Wesley Richardson Biography, Age : Gold Rush White Water Star, Deborah’s Story, Career, and Personal Life

Wes Richardson is an American gold miner, mechanical fabricator, and television personality best known for his role on Gold Rush: White Water, the high-risk Discovery Channel series that follows a team of divers mining for gold in Alaska’s treacherous riverbeds. Hailing from Corpus Christi, Texas, Wes brought decades of field experience and hands-on machine work to the show, earning recognition for his calm under pressure and critical equipment expertise. He joined the series in 2018 alongside his brother Paul Richardson, forming part of the core Dakota Boys team led by Dustin Hurt.

Beyond television, Wes Richardson’s life reflects resilience and craftsmanship—from building large-scale gold recovery trommels to caring for his late wife, Deborah Richardson, through a series of life-altering health challenges. As a key figure on Gold Rush: White Water and a longtime contributor to real-world gold mining projects, Wes has become a familiar and respected name among fans of the franchise and the broader mining community.

Early Life and Family Background

Wesley D. Richardson was born on March 14, 1958, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He grew up in a skilled and industrious household. His father, Paul S. Richardson, worked for 25 years at Beck & Sons before running his own machine and fabrication shop. His mother, Jeannette Richardson, played a steady role in the family and remained by Paul’s side until his passing in 2014.

Wes and his brother, Paul D. Richardson, were raised in an environment where mechanical work and problem-solving were part of daily life. The skills they developed under their father’s guidance would later support their transition to Alaska’s demanding gold mining environment on Gold Rush: White Water.

Television Career and On-Screen Appearances

Wes Richardson joined the Discovery Channel reality series Gold Rush: White Water in 2018. The series is a spin-off of Gold Rush and follows a group of miners led by Dustin Hurt as they search for gold in Alaska’s extreme wilderness. Unlike traditional mining setups, the crew operates in remote creek beds and plunges into raging whitewater canyons using diving equipment to retrieve gold from bedrock below waterfalls and rapids. The show combines high-stakes gold mining with survival-style adventure, and Wes plays a central role in maintaining the equipment that makes these dives possible.

Over the seasons, Wes has been at the center of several key moments that reflect both the technical and physical challenges of the job. In Season 9, Episode 3 (“Man Overboard”), he accidentally fell out of an airboat into a frigid river during a resupply run, prompting an urgent rescue and highlighting the dangers they face in such remote terrain. In another tense episode from Season 6, Wes and his brother Paul had to act quickly to recover an airboat caught in rough waters, showcasing their coordination under pressure. In Season 8, Wes helped design and construct the “Deuce Sluice”—a dual-dredge setup aimed at increasing efficiency and boosting gold recovery rates.

Wes has also appeared in other related productions:

• Gold Rush: The Dirt (2013–2021)
• Gold Rush (2013–2020)
• Gold Blooded (2018 video)
• All That Glitters (2015 TV series)

In 2014, Wes and Paul Richardson worked on building a large Reverse Helix Trommel in their shop before the Alaska mining season. This project, which Wes documented on Facebook, demonstrated their mechanical expertise and hands-on fabrication capabilities. Wes also shared in 2015 that their Eliminator trommels were being used in Bolivia by local tribes to improve gold recovery—underscoring the global utility of their designs.

In 2016, Wes took on a lighthearted fabrication challenge—constructing a custom wooden bathtub alongside his brother Paul as part of a friendly competition initiated by a friend named Jen.

Personal Life and Marriage of Wes Richardson: Remembering His Wife Deborah

Wes Richardson currently resides in Pipe Creek, Texas. He was married to Deborah Erekson Richardson, a U.S. military veteran and proud graduate of Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. The couple tied the knot around 1985, with Deborah confirming their 30th anniversary in a 2015 Facebook comment stating, “Yup! 30 years ago!” On their wedding day, Deborah wore a light mauve dress with a veil and bouquet, while Wes donned a light-colored tuxedo with a boutonnière.

The couple’s life together spanned decades and included both joyful memories and serious challenges. In 2017, Wes publicly launched a GoFundMe fundraiser after Deborah began facing severe health issues caused by complications from rheumatic fever she had as a child. In the campaign, Wes described how he returned from working in Alaska to discover Deborah unable to speak or understand him—prompting an urgent trip to the emergency room. There, doctors confirmed she had suffered a stroke, which left her with aphasia, affecting her speech and comprehension. They also explained that her childhood rheumatic fever had likely hardened her mitral valve, increasing the risk of blood clots and stroke. With no medical insurance and already burdened by hospital bills and the cost of speech therapy, Wes described their situation as nearly impossible—but held on to hope. Throughout this difficult period, he continued to share updates on Facebook, keeping friends and supporters informed.

On January 25, 2018, Deborah experienced another stroke, which Wes Richardson shared publicly in a Facebook post. He requested prayers and positive energy while she was in the emergency room receiving urgent medical care.

On January 29, Wes provided an update noting that Deborah was showing signs of improvement—having regained much of the strength on her right side—but still unable to speak. His earlier post from January 26 had detailed the emergency and called for community support. Despite their determination and the outpouring of support from loved ones, Deborah Richardson sadly passed away in late 2020.

Her daughter, Shawna Misiong, honored Deborah’s legacy with a heartfelt Facebook tribute on November 13, 2020, writing:

“Today we celebrate the life of Deborah Erekson Richardson. As my family gathers to grieve, I know there will be so much laughter among the scattered tears. It’s how we have always healed, with giggles and snorts and ‘remember when’ tales… So get a good giggle at the captured shenanigans, bad hair style choices, goofy face making and forgotten glimpses of time passed. We love you all. Mom will be deeply missed.”

Wes now identifies as widowed on social media and continues to stay close to Deborah’s family, honoring her memory through shared photos, stories, and the enduring love they built together.

Wes Richardson Wiki/Bio Facts

Full Name	Wesley D. Richardson
Known For	Gold Rush: White Water (Discovery Channel)
Date of Birth	March 14, 1958
Age (as of 2025)	66 years old
Birthplace	Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Current Residence	Pipe Creek, Texas, USA
Profession	Gold miner, Mechanical Fabricator, TV Personality
Years Active (TV)	2018–present (Gold Rush: White Water)
Other TV Credits	Gold Rush, Gold Rush: The Dirt, Gold Blooded, All That Glitters
Father	Paul S. Richardson (1935–2014)
Mother	Jeannette Richardson
Brother	Paul D. Richardson
Marital Status	Widowed
Spouse	Deborah Erekson Richardson (m. ~1985–2020)
Children (Step)	Shawna Misiong (daughter)
Notable Works	Deuce Sluice system, Reverse Helix Trommel, Bolivia Trommels
Nickname	“MacGyver Wes”