Some people dream of finding gold, but few have the courage and the skill to pursue it. Steve Pomrenke is one of those rare individuals who turned his childhood fantasy into a reality. He is a gold miner who braved the dangers and challenges of the Bering Sea.

Steve Pomrenke is not only a gold miner, but also a reality TV star who appeared on Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold and its spin-offs. He joined the show in 2012, along with his son and co-owner of Northwest Gold Diggers, Shawn Pomrenke. Together, they faced the harsh conditions and fierce competition of the Bering Sea, while operating their dredge ships, The Shamrock and Christine Rose. Steve’s expertise and experience earned him the respect and admiration of many fans, as well as the nickname “Mr. Gold”. He also broke several records for the amount of gold he extracted from the sea floor.

However, Steve’s journey was not without challenges and conflicts. He had to deal with legal disputes, financial troubles, and personal issues. He also had a strained relationship with his son, who often clashed with him over business decisions and strategies. Steve eventually left the show, after nine seasons of being one of the main cast members. What happened to him? Why did he leave? And what is he doing now? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, as we delve deeper into the life and career of Steve Pomrenke, the legend of Bering Sea Gold.

Early Life

Steve Pomrenke, a mechanic, gold miner, and TV personality, was born in Minnesota, United States, on August 19, 1952. He has a caucasian background and a Leo star sign. His father, Wally Pomrenke, raised him on a dairy farm near Pierz, Minnesota. There, Steve developed his skills in fixing and maintaining machines. He became so good at it that people nicknamed him “Repair Steves.”

Career & Progression

Steve Pomrenke is a self-made man and an unlikely person in gold mining. Steve worked as a mechanic until he had enough money to pursue his mining dreams in Alaska. During his early years in Minnesota, he worked as a diesel mechanic in St. Cloud followed by some time in the Twin Cities. He then opened a repair shop. Even he got a truck and was an over-the-road trucker for some years. In 1986 his first job in Nome, Alaska was to rejuvenate dead machinery in a construction company. After working for four years the company was sold. Even though he continued as a contracted mechanic he took days off and weekends to fix machinery for miners.

Gold Mining:

Steve did not exactly leave the mechanic work and started Gold Mining at once. He first extracted 23 ounces of gold in 10 days using borrowed equipment. It was a trade-off with a friend named Dan Walsh who agreed to teach him mining and showed him the spot on famous Anvil Creek and in return asked to teach him fixing machinery. After juggling between machinery and mining Steve finally decided to become a full-time gold miner in 1992.

Going Bust at Anvil Creek:

He opened the first pit mine at Triple Creek in Alaska. During the winter he would do jobs in real estate since the sub-below temperature would not allow him to mobilize workers and equipment. He would manage apartments.

Steve mined in Triple Creek until about 2003 and after significant success, Steve decided to head back to Anvil Creek. And it turned out to be a bust. He lost $400,000 over three years.

Steve was not to be beaten although it led him to the brink of financial ruin. He put together whatever money to buy Christine Rose with his son Shawn and set out to the Bering Sea. This time, Steve was not to return empty-handed. On his maiden voyage with the Christine Rose, Steve somehow managed to pull in two thousand golden ounces.

Working with son Shawn Pomrenke:

Steve and his son, Shawn Pomrenke together lead their gold mining operation through Pomrenke Minning LLC, based in Nome, Alaska.  It was Shawn who first helped Steve set up Christine Rose. The pair make a great combo and often compensate for each other weaknesses. After all, both Steve and Shwan share the same passion for gold mining. And while Steve is often left doubting if his son has what it takes, there is no better person to pass down his skills. But Shawn has often caused problems for Steve. In the past, Shawn has not only been reckless with his behavior but has also been arrested quite a few times.

Finding Success in the Waters:

Christine Rose is one of the most successful vessels in the reality TV series, Bering Sea Gold. The immense success of the vehicle only goes to prove the skills of Steve. Steve is the hands-on kind of person who likes to get in there and do things by himself. Even though Shwan is the deckhand of the ship, Steve is often seen working on minute jobs.

Nearly losing his Partner:

It’s every parent’s nightmare to see their children get hurt. And while Steve is there to keep an eye on Shwan on the ship, the young tend to get into fights when he is on his own. A few years ago, Shawn got into a fight with an unnamed man at the bar. The fight broke out like a usual bar fight, with some fists and punches. This was until the other man took out a knife and stabbed Shwan in the back. As a result, Shawn had to spend half of the mining season hospitalized.

Bering Sea Gold & Exit:

Steve has had his share of lows and highs in his gold mining career which spanned over two decades. Nevertheless, he has used the experience to do better. Gold mining career also opened doors to explore the reality television world. Steve joined the cast of the Discovery Channel show Bering Sea Gold in 2012. He regularly appeared on the show until 2017 making 73 appearances across 9 seasons. Thereafter he left the show, and the reasons for his departure are not clear. Some fans speculate that he retired to focus on his mining business. Following Steve’s exit, he appeared on Bering Sea Gold in a recurring role contributing to only 4 episodes until 2023. Steve had also been part of spinoffs such as Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice (2012-2014,  7 eps) and Bering Sea Gold: After the Dredge (2012, 2 eps).

Net Worth:

Steve Pomrenke is one of the most successful and experienced gold miners in Nome, Alaska with an estimated net worth of $5M. He is the owner of The Christine Rose, a 75-foot dredge that he operates with his son, Shawn Pomrenke. He makes money from his other gold mining ventures and he also earned about $200,000 per season from the show “Bering Sea Gold.”

Personal Life

Wife and Children:

Steve Pomrenke’s first wife was Catherine M Gray. In the years of togetherness as a married couple, the pair gave birth to three children Shawn, Erick, and Nikki Pomrenke. It is not known when or why Steve and his first wife parted ways.

Since the divorce, Catherine has gone on to live low-key and does not like to indulge in media or interviews. Meanwhile, Steve moved on with Christine Skiba a native of Hardina, Alaska.

Steve and Christine met in Alaska during Gull Lake Fishing and tied the knot in 1999. The couple has been together ever since.

Wiki/Bio Facts