Karoline Leavitt leaving White House: Husband Nicholas Riccio is 32 years older, older than her mother and worth millions

Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House at the end of August, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday. She was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary and now is preparing for a new chapter. With Karoline Leavitt announcing her exit from the White House, the attention is also turning to her husband, Nicholas Riccio. The New Hampshire real estate developer is 32 years older than Leavitt and has built a multimillion-dollar property business.

Leavitt, 28, announced her decision to step down after becoming a mother of two children. President Donald Trump confirmed that she would leave the press secretary role at the end of August while continuing to advise him externally.

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Who is Karoline Leavitt’s husband Nicholas Riccio?

Nicholas Riccio is a New Hampshire real estate developer and businessman who has kept a considerably lower profile than his wife. According to People, Riccio is 60 and owns Riccio Enterprises, with a portfolio of more than a dozen properties in the Hampton Beach area of New Hampshire.

The couple met in 2022 while Leavitt was campaigning for Congress in New Hampshire. What started as friendship soon turned into a romantic relationship. Riccio proposed Karoline Leavitt in December 2023, and the couple married in January 2025, just days before Trump's second inauguration.

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Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio have a 32-year age gap

One of the most searched details about the couple is their significant age difference. While Leavitt is 28, Riccio is around 60, putting 32 years between Karoline Leavitt and her husband. Riccio is also older than Leavitt’s mother, a detail that has frequently drawn attention to their relationship.

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The White House press secretary admitted that her parents had a tough time accepting the relationship, likely due to the fact that her mother is younger than Riccio. “It's definitely a challenging conversation to have at first,” she said.

Leavitt has acknowledged that the age gap is unusual but has also defended the relationship. “Honestly? No,” Leavitt said when asked whether she could not find men her own age who were as mature. She went on to describe Riccio as “an amazing guy.”

She has also described their relationship as an “atypical love story” and called her husband her “greatest supporter,” “best friend” and “rock.”

Nicholas Riccio business empire

Nicholas Riccio made his money through real estate. He has been described as a real estate developer who owns and manages properties in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. People reports that he manages more than 15 properties in the popular coastal community. His career has also been described as a rags-to-riches story. Reports say Riccio experienced homelessness when he was younger before building his real estate portfolio.

His business interests have allowed him to maintain a relatively private life while Leavitt's political career has put her in the national spotlight.

What is Nicholas Riccio’s net worth?

Nicholas Riccio’s net worth has been widely estimated at around $6 million, although there is no official public financial disclosure establishing an exact figure. That distinction is important because Riccio is a private businessman rather than a public official required to disclose his complete finances.

Some online estimates vary substantially, so the $6 million figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed net worth. His reported wealth is primarily connected to his real estate holdings and property business in New Hampshire.

Leavitt and Riccio are entering a new family chapter

Leavitt's decision to leave the White House comes as she and Riccio raise two very young children.

She recently returned from maternity leave following the birth of their daughter, but the demands of serving as White House press secretary while caring for two young children have made the balance increasingly difficult.

Her decision to leave the role does not mean disappearing from Trump's political orbit. She is expected to remain involved as an outside adviser, while having more time for her family.

For now, the White House exit has put renewed attention on the personal side of Leavitt's life — particularly Karoline Leavitt’s husband, Nicholas Riccio, their 32-year age gap and the real estate fortune he built long before their relationship became a subject of national interest.