Rachel Riley, the celebrated mathematician and presenter of Channel 4's *Countdown*, has shed light on the financial discrepancies within her marriage to former *Strictly Come Dancing
professional, Pasha Kovalev. The couple, who met on the popular dance show in 2013 and married in a spontaneous Las Vegas ceremony in 2019, are now parents to two young daughters, Maven and Noa.
Speaking on Gabby Logan's *The ii Family Money Show
in 2022, Riley, 38, candidly discussed her differing financial outlook compared to her husband, 44. She attributes her cautious approach to her upbringing, where her mother instilled the value of hard work by gifting her a single pound each year.
"I think having a job since I was 15, you just learn the value of money," Riley shared. "You have to work for it, don't you? And you can only spend it once. I think that's a really important lesson that you have to learn early."
However, Kovalev's upbringing in Soviet Russia, where he experienced poverty and scarcity, has influenced his more relaxed financial attitude. "He was brought up just differently," Riley explained. "He came from Soviet Russia so when he was born they lived in a flat with no running water and an outside toilet... There wasn't the money around; there wasn't things to buy either."
Riley acknowledged that Kovalev's journey from a modest background to becoming a professional dancer on *Strictly Come Dancing
instilled in him a "easy come easy go" approach to finances. "He's not, kind of, he's not as forward thinking," she admitted.
The contrasting financial styles, Riley shared, create a unique dynamic in their relationship. "He's quite comfortable spending his money and then waiting for the next thing to come in, whereas I could never ever, ever spend all my money. I would have a heart attack, you know. I need to have, like, backup and plans and things like that, so we're very different."
Further complications arise from Kovalev's dual American and Russian citizenship, especially concerning inheritance for their children. "I think if Pasha were to get half [of my inheritance], then he'd have to pay tax in the American system," Riley noted. "But, you know, it just gets more and more complicated, unfortunately. So we're in a bit of a tangled financial situation and you need expert advice. And I think, however numerate you are, you still need to ask the experts. And then use your gut and use your, you know, risk aversion, comfort levels to make your own decision."
Riley's candid revelation provides a glimpse into the complex dynamics of navigating finances within a blended family, showcasing the importance of open communication and seeking professional guidance when navigating cross-border financial matters.