Rishia Haas is often known as Andrew Zimmern’s ex-wife, but there’s more to her story. From working at a cooking school to building a career helping others overcome addiction, she’s built a good life away from the spotlight.
Her marriage to a famous chef brought her name into the public eye, yet she shows she values privacy and making a difference.
Life with Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern won over food lovers worldwide with his adventurous palate and travel shows like “Bizarre Foods.” As his TV career took off, Rishia stood by his side for 16 years. Their relationship began before his rise to stardom and lasted through his most successful years, making her part of his journey from local chef to global food personality.
Rishia mostly stayed out of the spotlight, but she supported Andrew through his career rise. While his cooking skills and on-screen charm brought fame, she built her path away from cameras. That mix—him in the spotlight, her behind the scenes—helped their marriage last for years.
Early Life
Rishia Haas was born on July 29, 1973, in Champlin, Minnesota. She graduated from Anoka High School and attended Augsburg College, and cooking that later connected her to her husband. Details about her childhood stay private, as she’s kept much of her early life away from public view.
Rishia pursued an education that prepared her for administrative roles. While Andrew sought the spotlight, she developed skills in organization and management that would shape her career.
She chose to help others, not chase fame. This foundation in behind-the-scenes work became a theme throughout her professional life, showing her preference for helping others over fame.
How She Met Andrew Zimmern
Rishia and Andrew’s story began like a cooking show romance. They met around 1999-2000 at a Minnesota cooking school where she worked in the store. Andrew, then a chef before his TV fame, caught her eye—and she caught his.
They bonded over their love for food and cooking. Friends noticed their chemistry and complementary personalities—her organized, thoughtful approach balancing his outgoing, adventurous spirit. After dating for a couple of years, they married in December 2002 in a ceremony friends described as warm and food-focused, perfect for a couple who met in a culinary setting.
Meeting before Andrew became famous gave them a strong start, and their marriage lasted 16 years, ending with an amicable divorce in 2018.
Her Career Journey
While Andrew traveled globally sampling unusual foods, Rishia built a career helping others. After the cooking school where they met, she found her calling in a completely different field—addiction treatment.
She went on to work at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, helping people recover from addiction. She used her skills to keep things running smoothly at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
She handled tasks like organizing programs, managing cases, and making sure everything ran smoothly. Less visible than Andrew’s TV career, her work touched lives profoundly, helping families heal and individuals rebuild after addiction.
Her choice shows she cares more about helping people than being recognized and working in healing rather than entertainment. Her path shows someone committed to making a difference during people’s most challenging moments.
Family Life
Family stood at the heart of Rishia’s life with Andrew. Their son, Noah Zimmern, was born in 2005, making him their focus despite Andrew’s busy travel schedule.
Noah became central to their family, with both parents creating stability despite the demands of Andrew’s career. Though his work took him worldwide, they maintained a home base in Minnesota, where Rishia balanced her career while raising their son.
They navigated the tension between public and private life—Andrew’s career demanded media attention while Rishia guarded their home life from the spotlight. This balance worked for years as they built around these different needs.
Their parenting reflected shared values despite different careers, both emphasizing education, kindness, and exploration. Friends describe them as devoted parents who prioritized Noah throughout their relationship and after separating.
Work Highlights
Rishia has achieved numerous professional milestones, though she never sought acclaim for her work. She worked at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, helping people overcome addiction, contributing to work that saves lives.
She took on growing responsibilities with experience. While specific promotions stay private, her long-term commitment suggests steady growth and leadership trust.
Her work supporting treatment programs requires both compassion and organization, demanding emotional intelligence alongside practical skills. Success needs patience, attention to detail, and genuine care—qualities friends consistently note about her.
While Andrew collected Emmy awards, Rishia’s achievements took different forms—programs administered, systems improved, and people guided through recovery. These accomplishments, though less visible, represent vital contributions to community wellbeing.
What She Enjoys
Away from work, Rishia enjoys simple pleasures, matching her thoughtful personality. Friends say she enjoys home cooking—not the wild dishes Andrew made on TV, but comfort food that brings people together.
