If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the name Nicholas Riccio popping up next to Karoline Leavitt. She’s the face of the White House briefings, the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, and a Gen Z political powerhouse. But behind the scenes, there’s a guy who basically avoids the spotlight like it’s the plague.
People are obsessed with them. Why? Mostly because they don’t fit the typical "D.C. power couple" mold.
Nicholas Riccio isn’t some political consultant or a K Street lobbyist. He’s a real estate developer from New Hampshire who grew up in ways that make a Hollywood script look boring. Honestly, the story of how they met and why their relationship works is way more complex than just a headline about a 32-year age gap.
Who Really Is Nicholas Riccio?
To understand the man Karoline Leavitt calls her "rock," you have to go back to the streets of New Hampshire in the 1980s. Riccio didn’t start with a small loan or a family inheritance.
By the age of 18, he was actually homeless.
He spent his late teens hopping between friends' houses, sometimes calling people just so he could use their shower. He worked grocery store shifts at Purity Supreme to put himself through Plymouth State University. It’s the kind of gritty, "bootstrap" backstory that sounds like campaign rhetoric, but for Riccio, it was just Tuesday.
Eventually, he took a real estate course in 1990. That changed everything. He started flipping houses in the Hampton Beach area, often taking out high-interest loans because he had no other choice. Today, he’s a multimillionaire. His company, Riccio Enterprises LLC, owns dozens of properties spanning from Boston to the White Mountains.
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He’s also a massive sports nerd. He even has a "sports museum" in his home and has historically talked about wanting to own a professional sports team.
The "Atypical" Love Story
The two met in 2022. At the time, Leavitt was 25 and running a high-energy congressional campaign in New Hampshire. Riccio was 57.
They were introduced at a campaign event held at a restaurant Riccio happened to own. According to Leavitt, it wasn't some whirlwind romance at first sight. They were friends first. They talked. They got to know each other.
"He is my greatest supporter, he's my best friend and he's my rock," Leavitt told Megyn Kelly in a 2025 interview.
Naturally, the 32-year age difference caused some ripples. Leavitt has been incredibly open about the fact that her parents, Bob and Erin, were a bit hesitant when she first brought him home. Her mom is actually younger than her husband. That’s a tough Thanksgiving dinner conversation for anyone. But she says once they saw how much he adored her and how stable he was, they became "all friends."
The couple got engaged on Christmas in 2023. They didn't rush to the altar, though. They welcomed their son, Nicholas Robert “Niko” Riccio, on July 10, 2024.
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Funny enough, Leavitt was back at work within days. She was literally on the job when the attempted assassination of Donald Trump happened in Pennsylvania, less than a week after giving birth. That tells you a lot about her drive, but it also tells you a lot about Riccio. He was the one at home with the newborn while she was navigating a national crisis.
Life Inside the 2026 White House
Fast forward to January 2025. Just days before the inauguration, they finally tied the knot at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire. It was a private ceremony, fitting for a guy who Leavitt describes as a total introvert.
Nicholas Riccio doesn't do Instagram. He doesn't do "X." He doesn't even have a public-facing social media presence.
This dynamic is what makes them interesting. You have one of the most visible women in the world coming home to a guy who just wants to manage his properties and hang out with his son. In late 2025, the couple shared some rare family photos from a White House Halloween event where Niko was dressed as a pumpkin.
Then came the big news in December 2025: Karoline Leavitt is pregnant again.
She is officially the first White House Press Secretary to be pregnant while holding the office. They are expecting a baby girl in May 2026.
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Dealing With the Noise
Public life hasn't been all pumpkin patches and press briefings. The couple has faced a fair amount of "brutal scrutiny," as some outlets put it. People on the internet can be mean, especially about age gaps.
But Leavitt leans into it. She argues that Riccio’s age and established success are exactly what allow her to do her job. He’s already built his empire. He’s not competing with her. He’s not looking for his own segment on cable news. He’s "fully on board" with the circus, as she puts it.
There’s also a weirdly practical side to their relationship. Because Riccio’s real estate business is established, he has the flexibility to be a "hands-on father." In a town like D.C., where everyone is chasing the next promotion, having a partner who is already "self-made" and content to stay behind the scenes is a massive competitive advantage.
Practical Takeaways from the Riccio-Leavitt Dynamic
If you’re looking at this couple as a case study for modern professional life, there are a few real-world insights here:
- Support systems aren't always symmetrical. Sometimes a high-profile career requires a partner who is happy being the "anchor" rather than a second spotlight-seeker.
- Background matters. Riccio’s history of homelessness likely gives him a perspective on risk and stability that matches Leavitt’s high-stakes political environment.
- Privacy is a choice. Even in 2026, you can be married to a public figure and maintain a low profile if you’re intentional about it.
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be their busiest year yet. Between a second child on the way and the relentless pace of a second Trump term, the Riccio-Leavitt household is basically the epicenter of the "work-life balance" debate in America.
To stay updated on how this historical pregnancy affects White House operations, keep an eye on official briefings, as Leavitt has stated she intends to remain in her post through the birth of her daughter. For those interested in the real estate side, Riccio’s Nautical Beach Properties continues to operate out of New Hampshire, proving that you can take the guy out of New England, but he’s still going to keep his day job.