Nicholas Riccio has become one of the most talked-about figures in Washington circles, not for his own public career, but for his marriage to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The 32-year age gap between the couple has sparked headlines, social media debate, and late-night jokes alike, making people curious about who Riccio really is beyond the tabloid attention.
A self-made real estate developer from New Hampshire, Riccio’s story is far removed from the wealth he enjoys today. He grew up in a struggling household, experienced homelessness as a teenager, and lost both of his parents to cancer before building a multimillion-dollar property business from the ground up. This article breaks down everything known about Karoline Leavitt’s husband, Nicholas Riccio — his past relationships, his difficult early life, and the criticism the couple has faced since going public.
Nicholas Riccio Previous Wives
Public records and interviews with Nicholas Riccio give no indication that he was married prior to his relationship with Karoline Leavitt. Coverage of the couple, including a detailed profile from Nicki Swift, notes that Riccio was a bachelor before marrying Leavitt, a fact that has fueled speculation about their unusual age-gap romance.
Because Riccio kept a low public profile for most of his adult life, there is little archival material documenting his dating history before he met Leavitt in 2022. His focus during those decades appears to have been building his real estate business in Hampton Beach rather than a public personal life.
No court filings, obituaries, or news archives referencing a prior wife of Nicholas Riccio have surfaced as of this writing. Leavitt is widely reported and treated by media outlets as his first and only wife.
Karoline Leavitt Husband Married Before
Karoline Leavitt’s husband, Nicholas Riccio, does not have any confirmed prior marriage on record. The couple’s own account of their relationship timeline, shared publicly in interviews, begins with their meeting in 2022 and does not reference any earlier marriage for Riccio.
Leavitt has spoken openly about the couple’s 32-year age gap in multiple interviews, but she has never referenced a previous spouse of her husband’s. The pair met in 2022, before getting married three years later, and welcomed their son in July 2024, six months prior to their wedding.
Given how much scrutiny the marriage has attracted in the press, any confirmed prior marriage would likely have already surfaced. Since it has not, the working assumption in most coverage is that Leavitt is his first wife.
Nicholas Riccio, Karoline Leavitt husband
Nicholas Riccio is a New Hampshire-based real estate developer who became widely known to the public after marrying Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. The two first met in 2022, got engaged in December 2023, and tied the knot in January 2025.
Riccio built his career around Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, where he purchased and renovated distressed properties over several decades. His company, Riccio Enterprises LLC, along with its subsidiary Nautical Beach Properties, manages a substantial portfolio of rental units in the region.
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Nicholas Riccio |
| Born | February 23, 1965 |
| Occupation | Real estate developer |
| Company | Riccio Enterprises LLC / Nautical Beach Properties |
| Spouse | Karoline Leavitt |
| Married | January 2025 |
| Children | Niko (b. July 2024), Vivi (b. May 2026) |
Nicholas Riccio Wives and Girlfriends
As of now, Karoline Leavitt is the only publicly confirmed wife of Nicholas Riccio. There is no verified record of him having been married to anyone else, and no former girlfriends have been formally named in mainstream coverage of his life.
Riccio’s relative privacy prior to his marriage means details about his romantic history before Leavitt are scarce. He reportedly funded Leavitt’s unsuccessful 2022 congressional bid, which is around the time the two became romantically involved.
Since becoming a public figure through his marriage, Riccio has largely avoided discussing past relationships in interviews, keeping the focus on his current family life with Leavitt and their two children.
How many Times was Nicholas Riccio Married
Based on all available public information, Nicholas Riccio has been married one time — to Karoline Leavitt. The couple got engaged over the Christmas holiday in 2023 and married on January 4 at Wentworth By The Sea Country Club in New Castle, New Hampshire.
No divorce filings, prior wedding announcements, or family statements referencing an earlier marriage have been reported by any outlet covering his life. This makes his current marriage to Leavitt his only known one.
Given the intense media interest generated by their age gap, journalists have dug extensively into Riccio’s background, including his childhood and business career. The absence of any prior-marriage reporting despite this scrutiny further supports that this is his first and only marriage.
Also Like To Read This: Katie McNeil Biography: Everything About Her Career, Wiki & Net Worth
Nicholas Riccio First Wife
Karoline Leavitt holds the distinction of being Nicholas Riccio’s first and, to date, only wife. She is a White House press secretary who was appointed at a young age, making the marriage notable both for the age gap and for her public role.
The couple’s relationship began at a campaign event. A mutual friend who owns a restaurant in New Hampshire hosted an event and invited Riccio, where he and Leavitt met, became friends, and eventually fell in love.