Reading ranks among her favorite activities, especially books on psychology and personal growth. This interest connects to her professional focus on helping others, showing how her curiosity aligns with her career.
She values time outdoors, especially Minnesota’s lakes and woods. These quiet interests—cooking, reading, nature—show someone who finds joy in simple, meaningful activities rather than glamorous events.
She likes to travel too, but in a quieter way than Andrew’s constant flying. She prefers deeper exploration of fewer places, connecting with local culture rather than checking off destinations. This matches how she lives—she likes real connections over just checking things off, meaningful connections over surface experiences.
Assets and House
After divorcing, Rishia and Andrew divided their assets, including their Minnesota house. Financial details stay private, but they reached an arrangement allowing both to move forward comfortably.
Her non-profit career suggests modest but stable income compared to her ex-husband’s television earnings. Her financial approach focuses on security rather than luxury, matching her life values.
Property likely forms her main investment, though specifics remain private. Unlike celebrities with magazine-featured homes, Rishia keeps her living situation private, consistent with her approach to public life.
Her financial priorities center on stability for herself and Noah rather than status symbols. This practical money management shows her grounded personality and focus on what genuinely matters.
Divorce & Privacy
Unlike typical celebrity divorces splashed across tabloids, Rishia and Andrew’s 2018 separation stayed dignified and private. After 16 years together, they parted ways without the drama that usually follows high-profile splits.
Both put Noah’s wellbeing first, creating a co-parenting arrangement centered on their son. This approach earned respect from friends, showing maturity and mutual respect despite ending their marriage.
There wasn’t much media buzz because they kept things private. No accusations appeared in the press, no court documents leaked—just two adults handling a difficult transition with grace.
Their approach to ending the marriage reflected values they lived by for years—family wellbeing above public attention, personal matters kept private, and treating each other respectfully despite changing circumstances.
What She’s Proud Of
Rishia has earned professional certifications in addiction treatment and program administration. These credentials show her hard work and ongoing growth.
Her most enduring achievement may be her dedication to helping others at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. This commitment to a mission-driven organization reveals her values more clearly than any award could.
She cares more about helping people than getting praise for it, judging success by how many people she helped, not accolades received. This values-driven approach perfectly matches her choice to work in healing rather than more visible fields.
Perhaps most meaningful is her successful co-parenting with Andrew after separating, putting Noah’s needs above personal difficulties. This commitment to family wellbeing despite changed circumstances shows remarkable character and maturity.
Rishia Haas Net Worth
Her net worth is estimated at around $5 million, based on nonprofit salaries and public records. Celebrity net worth sites may publish figures, but these lack reliable sourcing and deserve skepticism.
Rishia earns her living through administrative roles in addiction treatment. Her position at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation offers a stable career with compensation typical for non-profit healthcare.
Unlike Andrew, whose income comes from TV contracts, books, and restaurants, Rishia follows a traditional employment path. Her work provides meaningful service and stability without the pressure of entertainment careers.
Any other income sources remain private, matching her approach to personal matters. While Andrew’s business ventures play out publicly, she separates her professional and public lives, keeping her finances private.
Her non-profit career suggests moderate wealth rather than the millions tied to TV personalities. Unlike Andrew, whose worth reflects media contracts and business ventures, Rishia’s finances likely match other professionals in her field.
Final Thoughts
Today, Rishia builds a life defined by her own choices and values. While marriage to Andrew brought public awareness, her identity stands independent of that former relationship.
Her story shows that meaning comes from lives touched rather than attention attracted. Through helping people overcome addiction, she’s created an impact that matters more than fame or headlines ever could.
Rishia’s life approach—privacy over publicity, meaningful work over visibility, depth over recognition—offers a refreshing alternative in our fame-obsessed culture. Her choices prove that a life well-lived needs no public validation.
For those curious about her, the most respectful response appreciates the boundaries she’s drawn while acknowledging her positive impact through work and parenting. Her story belongs to her, not public consumption, and deserves respect.
What can we learn from Rishia? Maybe that our most meaningful contributions happen away from spotlights, in the steady work of showing up for others and living by our values. By that measure, she’s built a life worth celebrating, cameras or not.
