Kris Kelly Wiki/Bio [2025] – Age, Net Worth, Wife, Daughter, and Life Beyond Bering Sea Gold

Kris Kelly is a professional gold miner, television personality, and dredge operator best known for his long-running role on Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold. Since first appearing on the show in Season 3, he has become a central figure in Nome’s fiercely competitive mining scene. As the captain of dredges like The Reaper and Loko, Kris has carved out a reputation for taking bold risks and pushing through relentless setbacks. His presence on the show has been defined by both his mining tenacity and his ability to navigate high-stakes family tensions, personal losses, and extreme conditions in one of the most challenging work environments on the planet.

Early Life and Background

Kris Kelly was born on January 4, 1980, at 4:30 p.m. in Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada—on what was recorded as the coldest day in 100 years. He is the son of Brad Kelly and Wendy Kelly. Kris spent his formative years in both California and Oregon, residing in towns such as Big Bear, Truckee, and Cottage Grove. His journey later took him to Pāhoa, Hawaii, where he lived for several years before beginning seasonal work in Nome, Alaska—a decision that marked the beginning of his full-time career in gold mining. Based on Discovery’s official bio for Brad Kelly, the family moved to Nome approximately five years before their on-screen debut, placing their relocation around 2009. The transition marked a significant turning point—from the warmth of Hawaii to the unforgiving, gold-rich waters of Nome. It was here that Kris began to build his name in the world of dredge mining, trading tropical sun for subzero dives and unpredictable seas.

A Family Affair: The Kelly Mining Dynasty

Kris’s mining career in Nome soon became a collaborative family effort involving his father and brother. Kris joined forces with his father, Brad Kelly—originally from Cerritos, California—and younger brother, Andy Kelly. The trio worked together on The Reaper, a family-run suction dredge operation. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Brad’s domineering leadership style, frequent clashes with his sons, and controversial financial decisions often put the entire operation on the edge.

Andy, Kris’s brother, brought strength and loyalty to the crew—but also a short fuse. Brad, while experienced, made headlines on the show for taking $13,000 worth of gold from the dredge without consulting Kris or Andy, sparking a major family fallout. In a bold and hopeful move, Kris even brought his mother, Wendy Kelly, to Nome in an attempt to reunite the broken family. Wendy, Brad’s ex-wife, hadn’t lived with them in years, and unfortunately, the reunion was short-lived.

Mining Challenges and Breakthroughs

Despite the tension, Kris’s work ethic and determination stood out. Starting with older, unreliable gear and minimal funding, he was often seen struggling to keep things afloat—literally and figuratively. But what he lacked in equipment, he made up for in sheer persistence. Season after season, he pushed harder, learned from setbacks, and gradually earned respect in the fiercely competitive world of Nome dredging.

Season 9 tested Kris’s resolve in extreme ways. In a bold move, he transported his dredge over 70 miles across a frozen tundra to reach the Bluff claims—an effort fraught with logistical nightmares and icy terrain. Later that season, a dive turned dangerous when his air supply froze at 65 feet underwater, forcing a tense emergency ascent that reminded viewers just how risky his line of work is.

Season 10 marked Kris’s long-awaited breakout. He ended the season with an impressive 790.4 ounces of gold, valued at over $1 million—a major leap forward after years of setbacks. His leadership noticeably improved as he handled both crew dynamics and dredge malfunctions with a steadier hand.

In Season 11, Kris broke his own record, hauling in 1,004.2 ounces and officially earning his place among Nome’s top miners. It was a high point in a career built on persistence, resilience, and the lessons of hard-won experience.

Season 12 brought no shortage of challenges—raging storms, diver complications, and an onboard fire that could have ended it all. Yet Kris powered through, demonstrating sharpened skills not only in engineering but in managing people and keeping the operation afloat.

By Season 16, Kris and his brother Andy rolled out their most ambitious innovation yet: a custom-built crawler dredge. Although early trials were hampered by electrical failures, the project signaled their shift toward more advanced, scalable mining solutions.

These defining seasons trace Kris’s evolution from a volatile upstart to a battle-tested veteran of the Bering Sea—continually adapting, improving, and chasing the next big haul beneath the ice-cold waves.

