Rishia Haas is an American administrative professional and recovery support specialist who is most widely recognized as the former wife of celebrity chef and Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern. While she spent nearly two decades as the partner of one of the most famous faces in the culinary world, Rishia has always chosen a life of quiet service and personal privacy. As of 2026, her estimated net worth sits between $3 million and $5 million, a figure built through her long-term career in healthcare administration, her contributions to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and her divorce settlement from Zimmern.

Unlike many celebrity spouses who chase the spotlight, Rishia has remained grounded in her home state of Minnesota. Her life is a story of resilience, from helping her former husband through the darkest days of his addiction recovery to successfully co-parenting their son, Noah, long after their marriage ended. Today, she has pivoted into a unique and peaceful career path as a beekeeper, proving that there is deep fulfillment to be found away from the cameras and red carpets.

Quick Profile Snapshot

Field	Details
Full Name	Rishia Anne Haas
Age (2026)	52 years old
Birth Date	July 29, 1973
Profession	Administrative Professional, Recovery Support Specialist, Beekeeper
Nationality	American
Estimated Net Worth	$3 million – $5 million
Marital Status	Divorced (Ex-husband: Andrew Zimmern)
Children	One son (Noah Zimmern)
Current Residence	Edina, Minnesota

The Life and Background of Rishia Haas

To understand Rishia Haas, you have to understand Minnesota. She was born on July 29, 1973, in the small city of Champlin. Growing up in the Midwest shaped her personality—she is known by friends and former colleagues as someone who is practical, hardworking, and deeply humble.

Childhood and Education

Rishia grew up in a stable, middle-class household. Her parents, Robert and Karen Haas, raised her alongside her siblings, Jennifer and John. The Haas family valued education and community, principles that Rishia carried into her adult life. She attended Anoka High School, where she was known as a diligent student.

After graduating high school, she moved to Minneapolis to attend Augsburg University (then known as Augsburg College). She earned her degree in the late 1990s, focusing on the foundations of administration and community service. It was during these years that she developed a passion for helping others, particularly those struggling with the same types of challenges that would later define much of her public narrative.

The Fateful Meeting at a Cooking School

In the early 2000s, Rishia was working in the admissions office of a local cooking school in Minneapolis. At the time, she was just a young professional starting her career. Meanwhile, Andrew Zimmern was a chef who had recently turned his life around after a harrowing battle with homelessness and drug addiction. He was teaching classes at the school where Rishia worked.

The connection wasn’t just about food; it was about shared values. Despite Zimmern being twelve years her senior, they hit it off immediately. Rishia was drawn to his intelligence and his honesty about his past, while Andrew found in Rishia a “rock”—someone who was unimpressed by flash and deeply committed to stability.

Career Journey: A Life of Service

While the world knows her through the lens of her marriage, Rishia Haas has maintained a robust professional life for over 25 years. She didn’t just sit on the sidelines of her husband’s fame; she built a career in the demanding field of healthcare administration and addiction recovery.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

One of the most significant chapters of Rishia’s career was her time at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. This wasn’t just a job; it was a mission. Given Andrew’s history with substance abuse, Rishia had a personal understanding of the toll addiction takes on families. She worked as an administrative assistant and admissions coordinator, helping families navigate the terrifying process of getting a loved one into treatment.

Her colleagues from this era describe her as “the glue” of the office. She handled sensitive medical records, coordinated with insurance companies, and provided a calm voice for people in crisis. This role provided her with a steady income and a sense of purpose that was entirely separate from the “celebrity wife” persona.

The Pivot to Beekeeping

In a move that surprised many but made perfect sense to those who know her, Rishia shifted her focus in recent years toward nature and conservation. She joined the University of Minnesota Bee Lab.

Why bees? For Rishia, it was about finding a peaceful, meditative way to contribute to the world. Beekeeping requires extreme patience, attention to detail, and a lack of ego—traits that define her. This transition from the high-stress world of addiction recovery to the quiet hum of the bee lab represents her current stage of life: one focused on “giving back” to the environment and finding personal peace.

Net Worth and Financial Growth

Talking about money can be tricky with someone as private as Rishia, but public records and financial analysts provide a clear picture of her standing. As of 2026, Rishia Haas’s net worth is estimated at $3 million to $5 million.

How She Built Her Wealth

It is a misconception that her wealth comes solely from her marriage. While her divorce settlement undoubtedly contributed to her financial security, Rishia has been a high-level administrative professional for over two decades.

Professional Salary: In the world of healthcare administration and specialized nonprofit roles (like the Bee Lab or Hazelden), senior administrative positions in Minnesota typically pay between $70,000 and $110,000 annually. Over 25 years, with smart saving, this forms a solid foundation.

Divorce Settlement: When she and Andrew Zimmern divorced in 2018, they had been married for 16 years. During that time, Zimmern’s career skyrocketed with Bizarre Foods, various book deals, and restaurant ventures. Under Minnesota law, marital assets are divided equitably. Given Andrew’s estimated net worth of $14 million, a significant portion of Rishia’s current wealth likely stems from the legal dissolution of their shared assets.

Real Estate: Rishia and Andrew owned a beautiful home in Edina, Minnesota. Following the split, Rishia maintained residence in the area, which is one of the most affluent suburbs in the state. Real estate appreciation in Edina has been a major factor in her net worth growth.

