Did you also feel like Dustin Hurt’s push for gold on Gold Rush: White Water is breaking his team’s spirit?

Gold Rush: White Water season 9 episode 5 aired on May 23, 2025, and showed just how far Dustin Hurt is willing to go for gold. But it also raised an important question—how much is too much? Did you also feel like Dustin’s push for results is wearing his team down?

The tension has been building all season, and this episode made it clear. After a string of long dives with little gold to show for it, the crew finally snapped. Carlos, one of Dustin’s key team members, called him out in front of everyone, saying he was acting like a “world-class pr*ck.”

Dustin admitted the pressure was getting to him, explaining that all his savings were on the line. But instead of listening to his crew, he told Carlos that if he wasn’t happy, he could leave.

That kind of leadership—pushing the team harder without addressing how they’re feeling—left everyone frustrated.

It’s clear Dustin is under a lot of pressure, but is he also pushing his team too far? And if they don’t start finding gold soon, will the crew hold together or break apart?

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Carlos calls out Dustin in front of the crew in Gold Rush: White Water

Carlos calling out Dustin wasn’t just a random outburst—it showed the deeper problems in the team. After long dives and barely any gold, the crew was tired, frustrated, and at their limit.

When Carlos called Dustin a “pr*ck” in front of everyone, it wasn’t just an insult—it was a sign that the team had lost trust in their leader.

"I'm telling you for me ma, man, and I'm being truthful with you, you're a world-class pr*ck dude, A world-class pr*ck," Carlos said.

The underlying tension seems to stem from a breakdown in communication. Dustin is so focused on reaching bedrock and saving Nugget Creek that he’s missing the emotional signals from his team.

Carlos’s words weren’t just about one dive—they were about the constant, unrelenting pressure without acknowledgment or support.

Even though the argument ended with an uneasy truce, it’s clear the relationship between Dustin and his crew has been damaged in Gold Rush: White Water.

If Dustin doesn’t address the crew’s emotional exhaustion, the season’s gold count might not be the only thing at risk.

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Dustin’s decision to bring Danielle into the team creates a new divide in Gold Rush: White Water

In a surprise move, Dustin Hurt called in his girlfriend, Danielle Miller, to help the struggling crew on Gold Rush: White Water.

Dustin framed it as a practical solution to relieve the pressure on his exhausted team, but the decision sparked immediate tension.

Paul, a longtime member of the crew, took particular issue with it—reminding viewers that Dustin had once banned partners and spouses from joining the team.

That rule had shaped the crew’s work dynamic for years, and Paul had respected it.

Dustin’s decision to break his own rule felt like a double standard. For the rest of the team, Dustin’s decision sent a clear message: he can change the rules when it suits him, but everyone else has to stick to them.

The frustration wasn’t just about Danielle being there—it was about how unfair it felt. Dustin’s leadership seemed inconsistent, and it added more stress to a team that was already struggling.

As this episode of Gold Rush: White Water concluded, the team dove deeper into the site but still hadn’t found the gold they desperately needed.

The question remains: can Dustin hold the team together under growing pressure, or will this decision be the breaking point that fractures the crew’s trust for good?

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Gold Rush: White Water episodes are available to stream on Discovery Channel.