Portrait of Tony Beets.

GOLD RUSH 9

Portrait of Tony Beets.

Maverick mining legend Tony Beets is a larger-than-life Dutchman who runs one of the biggest operations in the Klondike.

Tony was raised on a farm in Wijdenes, the Netherlands; before coming to Dawson City in 1984, he made ends meet by milking cows. From his humble origins, starting out as a machine operator, Tony has now become one of the most successful miners in the Klondike.

Tony's wife Minnie and children - Monica, Kevin, and Michael all work for the family business. Now, after decades of mining, Tony is relying on his kids to keep their golden empire running for years to come.