Who Is Michelle Young’s Fiancé? All About Jack Leius and His Relationship with the Former Bachelorette

Michelle Young gave out her final rose off-screen.

After a year of dating sales consultant Jack Leius, he popped the question during a surprise proposal in Minnesota on Oct. 24, 2024. Michelle, who starred as The Bachelorette in season 18 of the hit ABC reality series, told PEOPLE that she was first drawn to how much her fiancé “cares about people.”

“When you’re asked those cheesy types of questions about ‘who comes to mind when you hear the words trustworthy, genuine, considerate,’ I’ve noticed he’s the person who first comes to mind — not just for me but for so many others who have crossed paths with him,” she said. “I think that speaks volumes about his character.”

The couple announced their relationship via Instagram in October 2023 and made their first public appearance at Golden Bachelor alums Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist’s wedding in January 2024. That night, Jack told PEOPLE that it was a “privilege” to have Michelle by his side.

“Our foundation is undefeated,” he added.

So who is Michelle Young’s fiancé? Here’s everything to know about Jack Leius and his relationship with the former Bachelorette. 

He’s from Minnesota 

Jack and Michelle grew up just a few miles apart. According to his Minnesota State University Athletics bio, he was born and raised in Plymouth, Minn., by parents Marilyn Dicharia and Scott Leius, who played baseball for the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals.

During a January 2024 episode of The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast, Michelle told Bachelor Nation alums Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti that their paths crossed multiple times before they ever met, referencing the “invisible string theory.”

“A lot of times your soulmate or the person you end up with, you’ve been in the same room with multiple times over the course of your life, but you’ve never met,” the former reality star said.

Michelle added that she and Jack hung out at all the same local bars and grew up fishing and playing on the same lake. The former Bachelorette even unknowingly attended one of his football games back when she was a teacher.

Michelle and Jack met through a mutual friend

On The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast, Jack and Michelle revealed that they were set up by a mutual friend. The former football player asked to be introduced to the former Bachelorette when this friend posted her on his Instagram Stories. Two days later, Michelle asked that same friend if he knew any eligible single guys.

“He said, ‘Actually, have I ever talked to you about Jack?’ ” she said on the podcast. “He pulled up his Instagram profile … and he was really cute. I actually started to blush.”

Young told PEOPLE that after they met, they “spent nearly every moment of the next four days together and quickly made the decision to be exclusive after doing so.”

They started dating in October 2023

Jack and Michelle dated in private for a bit before announcing their relationship on Instagram on Oct. 27, 2023. She posted two photos of them all dressed up together with the caption, “Hit the Jackpot with you 🫶🏾.”

When they made their debut as a couple at the Golden Bachelor wedding in January 2024, Jack and Michelle told PEOPLE about their first brush with publicity — which happened only days after they met.

“The first time we got put in a tabloid … was after four days of meeting,” Michelle said. “I said, ‘S—, Jack, we’re out and everybody’s posting about us. They saw us. There’s all these pictures. What do I need to know about you that I don’t know?’ And he’s like, ‘Well, I got two or three speeding tickets and I’m asthmatic.’ ”

He pulled off a surprise proposal 

On Oct. 24, 2024, Michelle arrived at Centennial Lakes in Edina, Minn., thinking she was about to film a commercial. She signed a contract, memorized lines and even had her hair, makeup and nails done for the “shoot.” But when she walked down to the lake to meet the crew, the only person waiting for her arrival was Jack, standing amongst an arch of white roses.

“I was fooled so badly that for a moment I thought the joke was that Jack was one of the male models that I would be working with at the shoot,” she told PEOPLE in December. “I tried to say yes several times but was in shock that no words really came out. There were a lot of happy tears and of course I said YES!”

He’s a VP of an athletics company

According to his LinkedIn profile, Jack studied business and marketing at the University of Minnesota and graduated with his master’s degree in sports management from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 2021.

He is currently the vice president of sales for Covert Edge Athletics.

Michelle has said Jack “calms her nervous system” 

During their post-engagement interview with PEOPLE, Michelle talked about the first time she realized that she was in love with Jack.

“I was sitting at the dinner table with my family (he was not present) and got choked up while telling them how ‘I’ve never met anyone who calms my nervous system,’ ” she said. At the Golden Wedding, the former reality star also talked about how much her mom and dad “genuinely love” Jack. 

“It’s just been a really easy transition,” Michelle told PEOPLE. “And they always say love’s supposed to be easy, but the communication, we truly have been able to work through anything.” 

They love to cheer on the Minnesota Vikings together

Michelle and Jack are both big fans of the Minnesota Vikings. The former Bachelorette told The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast that she was at a practice event for the team when she first scrolled through her now-fiancé’s profile. They regularly post photos and videos on Instagram of them attending games together.

“When I tell you there wasn’t a dull moment at this game…” Michelle captioned an Instagram Reel on Nov. 13, 2024, that showed her and Jack cheering on the Vikings from the sidelines.