Zeke Tenhoff is one of the original stars of the Discovery Channel reality TV series Bering Sea Gold. The captain and owner of the Clark, a small suction dredge, is known for his years of experience and life on the icy Bering Sea, and his bold personality.
The American dredger grew up around mining and dedicated much of his adult life searching for gold in one of the harshest environments on earth. His drive has been constant throughout his time on Bering Sea Gold, despite countless challenges.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Zeke Tenhoff is estimated to be worth around $100,000 since becoming a reality TV star, making him one of the lower earners among the Bering Sea Gold cast members. Below is a detailed look at his wealth.
Zeke Tenhoff’s earnings from his TV career
Zeke Tenhoff has enjoyed a long TV career, appearing in several reality TV shows. He was a main cast member of Bering Sea Gold, appearing in 134 episodes between 2012 and 2026.
He also appeared on other Bering Sea Gold spin-offs, including Bering Sea Gold: After the Dredge and Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice.
While there is little information about how much he has earned from these TV shows, his Bering Sea Gold salary is estimated at $10,000-$15,000 per episode, making him a mid-tier earner among captains.
Zeke Tenhoffs, the Clark, recovered only 38 ounces of gold, valued at $65,000.00, in the first season. The dredger returned in Season 3 of the show with another dredge called Miss Nomer, recovering less than 17 ounces of gold, which is not even worth $22,000.00.
Furthermore, The Clark returned in Season 4, finding over 55 ounces of gold worth over $65,000.00 at the current spot price.
With 10-15 episodes per season, annual TV income is around $100,000.
Zeke Tenhoff’s mining income
Apart from being popular for appearing on Bering Sea Gold and other TV shows, Zeke Tenhoff is a commercial gold miner by trade.
This means he earns money from the gold he mines successfully during the season, minus expenses such as crew wages, fuel, maintenance, and equipment costs.
Gold prices averaged $2,500/oz in 2025. Zeke’s best hauls include 55 oz, estimated at $65k, in Season 4, and 2025 yielded ~20-50 oz, estimated at $50k-$125k gross. After 60% expenses (fuel, repairs), net: $50k-$100k/season. Cumulative 14 years: $500k-$1M.
However, mining income is unstable; one reason Zeke Clark frequently underperforms is that dredging is seasonal, with payouts only on successful runs. He has also faced financial challenges.
Zeke needed Emily Riedel’s capital to run the dredge in previous seasons of Bering Sea Gold, which led to passionate arguments; the pair pulled off some profitable runs.
Although his earnings increased, Tenhoff faced financial troubles due to poor decisions. This explains why his estimated net worth is not substantial.
Zeke Tenhoff went into depression after losing his friend John Bunce in the second season of the series. He recovered and came back on board.