How Karoline Leavitt Found Love with Nicholas Riccio, Who Is 32 Years Her Senior

During a candid interview, the spokesperson revealed she was unsure at first about entering a romantic relationship with the man who is now her husband.

Karoline Leavitt is the 36th White House press secretary. She met her husband, Nicholas Riccio — who is also the father of her child — while building her career.

Karoline Leavitt and Nicholas Riccio: A Professional Path That Led to Love and Family

During an interview on "The Megyn Kelly Show" news podcast in February 2021, Leavitt shared that she met Riccio while running her Congressional campaign.

A mutual friend, who owns a restaurant in New Hampshire, hosted an event where she was scheduled to speak and invited Riccio to attend. Leavitt recalled that they first got to know each other as friends before their bond deepened:

"We met, were acquainted as friends. And then we fell in love."

When asked whether his age ever made her question the possibility of a relationship, Leavitt admitted that it did cross her mind. She described their bond as unique, "Yes, of course. I mean, it's a very atypical love story. But he's incredible. He's my greatest supporter. He's my best friend. He's my rock."

The 27-year-old revealed that Riccio, who is 59 and 32 years her senior, built a thriving business of his own and now stands firmly behind her as she builds her own path to success.

Leavitt and Riccio tied the knot in January 2025 and are parents to a son named Nicholas, lovingly called "Nico." Leavitt described Riccio as the best father she could ever hope for.

Despite the love he now shares with Leavitt and the life they've built together, Riccio's path was far from easy in the beginning.

Nicholas Riccio's Journey: From a Troubled Youth to Real Estate Success

Riccio faced a difficult upbringing, marked by instability and hardship. He was one of four children born to Marilyn and Anthony Riccio, the latter of whom passed away from cancer at the age of 60 in 2002.

His early years were defined by poverty and the separation of his parents, which led to frequent moves before he eventually graduated from Alvirne High School in Hudson in 1983.

By the time he turned 18, Riccio found himself homeless. Reflecting on that chapter of his life, he shared in an interview once:

"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."

That challenging start only strengthened Riccio's determination to succeed. He put himself through Plymouth State University, sometimes sleeping in his car when he could not afford rent.

After college, he enrolled in a real estate course in 1990 and began borrowing money at extremely high interest rates to invest in his future. What others viewed as a risky move, Riccio saw as a necessary step forward.

He got his start filling shelves at Purity Supreme grocery stores across Massachusetts. A trip to Hampton Beach with his mother soon inspired him to leave that chapter behind.

Riccio now oversees a successful multimillion-dollar real estate company, Riccio Enterprises LLC, with properties spanning from Boston to the White Mountains, including several along Hampton Beach.