When the Gold Rush reality star and operator Rick Ness decided to leave Parker Schnabel’s mining crew, the one who took his place was Fred Lewis. He previously served in the US Army as a Special Forces medic. Now, he is one of the most reliable men in Parker’s company. In 2025, Fred Lewis has an estimated net worth of $1.6 million.
Background
Fred was born on November 24, 1977 and grew up in Maine, United States. Apart from his work and military background, not much is known about his early life and he rarely talks about his childhood.
He worked in the military as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He served in Korea, Iraq, Africa, and Afghanistan during his service. He once taught the Korean language to fellow soldiers. As a medic, he tended to the sick, delivered babies, and did dental work.
However, his military career was cut after 14 years when he was hit by a sniper round. In 2011, he left the army and studied web design. He also got a master’s degree in education.
Post-Military Career
Before attending college, Lewis briefly worked in the agriculture industry. After completing higher education, the veteran felt lost and jumped from job to job.
He lectured biology in high school and history in middle school. As a teacher, Fred also handled extracurricular activities and was a coach for volleyball and wrestling teams.
Before joining the cast of Gold Rush, Fred Lewis was a contestant in another reality series called American Ninja Warrior. He got intense training with fellow retired army friends.
Joining Gold Rush
When the pandemic struck, he struggled more with work. Thus, he turned to gold mining. Lewis first appeared in the spin-off show “Gold Rush: Parker’s Trail”. He debuted on the main series in season 11 but has yet to find much mining success.
Fred wasn’t originally portrayed as a miner in the show but rather as extra manpower. With his experience, he was hired as a medic and security team member in Parker Schnabel’s exploration in Papua, New Guinea.
When Parker and his foreman Rick Ness had conflicts of interest, Rick left the crew. Lewis became his replacement. He put together a team of ex-military personnel who had been wounded on the battlefield.
Net Worth and Earnings
The average pay for cast members for each Gold Rush episode ranges from $10,000 to $25,000. As one of the newer faces on the show, Fred’s per-episode salary could be closer to the starting figure.
However, before this, Lewis had already built a substantial fortune for himself. He served in the military and had several jobs after that. Currently, his net worth is estimated to be $1.6 million, enough to make him one of the richest cast members on Gold Rush.
Personal Life
Fred Lewis is married to a woman named Khara. They started dating in 2006, and have been together for 15 years now. The couple has been blessed with four children: two girls and two boys.
