Ashton Pienaar had has his fair share of controversies. From arguments with the head stewardess Kate Chastain to his attitude towards women, fans always seem to have an opinion about Ashton. While many think that Ashton’s actions are just for the drama, some have had enough of his actions. Questions are being raised to Andy as well and his leniency towards male crew mates. Things took a tumble at the season seven reunion. With the departing Kate Chastain making one final appearance, her fights with Ashton was much talked about. Even though Ashton apologized for his actions, fans were having none of it. In this article, we will take a closer look at the wiki-bio of Ashton Pienaar. 

Wiki/Bio Facts

Early Life

Ashton Pienaar was born on the 16th of June 1989 in South Africa. After finishing his early schooling at Fourways, Ashton graduated from the Glenvista High School. Right after high school, Ashton decided to enroll at the University of Johannesburg. He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Management. As a young kid, Ashton was into sports of all kinds. He represented his country in the JKA Karate fighting style and also served as the captain of cricket and rugby teams at provincial levels. Not only that, but Ashton was also into bodybuilding and prepared to participate in bodybuilding and CrossFit competitions. 

Professional Career

After graduating high school, Ashton started working as a Senior Verification Analyst at Simunye. He held the position for two years before moving onto Frog Productions. He served as the production manager at the company and started learning the ins and outs of the production industry. Ashton stayed at Frog Productions for a couple of years before moving to  Oomph! Africa as a client service & sales manager. During his time at Oomph! Africa, Ashton became fed up with his desk job and wanted to break out. Following his yearning for adventure, Ashton signed up for yacht training in the South of France. After finishing his training, Ashton joined the Yacht Gene Machine, as a deckhand and Personal Trainer.

Life on Below Deck and Relationships

Ashton Pienaar was a deckhand on Below Deck Season 6 and a bosun on Below Deck Season 7. He joined the Bravo reality show as a South African yachtie with a passion for adventure and fitness. He quickly became a fan favorite for his charming personality and his dramatic near-death experience on the yacht.

Ashton had a near-death experience during the 11th episode of the season. Ashton who worked as the deckhand during the time, stepped on the line to tow the tender. But to the contrary, the line wrapped around his ankle and started dragging him down water. One of the cameraman Brent, quickly saw what’s happening and dove in to rescue Ashton freeing his ankle. Following his experience, Ashton perused his Master of Yachts 200GT license, which allowed him to work as a mate. 

Ashton also developed a budding bromance with a fellow cast member, Ross Inia. The pair shared their love for sports and instantly bonded. Over the seasons, the friendship took hold, and the pair constantly looked out for each other. 

However, Ashton’s reputation took a hit on his second season, when he showed a more aggressive and toxic side of himself. He clashed with chief stew Kate Chastain and deckhand Rhylee Gerber, often losing his temper and disrespecting them. He also tried to kiss Kate twice without her consent, and punched a van window in a drunken rage.

Ashton faced a lot of backlash from fans and Captain Lee Rosbach for his behavior on the show. He apologized at the reunion and admitted that he was ashamed of what he saw on TV.

Life After Below Deck

Ashton Pienaar’s life after Below Deck has been a journey of self-improvement and transformation. Ashton also made a major change in his personal life by quitting drinking. He realized that alcohol was affecting his behavior and his relationships negatively, especially after watching himself on Below Deck Season 7. He also left the yachting industry and moved back to his native South Africa, where he started his own fitness coaching business called AP Elite. He helps people from around the world achieve their health and wellness goals through personalized training and nutrition plans. He also shares his recipes, tips and testimonials on his Instagram page.

Net Worth

Ashton has an estimated net worth of $1.5 Million as of 2023. His main source of income is his reality TV career and his yacht training and personal training services. Moreover, he also has a degree in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Johannesburg and has worked as a verification analyst, production manager and sales manager in the past.

Love Affair & Relationship over the years-Marital Status?

Ashton Pienaar had a fling with fellow crew member Laura Betancourt in season 6 of Below Deck. They shared a kiss in the van and hooked up in the crew mess, but their romance fizzled out soon after. Ashton Pienaar also had a crush on chief stew Kate Chastain in season 6, but she rejected his advances. He later apologized to her for being disrespectful and aggressive towards her in season 7. Ashton Pienaar flirted with another crew member, Courtney Skippon, in season 7 of Below Deck. They had a rocky relationship that was marked by arguments and misunderstandings. Ashton Pienaar is now engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Sarah McAlpine Cooper, an interior designer from Raleigh, North Carolina. He proposed to her in an airport in September 2022, after working on himself and improving his life. Ashton is yet to get married to his fiancee.

Physical Traits

Ashton Pienaar FQAs