Karoline Claire Leavitt was born on August 24, 1997, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, United States. She grew up in a close-knit family in the small New Hampshire community, where her upbringing helped shape the conservative political views that later became central to her career. From an early age, Leavitt developed an interest in public affairs, communication and politics.
She attended Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where she was involved in school activities and played softball. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, she studied communications and political science, while continuing to participate in athletics. Her college years provided an important foundation for the communication and political skills she would later use in Washington.
While at Saint Anselm College, Leavitt became increasingly interested in Republican politics and conservative media. She secured an internship at the White House during Donald Trump’s first administration, giving her early exposure to presidential communications and national politics. That experience became a major stepping stone in her career, eventually leading her from college politics and White House communications roles to becoming one of the most prominent young figures in the Republican Party.
Karoline Leavitt’s Education
Karoline Leavitt began her education in New Hampshire before attending Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. During her high school years, she was active in extracurricular activities and played softball. Her time at Central Catholic helped develop her confidence, communication skills and interest in public affairs, interests that would later influence her decision to pursue a career in politics and media.
After completing high school, Leavitt attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. She studied communications, with political science also forming an important part of her academic background. At college, she was involved in student activities and continued playing softball. Her studies gave her a foundation in media, public communication and political affairs, skills that proved valuable as she moved into professional political communications.
While studying at Saint Anselm College, Leavitt gained practical political experience through an internship at the White House during Donald Trump’s first administration. The opportunity exposed her to presidential communications and the workings of the federal government at an early stage of her career. She graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2019, after which she pursued professional roles in political communications that eventually helped establish her as a prominent Republican spokesperson.
Karoline Leavitt’s Career
Karoline Leavitt began her professional political career while still in college, gaining valuable experience through an internship at the White House during Donald Trump’s first administration. After graduating from Saint Anselm College in 2019, she continued working in Republican politics and communications. She later joined the White House press operation, where she served as an assistant press secretary and gained firsthand experience handling media relations and communicating the administration’s policies.
After leaving the first Trump administration, Leavitt continued to build her profile in Republican politics. She became communications director for Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, strengthening her experience in congressional communications and political messaging. In 2022, Leavitt entered electoral politics herself, running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. She won the Republican primary but was defeated by Democrat Don Bolduc in the general election.
Leavitt returned to the national political spotlight during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, when she served as national press secretary for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Following Trump’s victory, she was selected as White House press secretary in January 2025, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position at age 27. During her tenure, she became known for her forceful defense of the administration and frequent White House press briefings. In August 2026, Trump announced that Leavitt would leave the position at the end of August 2026 following the birth of her second child, although she is expected to remain connected to Trump’s political movement as an outside adviser.
Karoline Leavitt’s Personal Life and Family
Karoline Leavitt is married to Nicholas Riccio, a New Hampshire real-estate developer who is 32 years older than her. The couple reportedly met in 2022 while Leavitt was campaigning for Congress and became engaged in December 2023. They married in January 2025 in a private ceremony at the Wentworth By the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire, shortly before Donald Trump began his second presidential term. Riccio has generally maintained a low public profile, although Leavitt has spoken positively about his support for her demanding political career.
Leavitt and Riccio have two children. Their first child, a son named Nicholas Robert “Niko” Riccio, was born on July 10, 2024. Their second child, a daughter named Viviana “Vivi” Riccio, was born on May 1, 2026. Leavitt announced Viviana’s birth publicly, describing her as healthy and saying that Niko was happily adjusting to life as a big brother. The birth also marked an important moment in Leavitt’s career, as she became the first White House press secretary to openly navigate pregnancy while serving in the role.
Family has become increasingly important to Leavitt as she balances motherhood with her political career. After returning from maternity leave in July 2026, she continued working as White House press secretary while Riccio helped care for their two young children. On August 12, 2026, Leavitt announced that she would leave the press secretary position at the end of August to devote more time to her husband and children. She is expected to remain involved in politics as an outside adviser to President Trump, allowing her to maintain a role in Republican politics while giving greater attention to her growing family.
Karoline Leavitt’s Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
As of August 14, 2026, Karoline Leavitt is 28 years old, having been born on August 24, 1997, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, United States. She is American by nationality and is publicly identified as a Roman Catholic. Leavitt is widely recognized for her youthful appearance and polished professional style. She has brown hair and brown eyes, and is often seen in formal business attire during White House briefings and political appearances. Her height is not consistently documented by authoritative sources, so published figures should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed information.
Karoline Leavitt’s Social Media Presence
Karoline Leavitt maintains a strong social media presence, using digital platforms to communicate directly with supporters, share political messages and provide glimpses into her professional and personal life. Her Instagram account is @karolineleavitt, where she posts photographs and updates about her work in Washington, family life and major moments in her career. Her account has attracted more than 3 million followers, making Instagram an important part of her public profile.
Leavitt is also active on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @karolineleavitt. Her X account has hundreds of thousands of followers and is frequently used for political commentary, responses to news stories and statements about the Trump administration. Her social-media activity has often amplified her direct and outspoken communication style, particularly on issues involving President Donald Trump and Republican politics.
Her social-media platforms have also become a way for her to share personal milestones. For example, she used Instagram to announce the birth of her daughter Viviana “Vivi” Riccio in May 2026 and has previously shared family photographs involving her husband, Nicholas Riccio, and their son, Nicholas “Niko” Riccio. As she prepares to leave the White House press secretary position at the end of August 2026, her social-media platforms are likely to remain an important channel for communicating with her political supporters and followers.
