Zeke Tenhoff Wiki/bio, Age, Net Worth, Married?, Partner, Children and Facts.

Tune into Discovery’s hit series Bering Sea Gold and it’s hard to miss Zeke Tenhoff—an adventurous miner, ingenious engineer, and unapologetic dreamer rolled into one. From the frozen harbors of Nome to the unpredictable swells of the Bering Sea, Zeke has carved out a reputation as the guy willing to take risks most wouldn’t dare. He’s captained his own dredges, partnered (and clashed) with Emily Riedel, weathered personal tragedy, and returned time and again with a knack for turning chaos into opportunity. Whether he’s piecing together a new dredge like a mad scientist or gambling everything on an untested claim, Zeke brings drama, ingenuity, and heart to every season. His story isn’t just about chasing gold—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the kind of grit it takes to keep diving back into icy waters when the odds are stacked against you. This is the journey of Zeke Tenhoff.

Early Life

Ezekial “Zeke” Tenhoff was born on January 27, 1987, in Fairbanks, Alaska. At just one year old, his family moved to Nome, where he spent most of his early childhood. Zeke was homeschooled and grew up in a close-knit family alongside his younger brothers, Sam and Gabe. The three were often found diving together, developing the skills and instincts that would later define Zeke’s career.

After relocating during his teens, Zeke returned to Nome at age 20 with a clear goal: to become a gold dredger. He entered the mining world not through family tradition but through friendship and adventure, joining his close friends John and Isaac in building and learning on their own. By 2008, he had constructed his first dredge boat, The Clark, entirely from scratch—marking the beginning of his professional gold mining career.

These early years set the foundation for Zeke’s career—marked by curiosity, resilience, and a determination to carve out his own path in the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea.

Professional Career

Zeke is a versatile worker in the professional gold dredging business. Besides holding the fort as a captain, he also worked as a deep-water diver. And his ability to prospect and motivate is second to none. After launching The Clark, Zeke went on to captain other notable dredges that became central to his story on Bering Sea Gold. He later helmed dredges such as The Edge and The Eroica, each project reflecting his inventive approach and willingness to take risks.

By 2014, Zeke had already become a standout on Bering Sea Gold and spoke candidly about his work. He emphasized that gold dredging is not about fast money but about patience, resilience, and earning respect within the Nome community. He warned that newcomers often arrive chasing quick riches, but true success requires years of dedication. Reflecting on the financial volatility of the business, he admitted, “it’s impossible to save money as a gold miner—you just spend it.” He also shared his eccentric imagination, once joking that if he struck it big, he’d stay in Alaska, buy a pet fox, and convert a Waterworld trimaran into a dredge.

Zeke also acknowledged the personal challenges that shaped his journey. The death of his close friend John Bunce in 2012 weighed heavily on him, and he later admitted, “I kind of lost it there for a while, but I worked through it.” His openness about grief and perseverance endeared him to many fans, showing both vulnerability and resilience.

Life underwater has given Zeke a unique perspective. He has described the environment as unpredictable and sometimes eerie, from run-ins with seals to the unsettling silence of the deep. To stay productive and safe, he rarely dives beyond 30 feet, mindful of the effects of nitrogen narcosis. On-screen, he pairs this cautious professionalism with eccentric ingenuity, earning him the nickname of the show’s “mad scientist” beginning in Season 14 pof Bering Sea Gold.

In 2021, Zeke unveiled The Black Swan, which has since become his primary dredge and further underscored his reputation for creative engineering and bold innovation. From the outside perspective, Zeke is doing what many dream of: carving an unconventional career on his own terms. Despite setbacks and hardships, his blend of grit, ingenuity, and eccentricity has made him one of Nome’s most enduring and talked-about miners.

TV Appearances

Zeke Tenhoff has been a central figure on television since 2012. He made his debut on Bering Sea Gold, the Discovery Channel reality series that follows daring miners as they search for gold in the perilous waters off Nome, Alaska. Over the years, Zeke captained several dredges—including The Clark, The Edge, The Eroica, and The Black Swan. Since its debut in Season 13 (2021), The Black Swan has remained Zeke’s primary vessel, cementing his presence as one of the show’s most inventive engineers.

In addition to the main series, Zeke also appeared in the spin-offs Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice—which showcased miners braving frozen seas during winter—and Bering Sea Gold: After the Dredge, which recapped behind-the-scenes developments. In 2013, he crossed over into mainstream daytime TV as a guest on The Jeff Probst Show, where he spoke about the risks and lifestyle of Alaskan gold mining.

