The reality series Gold Rush has been around for 14 seasons, and is still going strong. The show documents the lives of gold miners in the US and Canada. They gained fame and fortune while seeking out one of the most valuable metals on the planet. Below we put together a list of the richest cast members.
Wealthiest Gold Rush Miners:
1. Tony Beets – $15 Million
Tony Beets is the richest miner on Gold Rush by a considerable margin. He debuted on the show in its second season and is a renowned gold miner in the Klondike.
Beets moved to Canada in the early 1980’s and initially worked as a farmer. In 1984, he began working as a machine operator for the Klondike Gold Corporation. Two years later, he learned enough to go out on his own. Since then, Beets has been mining gold for over 30 years.
The Dutchman is known for his nonsense approach to business, which has led to long-running feuds with several co-stars. Despite this, Tony is still a fan favorite and holds a net worth of $15 million.
2. Parker Schnabel – $10 Million
Although he is much younger than your average miner, Parker Schnabel has already earned millions operating in a tough business. Schnabel first appeared in season two, working for his grandfather, the legendary John Schnabel.
Parker started digging at 16 years old and was considered a mining prodigy. As a teen, he was successful in excavating the Big Nugget Creek and was in charge of a small crew.
After his grandfather’s death, Parker took full control of the family business and moved to the Yukon. Now, Parker is a key cast member and reportedly earns $25,000 per episode. Parker’s net worth is estimated to be in the region of $10 million.
3. Todd Hoffman – $7 Million
Gold prospector Todd Hoffman is one of the original cast members of Gold Rush. He, along with his father, Jack Hoffman, led the first crew to be featured on the show.
Before trying his hand at mining, Todd was the owner of a small airport in Oregon. When the business started losing money, he rounded up six unemployed pals and went to Alaska.
However, Todd left the series in season eight and is now part of a new mining reality show called Hoffman Family Gold. Todd maintains a $7 million fortune with multiple business ventures.
4. Fred Hurt – $6 Million
Fred Hurt was one of the Dakota Boys first introduced to viewers in season one. However, Fred didn’t become a regular cast member until the second season.
He was already a miner before becoming a reality TV figure. Aside from that, Hurt was also an avid fisherman. In the show, he started working with the Hoffman crew at Porcupine Creek.
Hurt has also left the show. However, he didn’t abandon the franchise entirely as he starred in the spin-off series Gold Rush: White Water. Fred’s net worth is around $6 million. Sadly, he passed away on 11 July 2023.
5. Rick Ness – $3 Million
Initially building his reputation as the trusted foreman of Parker Schnabel in season three, Rick Ness has grown to become a reliable mine boss on his own.
In college, Rick was a football player, but an injury put an end to his sports career. Then, he formed a successful band called .357 String Band, which he left after becoming a miner.
After some work conflicts, Ness left Parker’s crew and went out on his own. Fortunately, Rick hit the jackpot in his rookie year as a mine boss. As a result, Rick Ness is now worth $3 million!
6. Dave Turin – $2 Million
Dave Turin, also known as Dozer Dave, is one of the most beloved miners in the Hoffman crew. He’s been known as a quarry and mining expert since joining in season two.
Turin initially worked in his family’s quarry called Jim Turin & Sons. Dave led the company’s daily operations for 25 years until he left to work for Todd Hoffman.
Like Fred Hurt, Turin decided to leave the main show and appear in a spin-off series. His show, Gold Rush: Dave Turin’s Lost Mine, started airing in 2019. Now, Turin’s fortune is estimated to be $2 million.
7. Fred Lewis – $1.6 Million
When Rick Ness decided to venture out on his own, Fred Lewis filled his shoes as the operator for Parker Schnabel. He first appeared in the spin-off series Gold Rush: Parker’s Trail.
Before getting into mining, Lewis was in the military, and he was trained for medical emergencies. His skills proved valuable when he joined the Schnabel crew’s security department.
Lewis was a big help for the team in their quest to conquer the Klondike route, which took them across the Yukon River and into Dawson City. Currently, Fred has a $1.6 million fortune.
8. Freddy Dodge – $1 Million
Nicknamed the “Gold Guru,” Freddy Dodge is one of the top gold experts in the show. He was featured in seasons one and two, but only became a permanent figure in season three.
Dodge began mining at just nine years old. Starting young allowed him to master the art of mining later on. This was the reason why Todd Hoffman needed his expertise.
Dodge got his spin-off series, Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue. Freddy also has other business endeavors, MSI Mining equipment and the Big Red wash plant. Freddy’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million.
9. Jack Hoffman – $1 Million
Jack Hoffman is the father and long-time business partner of Todd Hoffman. He was part of the original mining crew that featured in the debut season of the show.
Hoffman is a military veteran who served as a Bush pilot. He briefly worked in real estate before getting bored and testing his luck at mining.
Now, he is recognized as the patriarch of a renowned mining family on reality TV. He joined his son in leaving the show and creating their own series, Hoffman Family Gold. Jack’s fortune is around $1 million.
10. Chris Doumitt – $400,000
Chris Doumitt has been around since season one and is a key character in Parker’s crew. He initially joined the show with the Hoffman crew by accident.
At first, Chris worked as a carpenter and was asked to construct a cabin for friend and co-star Greg Remsburg. He ended up getting invited to mine with the Hoffman group.
After parting ways with the Hoffmans, Doumitt started working for Parker Schnabel. He became one of the most reliable workers on the show, and it earned him a $400,000 net worth.
