Rick Ness Wife – Everything to Know About His Love Life

The search for Rick Ness' wife may not lead to a wedding aisle just yet—but the Gold Rush star’s love life has been anything but uneventful. His long-running, on-again-off-again relationship with Leese Arie has unfolded largely in public view.

Rick Ness, best known for his role on Discovery's "Gold Rush," has long kept fans intrigued — not just with his gold mining ventures, but also with his personal relationships. While there is no official Rick Ness wife, his love life has frequently made headlines due to his on-again, off-again relationship with ex-fiancée Leese Arie.

The couple most recently ended their engagement in February 2024, following a short-lived reconciliation that began in December 2023. Their relationship has seen several ups and downs over the years, drawing attention from both viewers and followers on social media. Here is everything we know about Rick Ness' love life and where things stand today.

Rick Ness Wife Drama: A Rocky Engagement and Public Breakups

While Rick Ness has never had a legal wife, his longtime relationship with Leese Arie has often been at the center of public attention—largely due to their emotionally charged and very public highs and lows.

The couple first got engaged in October 2022, seemingly turning over a new leaf. But their engagement quickly unraveled. Just weeks later, Leese took to TikTok to announce their split in a dramatic post.

Lip-syncing to Brett Young's "Like I Loved You" and flipping off the camera, she added text over the clip that read, "Last time he ever cheats on me again!!" The post was accompanied by hashtags like #cheatersneverchange, #singleuntiliknowitsreal, and #neverlookingback—leaving little doubt about the reason for their breakup.

Shortly afterward, Ness publicly addressed the situation on Facebook. He admitted to being unfaithful, writing, "I screwed up just about everything you could screw up, believe me ... I've done the unforgivable, but she has continued to forgive me." His message hinted at the potential for reconciliation—and, despite the circumstances, the couple did reunite.

Rick Ness Wife Speculation Rekindled, Then Fizzles Again in 2024

In early 2024, fans briefly believed that Rick Ness and Leese Arie were back on solid ground. On January 23, Ness shared a Facebook post that suggested he was preparing to make a permanent move from Wisconsin to Arizona to be with Leese during the mining off-season.

The post included a photo of the couple and a caption that hinted at renewed commitment.

"Almost done packing the last of my stuff up in Brookfield and this weather is reminding me why I'm leaving," he wrote. "I can't wait to get back to AZ and the broad in this picture who goes by the future Mrs. Ness. No eye contact in the picture because you don't stare at the mantle while you’re stoking the fire, right?"

The post sparked renewed speculation about whether the title of "Rick Ness wife" might soon become official. But within weeks, things took another turn. The couple quietly broke up again shortly after that post, and Leese changed her Instagram to private. According to her bio, she remains based in Arizona.

Leese later shared a pointed message on TikTok in January 2025, captioning a video with, "Yes I’ve changed because my old version was too weak." The post appeared to allude to her previous relationship and hinted at personal growth after the breakup — marking what seems to be another definitive end to their long, turbulent story.