If you’ve spent any time on political Twitter or caught a White House briefing lately, you’ve definitely seen Karoline Leavitt. She’s sharp, fast-talking, and historically young for the Press Secretary gig. But whenever her name trends, people start digging into her personal life, specifically Karoline Leavitt husband Nicholas Riccio.
There is a lot of noise out there. Some of it is just mean-spirited political snark, while some is genuine curiosity about a guy who stays almost entirely out of the spotlight. Honestly, the "mystery man" vibe isn't an act. Nicholas Riccio is basically the polar opposite of his wife when it comes to the public eye.
While she’s under the bright lights of the West Wing, he’s back home in New Hampshire or managing a real estate empire. He doesn't have a public Instagram. He doesn't do cable news hits. So, who is he?
The "Rags-to-Riches" Story No One Mentions
Most people just look at the age gap—which, yeah, we’ll get to—and assume he was born into money. That couldn't be further from the truth. Nicholas Riccio's early life sounds like something out of a gritty 90s movie.
He grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire. His parents, Anthony and Marilyn, divorced when he was just a kid, and things got pretty unstable. By the time he was 18, he was actually living on the streets.
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Think about that for a second.
He used to call up his buddies just to ask if he could come over and "watch a game," but the real motive was just to use their shower. He put himself through Plymouth State University by stocking shelves at a Purity Supreme grocery store. He often slept in his car because he couldn't afford rent.
How Nicholas Riccio Built an Empire
The turning point came in 1990. He took a real estate course, and something just clicked. He and his mother were driving through Hampton Beach—a spot that, at the time, had some pretty rough patches—and he saw potential in a bunch of dilapidated, condemned buildings on M Street.
He didn't have the cash. He didn't have a big loan. But he bought one building anyway.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and he’s a multimillionaire. His company, Riccio Enterprises LLC, and its subsidiary, Nautical Beach Properties, basically transformed that area of Hampton Beach. He owns over 15 buildings there now, with dozens of rental units. People in town call him a "local legend" because he didn't just buy the properties; he renovated them to make the neighborhood somewhere families actually wanted to stay.
Addressing the "Elephant in the Room"
Okay, let's talk about it. The age gap.
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Nicholas Riccio is 60. Karoline Leavitt is 28. That is a 32-year difference.
In a recent interview on the Pod Force One podcast, Karoline didn't shy away from it. She admitted it’s "unusual" and "atypical." When asked if she just couldn't find guys her own age who were mature enough, she laughed and said, "Honestly, no."
They met back in 2022. Karoline was 25 and running for Congress in New Hampshire. A mutual friend hosted an event at a restaurant Riccio owned, and that was the spark. They were friends first, but it clearly turned into something more.
It wasn't all smooth sailing, though. Karoline’s parents, Bob and Erin, were reportedly a bit "challenged" by the news at first. It’s understandable—her mom is actually younger than Nicholas. But Karoline says once they saw how much he adored her and how supportive he was, they became "all friends."
A Private Life in a Very Public World
The couple got engaged on Christmas in 2023. They had a private, lavish wedding in January 2025 at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire. This was just days before she officially took over as the youngest White House Press Secretary in history.
They already have a son, Niko (Nicholas Robert Riccio), who was born in July 2024. And the family is growing. In late 2025, Karoline announced she is pregnant with a baby girl, due in May 2026.
This makes her the first-ever pregnant White House Press Secretary.
Why This Matters for Her Career
You might wonder why a real estate developer’s life matters in the context of Washington politics. It’s about the support system.
Karoline has been very vocal about the fact that Nicholas is her "rock." Because he already built his success and has a flexible schedule, he’s the one doing the heavy lifting at home. He’s a "hands-on father" while she’s dealing with the daily chaos of the briefing room.
He even helped fund her initial 2022 congressional run. He is her "number one fan," watching every single interview and briefing.
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What You Should Take Away
Nicholas Riccio isn't just "the husband." He’s a self-made entrepreneur who went from homelessness to a $6 million net worth.
If you're looking for dirt, you probably won't find much. He’s an introvert who stays off social media and lets his wife take the lead in public. Their relationship might be unconventional by traditional standards, but in the high-stress world of D.C., it seems to be exactly what Karoline needs to function at that level.
To understand their dynamic better, keep an eye on Karoline's official updates regarding her 2026 pregnancy. It's going to be a historic year for the family, and it'll likely be the most we ever see of Nicholas Riccio as he supports her through a very public milestone.