Their son Niko arrived before their wedding, and the couple married just days ahead of President Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, cementing Leavitt’s place as Riccio’s first confirmed spouse.
Nicholas Riccio Wives and Girlfriends
Repeating what public records show: Nicholas Riccio’s only confirmed romantic partner of note, before or after achieving wealth through real estate, is Karoline Leavitt. There is no documented evidence of long-term girlfriends or partners predating their relationship.
Riccio’s low profile for most of his life — he reportedly avoids social media entirely — has meant that even dedicated entertainment outlets have struggled to unearth details about his dating history prior to 2022.
Since his marriage, all major coverage of Riccio’s romantic life centers exclusively on Leavitt, their engagement, wedding, and growing family, rather than any previous relationships.
Family struggles Led to Living on the Streets for Young Nick Riccio
Nicholas Riccio’s early life was marked by significant hardship. He was one of four children of Marilyn and Anthony Riccio, whose divorce left the family unstable, moving frequently before Riccio graduated from Alvirne High School in Hudson in 1983.
By the time he turned 18, Riccio found himself without stable housing. He was homeless, living on the streets, and relied on friends for basic comforts like a place to shower. He has recalled visiting friends’ homes under the guise of watching a game just to use their shower.
Financial hardship followed him into college as well. While studying at Plymouth State University, he had no family financial support and often slept in his car when he could not afford rent. This period of struggle later became a defining part of his rags-to-riches story as a real estate developer.
Nicholas Riccio lost Both of his Parents to Cancer
Nicholas Riccio experienced personal loss that shaped much of his adult motivation. His mother, Marilyn, died of cancer in 1997, and his father, Anthony, died of cancer in 2002.
His mother’s death was especially significant to his career path, since it was a drive with her along Hampton Beach’s M Street in 1993 that first sparked his vision for investing in the area’s rundown properties. He has said he continues to work in her memory.
His father Anthony also died of cancer at age 60, five years after Marilyn’s passing. Riccio has spoken about how losing both parents to the same illness deeply affected him, though it also strengthened his resolve to succeed in business.
Nicholas Riccio has Been Criticized in the Media for Marrying a much Younger Woman
The 32-year age gap between Nicholas Riccio and Karoline Leavitt has drawn considerable public commentary since their relationship became widely known. Online critics have used nicknames ranging from “gramps” to calling him her sugar daddy, and their relationship has been mocked on social media.
Even late-night television took aim at the couple, with Jimmy Kimmel joking about their relationship on his show in 2025. Commentators have also speculated, without evidence, that Riccio’s wealth played a role in the relationship, given that he helped fund Leavitt’s earlier congressional campaign.
Despite the backlash, Leavitt has consistently defended the relationship in interviews, describing Riccio as her biggest supporter and best friend. She has acknowledged that the pairing is unusual but has maintained that their bond is genuine, addressing the criticism directly rather than avoiding it.
FAQ’s
Was Nicholas Riccio married before Karoline Leavitt?
There is no confirmed record of Nicholas Riccio being married before Karoline Leavitt. Based on available public information, she is his first and only known wife.
How many times has Nicholas Riccio been married?
Nicholas Riccio has been married once, to Karoline Leavitt, in January 2025.
Does Nicholas Riccio have children from a previous relationship?
No previous children have been publicly reported. Riccio and Leavitt share two children together, son Niko and daughter Vivi.
What is the age gap between Nicholas Riccio and Karoline Leavitt?
The couple has a 32-year age gap, with Riccio born in 1965 and Leavitt born in 1997.
How did Nicholas Riccio become wealthy?
Riccio built his fortune through real estate, buying and renovating distressed properties in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, through his company Riccio Enterprises LLC.
Why has the marriage faced criticism?
The couple’s significant age gap has drawn mockery online and in the media, with some critics questioning the relationship’s motives, though both Riccio and Leavitt have defended their bond as genuine.
Conclusion
Nicholas Riccio’s journey from a homeless teenager to a self-made millionaire real estate developer is a compelling story in its own right, even before factoring in his high-profile marriage to Karoline Leavitt. While the couple’s 32-year age gap has invited plenty of public scrutiny and criticism, both have remained open about their relationship, framing it as an unconventional but genuine love story.
With no evidence of any prior marriage, Leavitt stands as Riccio’s first and only wife, and together they continue to build their family in the public eye. As Leavitt’s political career keeps her in the national spotlight, interest in her husband’s life story from hardship to real estate success is likely to continue growing.
