NatGeo’s Life Below Zero features a group of people living in the remote regions of Alaska, and among them, Ricko DeWilde has become extremely popular with viewers. Moreover, fans have also enjoyed his family and the lifestyle they show on the show.
So, who are Ricko’s parents and siblings? Let’s find out all the information about Ricko DeWilde Bio.
Ricko DeWilde on Life Below Zero
Ricko DeWilde first appeared on Life Below Zero in the 2018 episode “Home Again.” He has since become a series regular and reached the peak of his popularity in late 2021.
According to IMDB, he has appeared in over 30 NatGeo documentaries.
How many children do Ricko DeWilde and his wife Rona Vent have?
Ricko DeWilde and his future wife Rona Vent had five children together — three daughters: Simone, Skarlett and Maya, and two sons: Skyler and Keenan.
In 2021, Simone is 17 years old and his sister is believed to be around 5 years old.
The children grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, which has a population of 30,000.
Ricko says he wants his kids to learn all the Alaska Native traditions he learned from his parents. However, he is not very patient when it comes to teaching them. “Sometimes in the past, I could be very impatient with my kids and just let them learn by watching me do things,” Ricko admits.
But he insists he is a better and more patient father now. “Being on Life Below Zero has made me a more patient father,” he says.
As for Rona’s relationship, the two have been together since at least 2013. They are both members of the Koyukon Athabascan people (a group named after the territory they inhabit along the Koyukuk and Yukon rivers).
However, we do not know whether the two are married or not.
Did you know: Ricky is said to live with five children, but he has also mentioned that he has a daughter named Sarah, whom he misses very much.
Ricko DeWilde’s Parents
Ricko DeWilde was born to Amelia and Lloyd DeWilde. His mother is Koyukon Athabaskan, born and raised in Alaska, while his father is a white Welshman who moved to Alaska from San Francisco.
According to the story, Ricko’s parents homeschooled him, and that’s where he learned the traditional Koyukon Athabaskan way of life. In addition, his mother and father instilled in him the skills of hunting, trapping, farming, and gathering.
Unfortunately, both Ricko’s parents passed away long ago.
As was his tradition, Ricko held a potlatch (the final step in the Athabascan Indian funeral process) about two years after their deaths. He designed some sweaters to represent who they were and what they meant to him, for the potlatch. And that’s how he got the idea to create a clothing line.
Ricko DeWilde’s siblings
Ricko DeWilde is the 13th of 14 children born to Amelia and Lloyd DeWilde.
Sadly, one of his sisters, Riba May Dewilde, was murdered on November 26, 2016, at the age of 52. To get into the details, it was her son, Eli Simpson (21 at the time), who shot and killed her. According to the Alaska State Police, Eli called the police to report that his mother was dead at her home.
He later confessed to investigators that he had killed his mother in self-defense and that he had suffered years of abuse from her. He also said that he shot her at close range because he did not want her to suffer.
Eli was the youngest of Riba’s six children. He was arrested for Murder I and II.
Ricko’s remaining nieces and nephews are Levi Dewilde, Elliot Cruikshank, Wesley “Scotty” Cruikshank, Lana Simpson, and Brian Simpson.
How old is Ricko DeWilde?
Ricko DeWilde was born on July 4, 1975. That means he is 46 years old as of 2021.
According to his date of birth, Ricko belongs to the Cancer zodiac sign.
Ricko DeWilde Net Worth
Ricko has achieved a net worth of over $700 thousand as of 2021.
To describe his work, Ricko is a clothing store owner, a reality TV star, and a hunter for a living (someone who hunts solely to provide food for himself and his family).
He started his clothing brand HYDZ in 2008 after getting a lot of compliments on the hoodies he made for family and friends (at his parents’ potlatch). So he kept making them and soon started running a business.
As of 2021, his hoodies cost around $64, hats around $30, and t-shirts around $20.
Before it all started, Ricko was a lost soul and an oxycodone addict. He even spent two years in prison for cocaine possession. But he turned his life around in mid-2000, learning not to suppress his emotions and finding “satisfaction” in everything he did.
Related FAQs
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How tall is Ricko DeWilde?
Ricko DeWilde stands over 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall.
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Where was Ricko DeWilde born?
Ricko is originally from Huslia, Alaska. But he moved to Durango, Colorado in 2001.
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Is Ricko DeWilde on Instagram, Facebook?
Yes, find him on Instagram @reeky_reeks and Facebook @ricko.dewilde.
Also, here is his Twitter @hydzgear.