João Franco Bio, Below Deck Down Under, Height, Age, Family, Spouse, and Net Worth

Last Updated on January 27, 2026 by Author

Profile

João Franco Biography

João Franco is a Zimbabwean yacht captain and TV personality who rose to prominence for starring in a couple of series in the Below Deck franchise, including Below Deck Mediterranean (Seasons 3–4) and Below Deck Down Under Season 2. He rejoins the crew of Below Deck Down Under Season 4 as a second officer. Below Deck Down Under Season 4 premieres on February 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.

João Franco Height

Franco stands at a rough height of 5 feet and 7 inches.

João Franco Age

Franco is 35 years old. He was born on April 30, 1990, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Franco annually celebrates his birthday on April 30th.

Table of Contents

Personal Life

João Franco Family and Relatives

Franco was born to Cheryl Franco and João Franco Sr. in Harare, Zimbabwe. He has a brother named Karlos and a sister named Shae Talbert. He has talked about his upbringing in Zimbabwe, recalling that it was difficult since neither of his parents had money. Karlos was born in 1992 and is 33 years old.

João Franco Spouse and Children

Franco is currently dating Domi Tiesi, who now works on yachts with him. The duo met on Tinder in Mallorca and has traveled to 33 countries so far.

Before Tiesi, Franco briefly went out with Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph after his engagement was called off in 2023. They part ways at the end of charter season, choosing to focus on their respective careers rather than their relationship.

Franco was engaged to Michelle Dicu, who is six years his senior. They met when he went to bleach his teeth before the 2018 reunion of Below Deck Mediterranean at a dental office in New York City, where she worked as a hygienist. She reached out to him 6 months later, asking to go paddleboarding. He proposed to her in March 2020 at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. He shared that they had called off their engagement in June 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, career paths, and distance.

Before his relationship with Michelle, Franco was in a love triangle between second stew Brooke Laughton and third stew Kasey Cohen during Below Deck Mediterranean Season 3. He chose Brooke and went for a romantic trip to Florence after filming ended. They met each other’s families, and Brooke visited his home country of Zimbabwe. They broke up after dating for approximately six months after filming. He said they split up because she was unfaithful while she said they broke up because of his ego and character.

João Franco Tzarina Mace-Ralph

Professional Life

João Franco Net Worth

Franco has garnered a net worth ranging from $100 000 to $2 million during his successful career as a yacht captain, deckhand, bosun, second officer, and TV personality.

João Franco Career

Franco rose to prominence for starring in a couple of series in the Below Deck franchise, including Below Deck Mediterranean (Seasons 3–4) and Below Deck Down Under Season 2. He rejoins the crew of Below Deck Down Under Season 4 as a second officer.

Franco secured his first job as a captain on a 30-meter (100-foot) vessel just five days after filming for Below Deck Mediterranean Season 4. He worked there for more than a year and a half. In April 2021, he shared that he passed his Officer of the Watch (OOW) exam, which allowed him to work as a deck officer on much larger commercial vessels. In 2023, he attained his Master’s license (Yachtmaster). He also shared that he was captain of a 43-meter superyacht, which he helped build.

Franco left school when he was 17 years old to work. In this capacity, he worked at a bar, where he was promoted to manager. He then worked as a motor vehicle engineer for BMW, managed an events company, and was a lighting technician for corporate events and fashion shows.

Franco was hired to build recreational vehicles for tourism after his work modifying a vehicle for off-roading was discovered. When the economy in Zimbabwe crashed, he decided to leave for Europe with his brother, Karlos, to begin new careers in yachting. He has now worked in the yachting industry for 8 years.

João Franco Nationality

Franco is a Zimbabwean, as he was born and raised in the country.

Movies and TV Shows

João Franco Below Deck Down Under

Franco initially joined the crew at Below Deck Down Under during Season 2 as a replacement for Luke Jones, who was dismissed for sexual misconduct. In this capacity, he worked as a bosun. He rejoins the crew at Below Deck Down Under Season 4 as a second officer. Below Deck Down Under Season 4 premieres on February 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.

Below Deck Down Under is the third spinoff from the Below Deck franchise, Below Deck Mediterranean, and Below Deck Sailing Yacht. It surrounds the lives of crew members aboard a superyacht longer than 150 feet as they work and live there during a six-week charter season across various destinations, including the Whitsunday Islands in Australia aboard Thalassa in Season 1, Cairns, Australia, aboard Northern Sun in Season 2, and in Seychelles, Africa, aboard Katina in Season 3.

Season 4 takes place aboard Katina in Canouan, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, in the Caribbean. Also, it features the franchise’s most demanding guests, including a franchise-first full Real Housewives of Salt Lake City charter with Heather Gay, Whitney Rose, Lisa Barlow, and Angie Katsanevas. He stars alongside fellow crew members

Daisy Kelliher
Eddy Hounsell
Alesia Harris
Jenna Woudberg
Jason Chambers
Joe Caron
Mike Durrant
Betul Yazici
Ben Robinson

João Franco Below Deck Mediterranean

Franco rose to prominence for starring in Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 3 to 4. He joined the crew as lead deckhand and was later promoted to bosun in Season 4 under Captain Sandy Yawn.

João Franco Social Media

Franco has active social media platforms, i.e., Facebook, X(formerly Twitter), and Instagram. He has a following of over 62K on Facebook, a following of over 295K on Instagram, and a following of over 35K on X.