FORT YUKON, ALASKA: Todd Hoffman and his mining crew are all set to return to our screens, as they continue their search for gold in an Alaskan mine. However, the latest season of 'Hoffman Family Gold' will feature a rivalry between father and son.
In Season 2, Hoffman, who lives in Sandy, return to Alaska's Mammoth Valley Mine with his crew, hoping to find 1,000 ounces of gold, which can be used to pay off his staggering $750,000 debt. But there's some family drama in the mix. Todd's son Hunter wanted to run his own wash plant, which stirs up drama among the crew. Meanwhile, fans are eager to know who is part of the mining crew this season.
Meet 'Hoffman Family Gold' crew
Todd Hoffman
Todd Hoffman is best known for his appearance on the TV show 'Gold Rush' as a gold prospector. He was born in the town of Sandy, Oregon, on April 12, 1969, to Jack and Georgia Hoffman. Todd has one sibling, his sister Tamra. His father Jack's mining work and adventures in gold mines partly sparked an interest in him to continue the mining business. Todd attended Portland Christian High School and studied Theology at William Jessup University.
In 1991, at the age of 21, Todd met his wife, Shawna, and they became engaged two years later in 1993. They celebrated their 28th anniversary in December 2022 and have three children: sons Hudson and Hunter, and daughter Olivia. After completing his education, Todd ran a small airport until the financial crisis of 2008 made it impossible to sustain the facility as his sole source of income. He then decided to continue his family business of mining and later secured a deal with Discovery.
Jack Hoffman
Jack has been in the mining business for around twenty-five years. Jack is Todd's father and a member of the Hoffman Group. The 74-year-old, born on September 15, 1947, mined for gold in Alaska 25 years ago. He was born and raised in Oregon and kicked off his career as a real estate broker. Jack has also served in the US military. Later, Jack joined the mining business and spent years mining for gold in Alaska, facing the risk of losing everything in his quest for gold. In 2010, Jack got a second chance to achieve his dream with his son Todd leading the way. Since then, the Hoffman crew has pulled in over 6,000 ounces of gold, and Jack is still chasing more. Now 72 years old, Jack spends more time in the gold room than out in the mine. Despite his age, Jack hasn't lost his work ethic and is still constantly driven by his desire to find gold. Jack often appears on the Discovery show 'Gold Rush'.
Hunter Hoffman
Hunter was born on March 4, 1999, to his parents Todd and Shauna Hoffman. It is believed that Hunter has completed his formal education. He later dropped out of school to join his family business. Hunter is a well-known reality television personality who also runs a gold mining company. He is best known for his role as a member of the Hoffman family on the iconic television show 'Gold Rush'. Hunter made his on-camera debut in 2011 while working in the family industry. He is the third generation of the Hoffman family to mine gold on a television show, following in the footsteps of his grandparents, Jack and Georgia, and his parents, Todd and Shawna. Hunter is currently in a relationship with Bri Ramseth. The couple reportedly met at prom in 2015 and began dating shortly thereafter.
Jim Thurber
Jim Thurber is a cast member of the popular reality TV series 'Gold Rush' and was born in Boring, Oregon, in 1963. He previously worked in a sheet metal company. However, Jim lost his job and was about to lose his house due to the mortgage when his life changed. Jim joined the Hoffman crew and has experienced all the highs and lows of their gold mining adventures.
Jim exchanged vows with Cynthia Slauson on April 19, 1991. Jim and Cynthia were in a relationship since high school and dated for a long time before tying the knot. The couple are parents to two children, Nathan and Breanna. Jim's son, Nathan, is a graduate of Business Informative Systems from Oregon State University, and his daughter, Breanna, is a student of medical assistance who graduated from Pioneer Pacific. Jim will join the Hoffman crew in their search for gold in the dangerous gold mines.
Andy Spinks
Andy was born in May 1963 in the United States and grew up in a family of loggers. He learned heavy machinery operations and worked in harsh conditions from a young age. He also developed a passion for hunting and fishing, which he still enjoys today. Before joining 'Gold Rush', Andy worked as a truck driver for a logging company. He met Todd through their mutual friend Jim, who also became part of the show. Andy decided to join Todd's gold mining venture in 2012, hoping to make some money and have an adventure. Andy made his debut on 'Gold Rush' in Season 3 when Todd moved his operation to the Klondike region of Canada. Andy was assigned to run the wash plant and process the gold-bearing dirt. Andy continued to work with Todd in subsequent seasons, following him to various locations such as Guyana, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska. He also became friends with other members of the crew, such as Jack, Dave Turin, Kevin Hiatt, and Hunter Hoffman.
'Hoffman Family Gold' returns for Season 2 at 9 pm Friday, June 16 on the Discovery Channel.