Everyone is talking about Karoline Leavitt. She's the youngest White House Press Secretary in history, a firebrand at the podium, and basically the face of a new generation in Washington. But honestly? The internet isn't just obsessed with her briefing style. People are fascinated—and sometimes a little nosy—about her private life. Specifically, the guy standing in the background.
When you search for karoline leavitt husband nick age, you're going to find some numbers that make people double-take. Her husband, Nicholas "Nick" Riccio, is a successful real estate developer from New Hampshire. He’s also 32 years older than she is.
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Yeah, you read that right. Thirty-two years.
In a world where political spouses are usually carefully curated for "relatability," Karoline and Nick’s relationship feels like a curveball. It’s an atypical love story that has sparked everything from genuine curiosity to some pretty mean-spirited social media snark. But if you look past the headlines, there’s a much more interesting story about a self-made businessman and a political rising star who seem to have figured out a dynamic that works, even if it doesn't fit the standard mold.
The Man Behind the Scenes: Who is Nicholas Riccio?
So, who actually is he? Nick Riccio isn't some D.C. insider. He’s a Granite State guy through and through. Born on February 23, 1965, in Hudson, New Hampshire, Nick’s early life was anything but easy. We’re talking a real "started from the bottom" situation.
After his parents divorced when he was young, things got rough. He’s been open in past interviews—specifically with local New Hampshire papers like The Portsmouth Herald—about experiencing homelessness in his late teens. At 19, he was literally calling up friends to watch a game just so he could use their shower. He slept in his car. He stocked grocery shelves to pay for his time at Plymouth State University.
That kind of background builds a certain type of grit.
Eventually, he took a real estate course in 1990, and that changed everything. He started small, flipping houses in Hampton Beach. By 2005, he owned 15 buildings on one single street. Fast forward to today, and he’s a multimillionaire with a portfolio that stretches from Boston to the White Mountains under his company, Riccio Enterprises. He’s the definition of "self-made."
Deciphering the Karoline Leavitt Husband Nick Age Gap
Let’s get into the specifics of the karoline leavitt husband nick age difference because that’s what everyone is Googling.
As of early 2026, Karoline Leavitt is 28 years old. Nick Riccio is 60.
They met in 2022 during her first run for Congress. At the time, she was 24 or 25, and he was in his late 50s. They were introduced at a restaurant Nick owns in New Hampshire during a campaign event. According to Karoline, they started as friends and it grew from there.
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She’s been surprisingly candid about the age gap. On The Megyn Kelly Show, she admitted it’s "atypical." She even joked on a podcast recently that she couldn't find guys her own age who were mature enough. Fair point, honestly.
But there was a real human hurdle: her parents. Her mom is actually younger than Nick. Karoline has admitted that telling her parents, Bob and Erin, about the relationship was a "challenging conversation." You can imagine that Sunday dinner, right? But apparently, once they saw how much he adored her and how he supported her career, they came around. Now, they’re all close.
A Timeline of Their Relationship
- 2022: They meet at a political event in New Hampshire. Karoline is the candidate; Nick is the introverted businessman watching from the back.
- December 2023: Nick pops the question on Christmas Day. Karoline posts the ring on Instagram, calling him the "man of her dreams."
- July 10, 2024: They welcome their first child, a son named Nicholas Robert Riccio, nicknamed "Niko."
- January 2025: Just days before the inauguration, they get married at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, NH.
- December 2025: They announce they are expecting baby number two—a girl—due in May 2026.
Why It Works (According to Her)
It’s easy to look at a 32-year age gap and make assumptions. But Karoline’s perspective is pretty pragmatic. She says that because Nick has already "made it" in business, he isn't competitive with her career. He doesn't need the spotlight. In fact, she describes him as a massive introvert who "just hates social media."
While she’s under the bright lights of the White House press room, he’s back home or in their D.C. residence being an "incredibly hands-on father." There’s a viral photo from May 2025 of Karoline feeding her son while working, and she’s often praised Nick for being the "rock" that allows her to pull off such a high-pressure job at such a young age.
He’s basically her secret weapon. He manages the real estate empire and the diaper changes so she can manage the national media.
Facing the Public Backlash
Of course, being in the public eye means people are going to have opinions. When they first went "Instagram official," the comments were... well, they were the internet. People made "sugar daddy" jokes and questioned her motives.
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There was even a weird mini-controversy where people accused her of cropping him out of photos or using weird angles to hide the age difference. Karoline eventually just leaned into it. She’s essentially said: This is my life, he’s a great dad, and we’re happy. In a political landscape that is usually incredibly scripted, there’s something almost refreshing about her just saying, "Yeah, it’s unusual. So what?"
What’s Next for the Riccio-Leavitt Family?
The big news moving into mid-2026 is the new addition. Karoline is making history as the first pregnant White House Press Secretary. That’s a massive deal. It’s going to be a wild year for them—balancing a toddler, a newborn, and the most stressful communications job on the planet.
For those looking for "actionable" takeaways from their story, it’s really about the modern breakdown of traditional family roles. Nick’s financial independence and his willingness to play the "supportive spouse" role—which is traditionally what women were expected to do for powerful men—is what makes their dynamic functional.
Next Steps for Following This Story:
- Watch the Briefings: Expect to see Karoline’s pregnancy become a talking point as she navigates the podium through the spring of 2026.
- Check Local NH Property Records: If you’re curious about Nick’s business side, his company "Riccio Enterprises LLC" remains a major player in the Seacoast real estate market.
- Look for the Book: There are already rumors in D.C. circles that Karoline might eventually pen a memoir about being a "Gen Z Mom" in the White House, which would likely give the most intimate look yet at her marriage.
At the end of the day, the karoline leavitt husband nick age story is less about the numbers and more about a power dynamic that defies the usual Washington expectations. Whether people like it or not, they’ve become a prominent example of the "new" conservative family: high-powered, unapologetic, and definitely not following the old rulebook.