Andy Kelly Bering Sea Gold Wiki: Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, and Career Highlights

From underwater near-misses to heated family feuds on deck, Andy Kelly has weathered it all in the icy waters off Nome. He is a professional gold miner and television personality best known for his appearances on Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold. As a key member of the Kelly family dredging crew, he works aboard the dredge The Reaper alongside his brother Kris and father Brad. Since relocating to Nome, Alaska, Andy has played an active role in suction dredge mining and become a core contributor to the crew’s demanding operations in the Bering Sea.

Early Life and Family

Andrew Joseph Kelly was born on April 5, 1982, at 5:00 a.m. in Los Alamitos Hospital, California. He is the younger son of Brad Kelly and Wendy Kelly, and the younger brother of Kris Kelly. Andy was primarily raised in California. He grew up in a working-class environment in California, while his father, Brad Kelly, had prior experience in gold mining—a background that later influenced the family’s move to Alaska.

Though he tends to keep a lower public profile than his brother, Andy shares a close bond with his mother, Wendy. In a lighthearted 2015 Facebook post, Wendy called Andy her “handsome youngest son” and joked about posting his photo since he wasn’t on her friends list. The moment offered a glimpse into the humor and affection that continue to shape the Kelly family dynamic beyond their life in Nome.

Move to Nome and Breakthrough on Bering Sea Gold

Andy relocated to Nome, Alaska, with his family around 2009, marking a major shift from his California upbringing to the icy and unforgiving environment of the Bering Sea. There, he began working alongside his family in suction dredge mining—an experience that set the stage for their eventual on-screen debut in Season 3 of Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold.

Andy joined his brother Kris and father Brad aboard the dredge The Reaper. Known for his physical grit, mechanical skills, and no-nonsense attitude, he quickly became an integral part of the crew’s daily operations. As noted in Discovery’s cast profiles, Andy has served as the “resident gold hound,” responsible for much of the actual gold recovery during missions

His dynamic with his family is a central thread on the show—marked by loyalty to Kris and repeated clashes with their father, Brad. One of the more intense family disputes came when Brad took $13,000 worth of gold without informing Kris or Andy, creating a deep rift in the already fragile family structure. Tensions have also flared between Andy and Kris themselves. In Season 9, Episode 1, following a failed gold dive caused by an unbalanced sluice box setup, Kris blamed Andy’s weight distribution for shifting the boat’s angle—leading to a loss of all recovered gold back into the sea. What began as technical frustration quickly escalated into a personal exchange, with both brothers airing frustrations over expectations, physical limitations, and mutual blame. Despite the heated moment, they ultimately agreed to regroup and fix the boat setup for a fresh start the next day.

Bering Sea Gold: Reputation, Risk, and Rivalries

Andy is often characterized by fans as the muscle of the Kelly crew. His emotional responses, while sometimes volatile, are rooted in his loyalty to his brother and their shared goals. He is less vocal than Kris but often serves as a stabilizing presence in otherwise chaotic situations. Viewers respect his consistency and resilience, especially when navigating the harsh conditions of the Bering Sea.

One particularly harrowing moment on the show came when Andy experienced a near-death incident underwater due to a malfunction in his diving equipment. During a dive in low-visibility conditions, sediment and sand obscured the ocean floor, forcing Andy to operate essentially blind. His dive mask failed to seal properly, causing him to inhale seawater and panic mid-operation. Kris and the crew quickly pulled him up, and though Andy typically maintains a tough exterior, he was visibly shaken and admitted the scare was real. The crew later acknowledged that the equipment should have been checked more thoroughly before deployment. The event highlighted the dangerous nature of suction dredging and deepened viewers’ appreciation for his courage and risk tolerance.

He has also been involved in heated rivalries with other miners, including a notable verbal clash with fellow miner Shawn Pomrenke. While these altercations added drama, Andy has generally maintained a reputation for being more grounded than explosive.

Andy Kelly’s Personal Life: Wife, Children, and Privacy

As of now, Andy Kelly has kept most details of his personal life—including any information about a wife or children—out of the public eye. Unlike his brother Kris, who shares aspects of his family life online, Andy maintains a lower profile and is rarely active on social media. His appearances on Bering Sea Gold primarily focus on his role as a diver and crew member rather than his private affairs. However, he is an uncle to Kris Kelly’s two children, occasionally appearing in family moments that highlight his bond with his brother beyond the dredge. As such, no confirmed information about his marital status or children has been publicly disclosed.

Andy Kelly Net Worth and Earnings from Bering Sea Gold

While Discovery Channel does not disclose exact salaries, Andy Kelly’s net worth is estimated to be between $400,000 and $600,000 as of 2025. His primary source of income is his ongoing role in Bering Sea Gold, where he has featured in multiple seasons alongside his brother and father. Additional earnings may come from gold sales, private mining operations, and performance-based incentives tied to dredge productivity. Andy’s long-running presence on the show and hands-on role in operations have helped him build financial stability in one of television’s most dangerous reality job settings.