Karoline Leavitt’s Net Worth
Karoline Leavitt’s estimated personal net worth is around $1.3 million to $2.8 million, based on the assets reported in her federal financial disclosure. ProPublica’s analysis of her disclosure places her reported assets in that range, making it more reliable than the much higher internet estimates that sometimes include her husband’s wealth. Her disclosure also listed KCL, LLC, a company she owns, with reported business income of about $165,000, as well as $35,000 in salary from the Republican National Committee.
A significant source of Leavitt’s recent earnings has been her work in political communications. As White House press secretary, her official annual salary was $195,200, according to the White House’s 2026 annual staff report. This salary places her among the better-paid White House employees and provides a reasonable basis for estimating her current earnings from government service.
It is important to distinguish Leavitt’s personal net worth from the wealth of her husband, Nicholas Riccio. Riccio has substantial real-estate interests, and some online estimates combine his property holdings with Leavitt’s personal finances to produce household figures of roughly $10 million. For a biography, however, a more defensible estimate is about $1.3 million–$2.8 million for Karoline Leavitt herself, while noting that her actual current net worth cannot be known with complete precision from public records. Her federal financial disclosure is publicly available through the White House.
Legacy
Karoline Leavitt’s emerging legacy is closely associated with her rapid rise in American Republican politics and presidential communications. She became the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary when she assumed the position at age 27 in January 2025. Her appointment represented a significant milestone for a new generation of Republican political communicators and made her one of the most recognizable young figures in the Trump administration.
Her tenure as press secretary was marked by an outspoken and highly assertive communication style. Leavitt regularly defended President Donald Trump during White House briefings and used both traditional media and social media to communicate directly with the public. Supporters praised her confidence and ability to articulate the administration’s positions, while critics questioned her combative approach toward members of the White House press corps. Her visibility nevertheless established her as an influential figure within Trump’s political movement. Reuters reported that her tenure also coincided with significant changes in how the Trump administration handled media access, including greater prominence for newer digital media outlets.
Leavitt’s legacy also includes her experience balancing a demanding national political career with family life. She became the first pregnant White House press secretary and continued in the role after giving birth to her second child, Viviana “Vivi” Riccio, in May 2026. Her decision to leave the press secretary position at the end of August 2026 to spend more time with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, and their two young children adds another chapter to her public story. Even after leaving the White House role, her continued involvement as an outside adviser is expected to keep her active in Republican politics.
Conclusion
Karoline Leavitt’s biography reflects the rapid rise of a young American political communicator who moved from a small-town New Hampshire upbringing and college politics to the center of national government. From her early White House experience to becoming Donald Trump’s national press secretary and later the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, she has built a prominent career in Republican politics. Her marriage to Nicholas Riccio, motherhood of two children and decision to leave the White House press secretary position in August 2026 to focus more on her family add an important personal dimension to her story. As she continues her political career outside the White House, Leavitt remains a notable figure whose future influence in American conservative politics will be closely watched.
Frequently Asked Questions About Karoline Leavitt
Who is Karoline Leavitt?
Karoline Leavitt is an American Republican political communications strategist who served as White House press secretary under President Donald Trump. She became the youngest person to hold the position when she was appointed in January 2025.
How old is Karoline Leavitt?
Karoline Leavitt is 28 years old as of August 2026. She was born on August 24, 1997, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, United States.
Who is Karoline Leavitt’s husband?
Karoline Leavitt’s husband is Nicholas Riccio, a New Hampshire real-estate developer. The couple married in January 2025 after becoming engaged in December 2023.
Does Karoline Leavitt have children?
Yes. Karoline Leavitt has two children with Nicholas Riccio. Their son, Nicholas Robert “Niko” Riccio, was born in July 2024, while their daughter, Viviana “Vivi” Riccio, was born on May 1, 2026.
What religion is Karoline Leavitt?
Karoline Leavitt is Roman Catholic. Her Catholic faith has been part of her publicly discussed personal background.
Where did Karoline Leavitt go to college?
Karoline Leavitt attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where she studied communications and political science. She graduated in 2019.
What is Karoline Leavitt’s nationality?
Karoline Leavitt is American. She was born and raised in New Hampshire in the United States.
How tall is Karoline Leavitt?
Karoline Leavitt’s exact height is not officially confirmed in reliable public sources. Various websites publish different estimates, so those figures should be treated with caution.
What is Karoline Leavitt’s net worth?
Karoline Leavitt’s personal net worth is estimated at approximately $1.3 million to $2.8 million, based on publicly reported financial-disclosure information. Her husband Nicholas Riccio’s separate real-estate wealth should not be included when estimating Leavitt’s individual net worth.
When did Karoline Leavitt become White House press secretary?
Karoline Leavitt became White House press secretary in January 2025 during Donald Trump’s second presidential administration. At 27, she became the youngest person ever to serve in the position.
Is Karoline Leavitt leaving the White House?
Yes. President Donald Trump announced on August 12, 2026, that Leavitt would leave her position as White House press secretary at the end of August 2026. She is expected to remain connected to Trump’s political movement as an outside adviser.
What is Karoline Leavitt’s Instagram handle?
Karoline Leavitt’s Instagram handle is @karolineleavitt. She uses the platform to share political updates, professional appearances and selected aspects of her family life.
What is Karoline Leavitt known for?
Karoline Leavitt is best known for becoming the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, serving as a senior communications figure in Donald Trump’s administration and becoming a prominent voice in Republican politics.