Reuniting with Former Flame

In Season 6 (2016), Zeke’s fortunes took a turn when he reunited with his ex-girlfriend, Emily Riedel. Though Zeke had originally introduced Emily to mining, he later found himself in financial trouble and short on resources. He put his pride aside and asked Emily for help. Emily agreed to finance their operation, while Zeke applied his skills as an engineer and diver.

The duo’s most ambitious gamble was venturing to Sledge Island, a remote volcanic landmass shrouded in mystery and legend. Their partnership yielded some success, and Zeke managed to bounce back financially. However, by the end of Season 8 (2017), the pair decided to part ways professionally. Both moved on to pursue independent claims and operations, though their on-screen dynamic remained one of the most memorable storylines in the show’s history.

Bering Sea Gold Exit, Return

After Season 9, Zeke disappeared from Bering Sea Gold without any formal explanation on the show. His absence coincided with financial strain, personal struggles, and lingering grief over the 2012 suicide of his close friend and fellow dredger John Bunce. The tragedy, depicted in the Season 1 finale, left Zeke devastated—he admitted to carrying roughly $250,000 in debt tied to hospital bills and struggled to finish the season alone. In the aftermath, both Zeke and Emily Riedel became outspoken advocates for suicide prevention, using their visibility on the show to highlight the issue.

He eventually returned in Season 13 (2021), reintroducing himself with renewed determination and a new dredge, The Black Swan. His comeback was promoted heavily, as fans had long requested his return. Zeke’s revival brought a fresh energy to the show, as he combined his creative approach to dredging with lessons learned from past setbacks.

Season 18 Highlights (2024)

By Season 18 (2024), Zeke was once again a key player. Facing treacherous El Niño ice conditions, he had to constantly adapt his strategy:

• In Episode 2 (Opportunity Knocks), Zeke was forced to pivot when the Tomcod claim—a spot he had mined in earlier seasons—proved too dangerous to access due to shifting ice.
• In Episode 3 (The Art of Cold War), he revisited an old mining spot from his past, marking a symbolic and strategic return to familiar ground.
• In Episode 6 (Place Your Bets), Zeke gambled by moving his entire operation across the ice, testing both his crew and equipment under intense pressure.
• By Episode 8, Zeke reached a critical crossroads after being visited by family at the mining site, highlighting the personal stakes of his risky career.

Season 18 underscored Zeke’s resilience and adaptability. Even under chaotic weather and logistical setbacks, he demonstrated that his willingness to experiment—whether with location changes or risky ice crossings—remains central to his survival in Nome’s unforgiving mining culture.

Season 19 Premiere & Return (2025)

In Season 19 (premiered August 8, 2025), Zeke once again took center stage as part of the core Nome fleet. In the premiere episode, Episode 1 – Going Deep, the miners faced dangerous new challenges as El Niño’s fury and untested ground put lives and fortunes on the line. Zeke pushed forward with The Black Swan and refined his ice‑mining strategy following the chaotic conditions of the previous year. As Season 19 is ongoing, his storyline continues to unfold, with new technology, shifting ice, and high competition shaping the course of his return.

Net Worth (Aug 2025)

Zeke Tenhoff has made his money mainly from two places: his role on Bering Sea Gold and the actual gold he recovers while mining. Over the years he’s been on the show for about 16 seasons, which has given him steady paychecks from Discovery and some side earnings from appearances and sponsorships. At the same time, he’s had good mining runs and some tough ones, with profits in certain years and losses in others once costs like fuel, repairs, and crew wages are counted.

When you add it all up, Zeke has brought in over a million dollars in income across TV and mining. From that, taxes, living expenses, and old debts have taken a big bite, though he still owns valuable equipment like his dredge The Black Swan.

• Estimated net worth today: around $320,000
• On the high end: he could be worth closer to $600,000 if recent seasons go well and expenses stay under control.

In simple terms, Zeke isn’t a millionaire, but he has built a modest net worth through years of hard work on television and in the freezing waters of the Bering Sea. His finances go up and down with each mining season, but his persistence has kept him in the game and financially stable.

Personal Life

Zeke Tenhoff has always kept much of his personal life private, though viewers have occasionally caught glimpses of it through the show. His relationship with Emily Riedel, his former girlfriend and mining partner, gave audiences a rare window into his world beyond dredging. Their on‑screen partnership mixed lighthearted moments with fiery disagreements, ultimately ending as they chose to go their separate ways both personally and professionally. Emily has since moved on and is now married, while Zeke continued on his own path.