Industrial Expansion and Innovation (2021–2025)

In April 2021, Kris Kelly announced a major collaboration with Mexus Gold Corporation. The company backed the development of a massive clamshell barge, designed to extract gold from up to 90 feet beneath the ocean floor. The 78-by-40-foot barge, paired with a shaker and wash plant, aimed to recover as much as 2,000 ounces of gold per season, valued at over $3.5 million. This project marked a significant upgrade in both scale and ambition, reflecting Kris’s shift toward more industrial, high-yield mining operations. He called it a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” thanking Mexus for giving his family its most promising shot yet.

In March 2023, Kris listed his 8-inch dredge for sale, stating the proceeds would fund an upcoming expansion—foreshadowing the scale of his next moves.

By October 2023, Kris began showcasing his next major innovation: a custom-built crawler dredge nicknamed “the Gold Troll.” Developed with engineer Paul Thompson, the machine was fitted with a massive nozzle and designed to dramatically improve underwater reach. Kris humorously considered naming it “Goliath.”

In November 2024, Kris publicly unveiled the completed 12-inch crawler, confirming it as an upgraded and powerful alternative to traditional suction dredging. This milestone cemented his transition toward more automated and high-yield recovery techniques.

Then in March 2025, Kris launched recruitment for a 50-foot landing craft operation, describing it as “the best summer of my life.” The new platform aimed to support the season’s expanded logistics, equipment, and crew.

By May 2025, Kris officially declared his return to Nome, joined by Andy Kelly and Kevin Abdo Adaimy. Armed with both cutting-edge tools and a revitalized team, he prepared for a season that blended deep experience with bold innovation—ushering in what may be the most advanced phase of his mining career yet.

Net Worth

As of 2025, Kris Kelly’s estimated net worth is reported to be between $700,000 and $1 million. The majority of his income stems from gold mining operations featured on Bering Sea Gold, with his most successful seasons yielding over $1 million in gold. In addition to mining, Kris also earns from television appearances, merchandise sales, and possible sponsorships linked to his role on the show.

Personal Life: Family, Partner, and Fatherhood

While Kris Kelly is best known for his intense work ethic and onscreen family drama, he also leads a more grounded personal life away from the cameras. In April 2021, Kris welcomed the birth of his daughter, Kristine Jade Kelly, marking a deeply personal milestone.

Kris shares his life with longtime partner Brianne Jones, originally from Deering, Alaska, and currently based in Pāhoa, Hawaii. A particularly memorable moment came in 2019, when the couple took a trip to California, sharing snapshots and cheerful messages that hinted at their close bond long before parenthood. In a lighthearted 2020 post, Brianne revealed that neither she nor Kris could get their cat to respond when they called him ‘Simon,’ until she renamed him ‘Mochi’—a moment she shared with Wendy Kelly, suggesting a warm and ongoing connection with Kris’s mother even outside the dredging world. The couple’s relationship is reflected in a series of public interactions and photos shared across social media, often featuring affectionate messages, travel memories, and glimpses of life with Mochi.

In December 8, 2024, Kris welcomed his second child—a son named Kurtis James Kelly. The announcement was made on Kris’s social media, where he proudly introduced Kurtis as “my son.” The growing family reflects a more personal side of Kris, revealing his dedication not just to mining, but to fatherhood and family life.

Kris Kelly Wiki/Bio Facts Table

Full Name	Kristopher James Kelly
Date of Birth	January 4, 1980
Place of Birth	Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Age	45 years old
Nationality	American
Occupation	Gold Miner, Dredge Operator, TV Personality
Known For	Bering Sea Gold (Discovery Channel)
Years Active	2012–present (TV), ~2009–present (Nome mining)
Father	Brad Kelly
Mother	Wendy Kelly
Siblings	Andy Kelly (Brother)
Partner	Brianne Jones
Children	Kristine Jade Kelly (b. 2021), Kurtis James Kelly (b. 2024)
Residence	Nome, Alaska (seasonal); formerly Pāhoa, Hawaii
Net Worth (est.)	$700,000 – $1 million (as of 2025)
Notable Dredges	The Reaper, Loko, The Gold Troll (crawler)
Notable Projects	Clamshell barge (2021), Crawler dredge (2024), Landing craft operation (2025)