following year, they went public on Instagram when Leavitt shared a photo of Riccio proposing. They welcomed a son on July 10, 2024, and Leavitt called it “the best moment” of her life.

Before taking on the role of White House press secretary, Leavitt expressed concern about not having time with her son, sharing her concerns on Instagram and saying she was “praying” about it.

Leavitt and Riccio welcomed a son on July 10, 2024, and Leavitt called it “the best moment of her life.” (karolineleavitt/Instagram)

Before becoming White House press secretary, Leavitt shared her concerns about the moments without her son, admitting that it was difficult but that she prayed every day. She expressed gratitude for her supportive husband and family and emphasized the temporary nature of the job, hoping that her son would one day be proud of her. She also mentioned her excitement about returning to D.C., after working in the White House during Trump’s first term.