Brennan Ruault from Gold Rush: Wiki, Bio, Career Journey, Life with Wendy Keith, and Raising Stepson Pisto

Brennan Ruault is a Canadian heavy equipment operator, television personality, and longtime cast member of Discovery Channel’s Gold Rush. Known for his hands-on mining skills and leadership on Parker Schnabel and Rick Ness’s crews, Brennan has gained recognition for both his work ethic and on-screen presence. Beyond mining, he is a devoted partner to Wendy Keith and a father figure to her son, Pisto Keith. This comprehensive profile explores Brennan’s evolution from a logging background to reality TV fame, while also highlighting the steady personal life he’s built away from the cameras.

Early Life and Background

Brennan Ruault hails from Invermere, British Columbia, Canada. His father is David Ruault, his mother is Shari Riches, and he has a sister named Taylor Nichol. Growing up in a logging family, Brennan developed hands-on experience with heavy machinery from a young age. His father and grandfather were both loggers. He accompanied his father to worksites from as early as six months old, and by the age of five, he had begun assisting with equipment movement, including cable skidders, in the mountainous terrain of British Columbia. His early life was deeply rooted in forestry, and nearly every school holiday or break was spent working with his dad.

Over the years, Brennan became proficient with numerous pieces of heavy equipment including dozers, skidders, log loaders, and bunchers. He fondly recalls falling asleep in the cab with a hard hat on, and begging to run machines during lunch breaks.

Eventually, Brennan worked in high-lead cable logging, progressed to rail work during spring breakups, and then landed jobs in the coal mines of Fernie and Sparwood, BC. His hard work ethic, forged from years in the logging industry, helped him transition to new roles in heavy industry.

Entry into Gold Mining

Brennan’s first taste of gold mining came when he was assigned to work at a hard-rock gold mine in Mackenzie, BC. It was a large open-pit operation just beginning development, and the experience broadened his skills beyond forestry and coal. This exposure to mining work became the bridge that led to his reality TV debut.

A turning point came when Brennan’s friend Carl—later known as Rick Ness’s mechanic—recommended him to Parker Schnabel. Carl and Brennan had become close while working in the coal mines, and Carl’s introduction set the wheels in motion. Brennan was eventually contacted by Parker himself and invited to join the team in the Yukon.

He made his first appearance on Gold Rush in Season 6, quickly adapting to life on a mining site under constant filming. Despite the pressure of constant filming and high production demands, Brennan adjusted quickly to the work environment and began contributing as a reliable equipment operator within Parker Schnabel’s team.

Time with Parker Schnabel

Brennan worked with Parker Schnabel from Season 6 through Season 10, participating in large-scale mining operations across the Yukon. Over the years, his responsibilities increased as he became one of Parker’s go-to men for running equipment like excavators, bulldozers, and rock trucks. He was regularly featured repairing breakdowns, managing key dig sites, and working long shifts in difficult conditions.

One notable example of his initiative came when the Big Red tailings pond overflowed. Brennan designed a solution to cut through a berm and divert fine tailings into lower ground, aiming to get Parker’s team closer to their 6,000-ounce goal. During the operation, he narrowly prevented a pump fire by spotting smoke early and shutting down the equipment. His quick thinking saved time, equipment, and potentially thousands in gold loss. Crew members credited Brennan’s attentiveness for preventing major downtime.

Despite his competence, Brennan’s relationship with Parker was often strained. Viewers noted several tense moments on screen, especially as Parker’s intense management style sometimes clashed with Brennan’s more straightforward, team-oriented approach. The stress of keeping up with ambitious gold targets led to disagreements, and Brennan often voiced frustration when he felt decisions were being made without proper input from experienced crew members.

Joining Rick Ness’s Crew

In Season 11, Brennan made a major move—he left Parker Schnabel’s team and joined Rick Ness’s crew. Rick, a former Parker employee himself, had started his own operation and was building a team of loyal and hardworking miners. Brennan’s decision to switch crews surprised fans but was seen by many as a move toward a more collaborative and supportive work environment.

With Rick, Brennan took on a more senior role, both as an equipment operator and as a leader among the team. His experience and level-headed nature made him a core part of the operation. Whether it was breaking frozen ground in early spring, troubleshooting wash plant problems, or helping to improve gold recovery, Brennan’s presence significantly contributed to Rick’s successes and setbacks alike.

On-Screen Personality and Reputation

Brennan Ruault was a regular presence on Gold Rush from Season 6 through Season 12, recognized for his mechanical expertise and ability to work efficiently across various crews. His involvement was marked by a focus on heavy equipment operation, site coordination, and maintaining production targets. He consistently remained out of on-screen disputes, contributing instead through technical problem-solving and hands-on leadership.

He did not appear in Seasons 13 and 14 but returned in Season 15, where he joined Kevin Beets’s independent crew. His reappearance was noted by fans for its professionalism and the friendly reunion with Parker Schnabel. Episodes such as Big Cat Fight (S15E10) and Rogue Foremen (S15E16) featured Brennan confronting internal challenges, including crew conflicts and equipment concerns.

Fan reactions across forums have emphasized Brennan’s reliability and consistency. His transitions between Parker, Rick Ness, and later Kevin Beets’s crews reflect his adaptability within the high-pressure mining environment. While not a central figure in every episode, his technical capabilities and no-nonsense work style have made him a respected team member throughout his time on the series.

Family Life with Wendy and Pisto Keith

Brennan Ruault has been in a committed relationship with Wendy Keith for over a decade. Together, they have raised Wendy’s son, Pisto Keith, whom Brennan refers to as his own. Brennan first became part of Pisto’s life when the boy was three years old. As of February 2025, Pisto turned 14—meaning Brennan has been a parental figure to him for over 11 years. In a heartfelt social media post, Brennan celebrated being home for Pisto’s first day of grade 8 in September 2024, marking the first time in 10 years he had not been away at work during the start of a school year.

Brennan and Wendy maintain a close family unit despite the challenges of long stints away from home. Wendy turned 42 in November 2024, and Brennan publicly expressed his love and gratitude to her for supporting him through a decade of demanding seasons and personal sacrifice.

Outside work, Brennan focuses on physical fitness—having once bulked up to 252 pounds—and enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which he affectionately calls “Big Cat.” He also snowmobiles and attends Pisto’s hockey games when home. In late 2024, he underwent an emergency appendectomy, using the recovery period to reconnect with family.

Despite the grind of Gold Rush filming and off-season logging work, Brennan continues to prioritize meaningful family moments. His posts reveal a deep sense of pride in his role as a partner and father figure, as well as a desire to be more present as his stepson grows older.