The husband of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Nicholas Riccio, has opened up about his life story, from making ends meet to becoming a multi-millionaire

Karoline Leavitt and husband Nicholas Riccio
Inside Karoline Leavitt’s husband Nicholas Riccio’s inspirational backstory (Image: No credit)

Karoline Leavitt’s spouse, Nicholas Riccio, has a tale reminiscent of the classic rags-to-riches saga.

Despite his wife being 32 years younger, Nicholas has proven age is just a number when it comes to success. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s other half, the impressive Nicholas Riccio, has come forward with an inspiring story of personal triumph.

In a heart-to-heart with his local Portsmouth, New Hampshire paper, the 59-year-old property mogul reflected on his ascent from a life of being without a home to owning a portfolio bulging with multi-million-dollar properties. During the honest conversation with the Portsmouth Herald, he delved into his challenging young life: growing up strapped for cash, wrestling with the impact of his parents’ split, and mourning his mother lost to cancer.

At just 18, Nicholas left his family home, relying on the kindness of friends and their sofas while struggling to make ends meet. Recounting those humbling days to the newspaper, he said: “When I was 19 or 20, I would call my buddies to go over their houses to watch a game just so I could take a shower.”

Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio

Karoline is married to real estate developer Nicholas Riccio (Image: karolineleavitt/Instagram)

Nicholas Riccio

Nicholas has shared his inspirational journey to success (Image: karolineleavitt/Instagram)

After completing his high school education at Alvirne High School in Hudson in 1983, Nicholas proceeded to Plymouth State University. Following his university graduation, he enrolled in a real estate course in 1990, where he found his calling for the sector.

At the onset of his career, he bravely ventured into house flipping, gradually amassing his current wealth. During this period, he took the daring step of borrowing money, sometimes at interest rates between 50 to 100 percent, but his gamble ultimately paid off.

Since then, Nicholas has built an impressive real estate empire, including his firms Riccio Enterprises LLC and its subsidiary, Nautical Beach Properties. As per reports by the Economic Times, Nicholas’s strategic investments and relentless efforts in real estate have earned him a staggering net worth of $6 million.

Karoline, aged 27, crossed paths with Nicholas through a mutual acquaintance at a political event. While the specifics of their love story remain largely under wraps, the couple announced their engagement in December 2023. Shortly after, they celebrated their union in a private wedding ceremony. In July of 2024, Karoline embraced motherhood for the first time as she gave birth to their son, Nicholas Robert.