Meeting Sarah Dunn

In the aftermath of his close friend John Bunce’s tragic death, Zeke fell into a period of depression and substance abuse. Seeking a fresh start, he spent time in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he met Sarah Dunn. Their relationship quickly grew, and after some recovery, Zeke returned to Nome with Sarah later joining him. As their relationship grew, glimpses of their shared life occasionally surfaced on social media. In December 2013, Sarah posted a lighthearted tweet showing Zeke dressed up for a family Christmas dinner—”You can hardly tell he’s a gold miner!” she joked. Just a couple of months later, in February 2014, she shared a photo of Zeke hard at work, emerging from an icy dredge hole in the dark, captioned: “Round the clock with Zeke Tenhoff… perils of the deal dredging for Bering Sea Gold.”

family saw to it @zeketenhoff get fancy for Christmas dinner. You can hardly tell he's a gold miner! #beringseagold pic.twitter.com/y1sDC7vPMZ

— sarah dunn (@sarahdunnarts) December 27, 2013

Zeke even reposted both moments, giving fans an unexpectedly personal look at his life beyond the grind of gold mining. Together, they ran a food truck called Au Gratin, showing another entrepreneurial side of Zeke. Eventually, the couple broke up, and Sarah returned to New Orleans.

Alexis Alamillo and Family Life

Zeke is in a committed relationship with Alexis Alamillo, a multidisciplinary artist and professional rigger whose résumé includes work with Cirque du Soleil, Burning Man, and other large-scale art festivals. Their partnership blends Alexis’s creative artistry with Zeke’s inventive engineering mindset, forming a natural alignment both personally and professionally.

In May 13, 2022, Alexis’s sister, Katie Sevigny, joyfully announced their engagement with the words: “My adorable little sister and her very sweet partner are getting married! We’re so excited!!! Oh Zeke, welcome to the family.” This heartfelt message reflected the warmth with which Zeke was embraced by Alexis’s family. A year later, in May 2023, their loved ones gathered for a baby shower, marking the couple’s transition into parenthood. By August 2023, Zeke and Alexis welcomed their first child, a son named Boden, a milestone that highlighted Zeke’s growing focus on stability and family life alongside his demanding mining career.

Life together in Nome has not been without challenges. Back in June 2021, Alexis and her dog briefly went missing while hiking near Beam Road, prompting Zeke, local authorities, and community members to organize a search until she was found safe. The incident underscored both the unpredictability of Alaska’s wilderness and the resilience of the couple in facing it together.

Social Media Presence:

Zeke Tenhoff’s social media presence is as follows:

• He has a Twitter account with over 1,800 followers, where he posts about his gold-dredging adventures, personal life, and opinions.
• He also has a Facebook page with over 6,500 followers, where he shared photos and videos of his work and travels and has not updated since January 2015.
• He is not active on Instagram

Physical Traits

Standing at 6 feet tall, Zeke Tenhoff has a slim, wiry build shaped by years of gold mining in the harsh terrain of Nome. Photos from Bering Sea Gold and social media confirm his practical style: brown eyes, brown hair usually tucked beneath a rugged beanie or cap, and a frequently trimmed beard and mustache that come and go with the seasons. His face carries the sun-creased, windburned features of someone who works outdoors year-round.

Zeke’s wardrobe is built for function—layered flannel shirts, thermal jackets, denim, and well-worn boots. The extreme cold and wet conditions of dredging demand both insulation and mobility, and his gear reflects that. Viewers and fans often recognize him instantly by this signature working look: tough, minimal, and well-earned.

Hobbies & Interests:

Zeke Tenhoff’s hobbies and interests are as follows:

• He enjoys traveling and exploring new places.
• He likes to spend time with his friends and family.
• He is passionate about gold dredging and mining. He has been working in the industry for over a decade and has learned a lot from his experiences.
• He is interested in history and culture. He likes to learn about the stories and traditions of the places he visits.
• He is adventurous and curious. He likes to try new things and challenge himself.

Zeke Tenhoff Wiki/Bio Facts

Full name	Ezekiel Zeke Eugene Tenhoff
Other Name	Zeke Tenhoff
Age	38 years old
Date of Birth	January 27, 1987
Place of Birth	Alaska, United States
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Education	N/A
Profession	Gold Miner, Reality Television Personality
Net worth	$300,000
Gender	Male
Sexuality	Straight
Ex-Girlfriend	Emily Riedel,  Sarah Dunn
Fiancee/ Partner	Alexis Alamillo
Children	One
Son	Boden Tenhoff
Zodiac Sign	Aquarius
Siblings	Sam Tenhoff, Gabe Tenhoff
Parents	N/A
Height	N/A
Weight	N/A
Eye Color	Brown
Hair Coor	Brown