Rishia Haas is known as the former wife of chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern, but her life story goes far beyond her connection to a public figure, as she has always lived a simple, private, and peaceful life that reflects her true personality. She grew up in Minnesota with a gentle nature and a love for quiet routines, family time, and meaningful work.
Even when she was married to someone constantly in the spotlight, she stayed away from attention and focused on creating a warm and stable home, raising her son, and building a career helping people in recovery centers. Her story shows the strength of a calm and kind person who chose to live her life with humility, privacy, and steady purpose.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rishia Haas |
| Date of Birth | July 29, 1973 (some sources say July 17, 1978) |
| Age (2025) | 51–52 years old |
| Birthplace | Minnesota, USA |
| Parents | Robert Haas and Karen Haas |
| Siblings | Jennifer Haas and John Haas |
| Height | 5’5″–5’6″ |
| Education | Anoka High School, Augsburg College |
| Career | Administrative assistant, recovery support, beekeeper |
| Known For | Former wife of chef Andrew Zimmern |
| Child | Noah Zimmern |
| Net Worth | $3–$5 million |
| Current Residence | Edina, Minnesota |
| Hobbies | Gardening, cooking, beekeeping, and reading |
Who Is Rishia Haas?
Rishia Haas is an American woman best known as the former wife of chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern, but she has always lived a quiet and private life of her own. She grew up in Minnesota, worked in recovery centers helping people with addiction, and became known for her kind, calm, and caring nature. Rishia supported Andrew during the early stages of his career and later focused on raising their son, Noah, while also working in administrative roles at respected recovery organizations. Even with her connection to a well-known public figure, she chose a simple life away from media attention and continues to live peacefully in Minnesota.
Early Life and Background
Rishia Haas grew up in Minnesota in a warm and supportive family that helped shape her gentle and thoughtful personality from a young age. She spent her childhood in a peaceful home with her parents and two siblings, enjoying a simple life filled with family values, kindness, and steady routines.
She attended Anoka High School, where she was known as a polite and hardworking student, and later continued her education at Augsburg College, building the foundation for her future career in administrative and recovery support roles. Her early years were calm and grounded, and these experiences helped her grow into the private and caring person she is known to be today.
Rishia Haas Age and Personal Details
Rishia Haas was born in Minnesota on July 29, 1973, although some sources list her birthdate as July 17, 1978, and based on these dates, she is between 51 and 52 years old in 2025. She has lived most of her life in Minnesota and is known for her calm nature, simple lifestyle, and preference for privacy. She is an American citizen, stands around 5 feet 5 to 5 feet 6 inches tall, and is someone who values peace, family, and meaningful work over public attention. Her gentle personality and quiet way of living have shaped her entire life, from her childhood to her years as a mother and her career in recovery support.
Career and Professional Journey
Rishia Haas built a steady and meaningful career that matched her calm and caring personality, starting with simple jobs in retail and administrative work before moving into roles that allowed her to help people directly. She first worked at a cooking school store in Minnesota, which later played a part in her personal life, and then began working in addiction recovery centers, where she found her true calling.
She served as an Admissions Coordinator at The Retreat in Wayzata, helping people during difficult times, and later joined the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a respected recovery organization, where she handled important administrative duties and supported staff and clients with patience and professionalism. Alongside her career, she also enjoyed nature-based work and spent time learning about beekeeping through the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, reflecting her love for quiet and peaceful activities.
Relationship with Andrew Zimmern
Rishia and Andrew met in the late 1990s or early 2000s at a cooking school in Minnesota, where Andrew was teaching and Rishia was working at the school store, and their meeting happened naturally, without planning or drama. They began talking casually, sharing friendly conversations about food, work, and everyday life, and soon discovered that they enjoyed each other’s company. Their connection grew quietly and honestly, not rushed or forced, and they built a bond based on understanding and comfort.
During this time, Andrew was rebuilding his life after going through serious struggles with addiction and homelessness, and Rishia’s experience working in recovery centers helped her understand his journey in a very real way. She never judged him for his past and instead offered patience and support. Even though they had a twenty-year age difference, it did not matter to them because they communicated well and respected each other deeply. Their relationship grew from steady friendship into love, forming the beginning of a long and meaningful partnership.
Marriage of Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern
Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern married on December 26, 2002, in a small and warm ceremony in Minneapolis, surrounded by people who were close to them. Their wedding reflected their personalities—simple, loving, and free from unnecessary attention. After marrying, they began building a life that blended their strengths. Andrew continued pushing forward in his food-related media career, hoping to create something meaningful, while Rishia provided a stable and supportive home environment.
When Andrew’s show, Bizarre Foods, launched, their world began to change quickly. His career took off and required him to travel constantly, sometimes to faraway places for long periods. Even as his fame grew, Rishia stayed true to her preference for privacy and chose to stay away from cameras, interviews, and public events. She kept their home running, supported Andrew’s dreams, and maintained a peaceful life for herself and their future child.
Who Is Andrew Zimmern?
Andrew Zimmern is a well-known American chef, writer, and television host who became famous for his show Bizarre Foods, where he travels around the world to explore different cultures through their traditional dishes. Born on July 4, 1961, in New York City, he developed a love for food at a young age but faced serious struggles with addiction and homelessness before rebuilding his life and career.
His honesty about his past, combined with his passion for food and storytelling, helped him connect with viewers everywhere. Over the years, Andrew became not only a TV personality but also an author, speaker, and advocate for recovery and food education, making him one of the most recognized food travelers on television.
Motherhood — Their Son, Noah Zimmern
In 2005, Rishia and Andrew welcomed their son, Noah, and becoming a mother brought new happiness and purpose into Rishia’s life. She devoted herself to motherhood completely, managing Noah’s day-to-day life, school, routines, and emotional needs while Andrew continued his heavy travel schedule for television.
She made sure Noah grew up with a stable environment and protected him from the noise of public life, choosing to raise him quietly in Minnesota, far from cameras and celebrity attention. When Andrew was on the road, Rishia served as both the steady parent and the emotional anchor, ensuring that Noah always felt supported and secure. Even after their divorce years later, both parents remained committed to caring for Noah, and Rishia continued to provide the peaceful, guiding presence she always had.
The Strain on Their Marriage
As Andrew’s fame continued to grow, the challenges within their marriage slowly became harder to manage, mainly because of the intense travel schedule that kept him away from home for much of the year. His work required frequent flying, long filming trips, and public events that left little time for family life. This imbalance created emotional distance and pressure on their relationship. Fans often approached Andrew in public places, and sometimes the attention became overwhelming for Rishia and Noah, who preferred staying out of the spotlight.
Andrew later admitted publicly that his work took over too much of his life and that he was not present at home as much as he should have been. He also shared that Rishia had been patient and understanding, giving him many chances to adjust, but the gap continued to grow. The strain did not come from arguments or dramatic conflict but from years of quiet exhaustion, missed moments, and the growing weight of living separate lives even while being married.
Their Separation and Divorce (2018)
After sixteen years of marriage, Rishia and Andrew gently decided to separate in 2018, handling the process with respect and care. Their divorce was not public or dramatic, and there were no public disputes or negative interviews. Andrew took responsibility for the issues on his side and spoke honestly about how he struggled to balance work and family throughout their marriage.
Rishia, staying true to her private nature, did not speak publicly about the divorce, choosing instead to focus on her son and her own personal life. They continued to share parenting duties and remained respectful toward one another, understanding that the most important thing was supporting Noah through the transition.
Rishia Haas After the Divorce
After the divorce, Rishia continued living in Edina, Minnesota, where she felt most comfortable and grounded. She focused on keeping life peaceful and steady for Noah and continued working at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, showing the same dedication she always had in helping people through recovery.
She also spent more time enjoying the quiet hobbies she loved, such as gardening, cooking, walking in nature, and learning more about bees. She stayed away from social media and kept her personal life private, allowing herself room to heal and grow without public attention. Her lifestyle remained simple, calm, and rooted in routine, showing that she valued inner peace far more than public recognition.
Rishia Haas Today (2025)
As of 2025, Rishia Haas continues to live a quiet life centered on her work, nature, and her role as a supportive mother. She still lives in Minnesota, takes part in beekeeping activities, and keeps herself busy with meaningful tasks that reflect her personality. She has not remarried and is not publicly connected to any new relationships.
Instead, she spends her time focusing on personal well-being and staying close to the people she cares about. She maintains a private lifestyle without social media or public appearances and remains a respected and gentle presence in her community.
Public Perception and Media Coverage
People admire Rishia Haas for staying true to herself despite being connected to a public figure for many years. She has never tried to gain fame, give interviews, or use her connection to Andrew to build a public identity. Her appearances at events were always rare and usually supportive rather than personal. Today, she remains almost completely out of the public eye, and she handles her privacy with grace. This has earned her quiet respect from people who appreciate her authenticity and calm way of living.
Interesting Facts About Rishia Haas
Rishia is known for her love of peace, nature, and meaningful work. She loves gardening, cooking, reading, and beekeeping, and she rarely appears in photographs or public events. She worked in addiction recovery even before meeting Andrew and continued that work long after their marriage ended. People who know her describe her as warm, calm, and grounded, someone who brings steadiness to the people around her.
Rishia Haas’s Net Worth
Rishia Haas has an estimated net worth between $3 million and $5 million, which comes from her long career in nonprofit organizations, steady administrative work, personal savings, and possible financial arrangements from her past marriage. Even with this level of financial comfort, she does not live a flashy or luxurious lifestyle. She has always preferred simple living, focusing on work, family, and peaceful hobbies, which fit her long-standing values and personality.
Conclusion
The life of Rishia Haas shows the strength of a quiet person who chooses kindness, privacy, and simple living instead of fame or recognition. She supported Andrew through difficult years, raised their son with love, and built a long career helping people heal from addiction. Even after their marriage ended, she handled everything with dignity and stayed committed to creating a peaceful life for herself and her son.
Today, she continues to live in Minnesota, working, caring for nature, and enjoying a steady and calm lifestyle. Her story is a reminder that not every meaningful life is lived in the spotlight — some of the strongest people live quietly, behind the scenes, making a difference in gentle and lasting ways.
FAQs About Rishia Haas
1. Who is Rishia Haas?
Rishia Haas is an American woman known as the former wife of chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern. She lived a quiet life in Minnesota and worked in recovery centers helping people with addiction.
2. How old is Rishia Haas?
Rishia Haas is between 51 and 52 years old in 2025, depending on her exact birth year, which varies between sources.
3. What does Rishia Haas do for work?
Rishia worked in administrative roles at recovery centers, including The Retreat and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and she also enjoys beekeeping as a peaceful hobby.
4. How did Rishia Haas meet Andrew Zimmern?
She met Andrew at a cooking school in Minnesota around 1999–2000 while she worked in the school store and he taught cooking classes.
5. When did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern get married?
Rishia and Andrew married on December 26, 2002, in a small and private ceremony in Minneapolis.
6. Do Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern have children?
Yes, they have one son named Noah Zimmern, born in 2005.
7. Why did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern divorce?
They divorced in 2018 mainly because Andrew’s busy travel schedule created distance in their marriage, and he later admitted he was not home enough.
8. Where is Rishia Haas now?
As of 2025, Rishia lives a peaceful and private life in Edina, Minnesota, staying focused on work, nature, and raising her son.