We have a number in mind, not sure if you’re ready for that or not. Rick won’t reveal the total asking price of the mine on camera.
Troy Parker Schnabel’s journey to wealth is a riveting tale that began with his grandfather, John Schnabel, chasing gold in the Klondike during the early 1900s. Despite numerous hardships, John’s determination paid off, making him a millionaire miner.
Inspired by his grandfather, Parker started mining at the tender age of five. By 16, he was already running his own claim and earning a reputation as a mining prodigy. But just how rich has Parker become? The answer might just surprise you.
The Schnabel story in the Klondike started way back in the early 1900s. A young John Schnabel packed his bags and headed north, chasing that gold dream. And one thing’s for sure—it wasn’t easy. Those early years were rough, full of hardships and failures. But John—well, John was built differently. He kept at it, learned the ropes the hard way, and eventually found success.
Decades of mining sharpened his skills, turning him into one of the most experienced miners in the Klondike. By the time he was older, John Schnabel was sitting on a multi-million dollar gold pile, all thanks to his hard work and determination.
The legend wasn’t done yet. Enter Parker, John’s grandson. From a young age, Parker looked up to his grandpa, practically soaking up gold mining knowledge like a sponge. Even as a kid, you could tell Parker had a natural knack for mining. And let’s just say—he was more than determined to keep the family business thriving.
This passion for gold started young—way younger than you might expect. Parker’s story in the gold game begins when he was just five years old. His grandpa John, a total mining legend, let little Parker tag along with the crews to the mines near Haines, Alaska. Most kids that age are all about cartoons and Legos, but Parker? He was hooked. The sound of the machines, the flying dirt, and the coolest part—seeing real gold come out of the ground. Forget video games; it was like a real-life treasure hunt for him.
As Parker grew up, his love for gold mining only intensified. By 10, he was already running tiny excavators and sorting for gold under his grandpa’s watchful eye. Turns out, Parker had a sixth sense for finding gold—better than some seasoned miners.
When Parker hit 16, John decided to throw him a serious challenge. He leased part of his own claim to Parker, meaning Parker was in charge of everything—the bills, the profits, the whole thing. People thought, “A 16-year-old running a mine? Crazy!” But Parker wasn’t scared. He put together a crew of local miners, worked his tail off, and used his gold-finding magic to pull out serious amounts of gold.
News of this teenage mining whiz spread like wildfire. Soon, Parker was being called a prodigy, destined to become just as legendary as his grandpa. By 2012, Parker was already a Yukon gold-digging boss, pulling in serious cash and leaving seasoned prospectors in the dust.
His smarts and innovative mining tricks caught the eye of reality TV producers who were itching to make a show about—you guessed it—gold mining. They offered Parker a wild deal: let a camera crew follow him around for a brand-new show on Discovery Channel called Gold Rush.
Parker, ever the businessman (and maybe a little bit of a showman), saw this as a golden opportunity—pun intended—to spread his wings and share his family’s legacy with the world. After a quick chat with Grandpa John, Parker said yes, and Gold Rush was born.
From the very first episode, Parker became a superstar. Viewers couldn’t get enough of his youthful energy, his brain packed with gold knowledge, and the way he hustled like nobody’s business. Gold Rush blew up, and Parker Schnabel became a household name—one of the hottest young guns in the gold mining game.
But fame didn’t slow him down—not one bit. He doubled down on his Porcupine Creek operation, bringing in bigger, badder machines and a whole new crew. Parker got creative, used his wits to develop killer mining strategies, and kept smashing his own gold records season after season. We’re talking about pulling in over 3,000 ounces of gold in a single season—by his early 20s! That’s millions of dollars.
Parker took his TV fame and his mining genius and turned it into an empire. He set new bars for making money and getting the most gold out of the ground. Thanks to Gold Rush and his own undeniable talent, Parker went from a promising rookie to an elite force, changing how the whole gold mining game is played.
But 2016 was a tough year for the Schnabel family. They lost Grandpa John—a legend in these gold fields. He was 96 and lived a life most could only dream of. For Parker, it wasn’t just losing a hero—it was losing his biggest supporter. Grandpa John had been there since Parker was a little kid, teaching him everything—how to read the land, run a crew, and find the difficult-to-catch gold.
Laying Grandpa to rest, Parker took the reins of Schnabel Mining. He set serious goals—bigger digs, more gold than ever before. He even grabbed new claims across the Yukon, including the legendary Eureka Creek, rumored to be the richest untouched ground around.
Suddenly, Parker wasn’t just running one mine—he was a mining mogul, managing multiple claims across the Yukon. It was a whole new ball game. He had to grow up fast, plan smart, and figure out how to keep all these moving parts running smoothly.
Crews were working 24/7, payrolls were skyrocketing, and the pressure was on. Parker had to get creative, squeezing every ounce of gold from these claims. He analyzed everything, found ways to work smarter—not harder. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There were mistakes—bad hires, the wrong equipment—stuff that almost ruined the whole operation.
Competitors were circling, waiting for Parker to stumble. But Parker—that kid who grew up chasing gold with Grandpa John—had determination. He learned from his mistakes, built a stronger team, and pushed himself further than ever.
Through all the hardships, Grandpa John’s spirit was right there with him. And thanks to Parker’s determination, the Schnabel legacy kept shining brighter than ever.