Investments: Known for her practical nature, financial insiders suggest that Rishia has maintained a conservative but effective investment portfolio, focusing on long-term stability rather than high-risk ventures.

Comparing Wealth to Her Peers

Compared to other “non-famous” spouses of major TV personalities like Arun Nayar, Rishia’s wealth is modest but substantial. She doesn’t live the “influencer” lifestyle. You won’t find her in designer labels on Instagram; instead, her wealth is tucked away in home equity and retirement accounts, providing the ultimate luxury: the freedom to choose her own work.

Marriage, Motherhood, and the End of an Era

The story of Rishia and Andrew is one of the most respected “ended” relationships in Hollywood. They married on December 26, 2002, at St. Paul’s Judge Roseanne Nathanson’s chambers. It was a simple ceremony, followed by a larger celebration the following summer.

The Role of the “Support System”

For the first decade of their marriage, Rishia was the unsung hero of Andrew’s success. While he was traveling to remote corners of the globe to eat fermented shark or giant insects, Rishia was in Minnesota, holding down the fort.

Andrew has been incredibly vocal about this, once stating:

“Rishia is the bravest mom I know. She stayed home and did the hard work of raising our son while I was out chasing my dreams.”

In 2005, they welcomed their son, Noah Zimmern. Rishia made the conscious choice to keep Noah out of the public eye as much as possible. She wanted him to have a “normal” Minnesota childhood, far away from the pressures of his father’s fame.

Why They Divorced

In 2018, after 16 years of marriage, the couple announced their separation. It wasn’t because of a scandal, infidelity, or a “health issue.” It was the classic tragedy of the road. Andrew’s filming schedule for Bizarre Foods kept him away from home for more than 250 days a year.

The physical distance eventually created an emotional distance that couldn’t be bridged. Andrew took full responsibility for the split, admitting that he had prioritized his career over his marriage for too long.

Co-Parenting Success

If there is a gold standard for “amicable divorce,” Rishia and Andrew are it. They did not have a public legal battle. They did not trash each other in the press. In fact, Andrew still frequently posts tributes to Rishia on Mother’s Day, calling her his “best friend” and a “hero.” They continue to live near each other in Minnesota to ensure that Noah has easy access to both parents.

Personal Life: Health and Habits

Rishia has always been a picture of health and vitality. At 52 years old, she maintains an active lifestyle. She is an avid reader (Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite) and a talented home cook—though she jokingly says she leaves the “bizarre” ingredients to her ex-husband.

She has no public history of major health issues. Her focus on wellness is more holistic; she enjoys gardening, hiking the Minnesota trails, and, of course, the physical labor involved in beekeeping. She has successfully avoided the “celebrity trap” of plastic surgery and public drama, choosing instead to age with a grace that is rare in the media world.

Where Is She Now? (2026 Status)

As of early 2026, Rishia Haas is living her best life in Edina, Minnesota. She is not remarried and has shown no interest in entering the dating scene publicly. Her world revolves around:

• Noah: Her son is now a young man, and their bond remains the center of her universe.
• The Bees: She continues her work with the Bee Lab, contributing to vital research on pollinator health.
• Privacy: She still has no public social media accounts. If you want to find Rishia, you won’t find her on TikTok; you’ll find her in a garden or a local bookstore.

Her legacy isn’t just “the wife of a chef.” It is the legacy of a woman who helped a man find his soul, raised a grounded son in a chaotic world, and had the courage to walk away from a high-profile life to find her own truth.

Final Thoughts: An Editorial Reflection

In an era where everyone is trying to be “famous for being famous,” Rishia Haas is a refreshing anomaly. She had a front-row seat to the highest levels of global fame and decided she didn’t want it.

There is a specific kind of strength in being the “anchor.” For 16 years, she was the person who kept a global superstar grounded. When that chapter ended, she didn’t try to extend her 15 minutes of fame. She didn’t write a “tell-all” book or join a reality show. She went back to the work she loved—helping people recover and helping the planet survive through beekeeping.

Rishia Haas reminds us that a successful life isn’t measured by how many people know your name, but by how much peace you have when the cameras are turned off. She is a woman of deep substance, and her $5 million fortune is perhaps the least interesting thing about her.

Curious about where other famous figures from the 2000s have ended up? You might want to check out our deep dive into Allison Ford Now to see how another private individual handled life after the spotlight.

FAQs

1. What is Rishia Haas’s net worth in 2026?

Her net worth is estimated to be between $3 million and $5 million, stemming from her career in administration and her 2018 divorce settlement.

2. How old is Rishia Haas?

She is 52 years old. She was born on July 29, 1973.

3. Why did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern divorce?

The primary reason was Andrew’s heavy travel schedule. Being away for over 200 days a year put a strain on the marriage that eventually led to an amicable split.

4. Does Rishia Haas have any children?

Yes, she has one son named Noah Zimmern, born in 2005.

5. What does Rishia Haas do for a living now?

She works as an administrative professional and has recently focused on beekeeping with the University of Minnesota Bee Lab.

6. Where does Rishia Haas live?

She resides in Edina, Minnesota.

7. Is Rishia Haas on Instagram?

No, she values her privacy and does not maintain any public social media profiles.

8. Did Rishia Haas remarry?

As of 2026, there is no public record or indication that Rishia Haas has remarried.

9. How did she meet Andrew Zimmern?

They met in the early 2000s at a Minneapolis cooking school where she worked in admissions and he was an instructor.

10. What is her height?

Rishia is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall.