
‘Gold Rush’ Season 16: Miners Dig Up $100 Million Payday — See the Teaser
The risks are great, but so are the potential rewards.
Gold Rush is back this fall with its 16th season, premiering November 7 on Discovery Channel. With gold prices skyrocketing to $3,800 an ounce, the miners are chasing bigger-than-ever paydays in the new episodes. But digging up those valuable nuggets is no easy feat, as top bosses and rising underdogs face off in a cutthroat race to claim new ground and hopefully strike it rich.
‘Gold Rush’ Season 16 features biggest payday in the show’s history
On this season of Gold Rush, loyalties will be tested, tension run high, and fortunes are hanging in the balance as the miners race against time in their quest for gold. But the hard work and risk-taking will pay off in the end – at least for some. In season 16, the combined total for all miners will reach nearly $100 million, making it the biggest payday in Gold Rush history.
“In the wild Yukon, you’re only as big as your dreams, and some of us dream pretty big, but dreams can only get you so far,” a man says in the teaser for the upcoming season, which will feature miners Parker Schnabel, Tony Beets, and Rick Ness.
“You need to work hard,” the voiceover continues. “You need to tame the land, and only then are you able to stand tall. Become bigger than your dreams.”
Parker Schnabel is ready for a ‘Gold Rush’ comeback
Long-time Gold Rush star Schnabel is on a comeback tour this season. After the most disappointing mining season of his career, he’s scaling up his operation in an effort to strike it big. His massive operation now has over 60 machines, four wash plants, and a bold new team structure. But those changes aren’t cheap, and Schnabel is burning through $100,000 a day just to keep things running. If he’s lucky, his big bet will pay off and he’ll see the most lucrative season in his 15-year career.
Meanwhile, “King of the Klondike” Tony Beets is looking to replicate the success of his record-breaking season. He starts out strong with a $500,000 strike early in the season. But personal and professional turmoil – including a record number of crew firings – could knock him off his throne. At the same time, Beets’ eldest son and second year mine boss, Kevin Beets, wants to double last season’s gold total and prove he’s ready to lead his own operation.
Finally, there’s Ness. He starts off this year with no water license, no claim, and just half his normal crew. But a bold bet on a new piece of ground could turn his fortunes around, if he can withstand mounting pressure, dwindling resources, and a skeleton crew. If he can’t make things work, he might have to sell everything, leaving millions of dollars on the table.
Gold Rush Season 16 premieres Friday, November 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel.
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