Karoline Leavitt has been making headlines ever since President Donald Trump appointed her as White House press secretary for his second term. At just 27, she’s the youngest press secretary in U.S. history—but according to Leavitt, her success wasn’t achieved alone.
In a candid interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, Leavitt opened up about the driving force behind her rapid ascent: her husband, Nicholas Riccio, a self-made millionaire in real estate and 32 years her senior.
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“He’s built a very successful business himself, so now he’s fully supportive of me building my success in my career,” Leavitt shared. Riccio, whose net worth is estimated at around $6 million, wasn’t just a cheerleader—he financially supported Leavitt during her 2022 congressional run in New Hampshire’s 1st District.
Their relationship began during that very campaign. “A mutual friend of ours hosted an event at a restaurant that he owns in New Hampshire and invited my husband. I was speaking. We met and we became acquainted as friends. And then we fell in love,” she recalled, according to People.
While some have raised eyebrows over the couple’s age gap—Leavitt was 25 and Riccio 57 when they met—she dismissed any reservations. “He’s the father of my child, and he’s the best dad I could ever ask for. And he is so supportive, especially during a very chaotic period of life,” she explained.
Riccio’s background is as compelling as his success. Once homeless, he built a multimillion-dollar real estate business from the ground up. That financial stability, Leavitt said, allowed her to fully pursue her political ambitions while Riccio held things down at home.
“I say, ‘I walked into your life and it’s been a circus ever since,’ but God bless him because he’s fully on board,” she joked. The couple got engaged in December 2023, with Leavitt revealing the news on Instagram. They married in a glamorous ceremony at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire—just days before Trump’s second inauguration.
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Their first child, Niko, was born on July 10 of last year. Just three days later, the country was shaken by an assassination attempt on Trump. Though still on maternity leave, Leavitt sprang into action. “I looked at my husband and said, ‘Looks like I’m going back to work,’” she told The Conservateur.
Now, with Riccio’s unwavering support at home, Leavitt continues to serve as the face of Trump’s administration—balancing politics, press briefings, and parenting.
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