Chumlee Net Worth: From a Pawn Shop to a Success Businessman, How Pawn Stars’ Chumlee Built His Massive Net Worth?
Everyone loves an underdog story; someone who uses whatever scraps of resources they have to make a name for themselves. We have Oprah Winfrey, Sylvester Stallone, and Stephen King.
These are definitely inspiring individuals, but one of my favorite stories is that of Austin Lee Russell (Chumlee). Against all odds, he rose through the ranks and proved himself in the business world.
So, what did he do, and how successful did make him? I believe a quick glimpse at Chumlee’s net worth and clever business decisions will answer that for us!
What Is Chumlee’s Net Worth?
After establishing himself as a successful TV personality and businessman, Austin Lee Russell, aka “Chumlee,” has built an impressive net worth of $5 million.
Chumlee’s Early Life
Born on September 8, 1982, Austin Lee Russell grew up in the bustling city of Henderson, Nevada. Obviously, not born as Chumlee, where did that name come from?
Then, where did Chumlee come from? Well, one of his friends’ parents said that his large chin and face made him look like Chumley, the walrus from Tennessee Tuxedo, and the name just stuck.
Image source: Google
When he was a kid, Chumlee became friends with Corey Harrison, son of Rick Harrison, one of the founders of the iconic Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.
How Chumlee Built His Massive Net Worth
Chumlee has dabbled in all sorts of ventures over the years, and he’s shown he’s got the skills to thrive in every single one. Among the many adventures he went through, we have the following:
1. Reality Television
Chumlee started his journey to fame when he was 21, using his connection to Corey Harrison to work at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.
How does a job at a pawn shop jump-start a success journey? Well, the shop’s owner convinced Leftfield Pictures to make a reality series about the daily interactions in Gold & Silver.
So, in July 2009, Pawn Stars hit the screens, and Chumlee made his TV debut.
Chumlee’s Debut
You probably think Chumlee immediately stole the show with his charm and wit, right? Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
In fact, he mainly stuck to behind-the-counter duty and was often depicted as incompetent or intelligent, being called a “village idiot.” What did Chumlee do? He showed everyone there was more to him than meets the eye!
Rising Up
Chumlee didn’t want to take the show’s negative depiction lying down, but he struggled to find a way to impress the producers of the show. That’s when it hit him. His salesman skills!
He quickly made a few impressive deals in the pawn shop and proved to everyone that he wasn’t as incompetent as they made him out to be.
Despite his rough start, Chumlee emerged from that show as a fan favorite and one of the most memorable characters in the series.
He also gets decent pay from that show. For every episode that comes out, he gets around $25,000.
2. Acting
Pawn Stars paved the way for Chumlee to explore other opportunities in acting, and he turned out to be a more solid actor than we thought.
Image source: Google
iCarly
I’m a big iCarly fan, so imagine my surprise when I learned that Chumlee was one of the actors who contributed to that show.
Of course, his contribution wasn’t that massive, as he only appeared in one episode in 2012, but every iCarly episode was always a fun journey in and of itself!
Pop Star
A 2013 movie about someone trying to find their voice in a world that keeps pushing them down?
Sounds exactly like Chumlee! Yet, I hate to disappoint you, as he wasn’t the protagonist of Lip Service. Chumlee only played a small part.
Of course, he played other roles that he probably didn’t get that much for, but they still contributed to his overall net worth, even if it’s a little bit.
3. Cameo
No, I don’t mean acting cameos. Cameo is an app that allows users to get personalized video messages from their favorite creators!
Image source: Cameo
You just send your celebrity a message with all the information you want them to include in the video and watch them follow through.
Yes, some creators make generic videos, but not Chumlee. Since he first joined in 2018, he always tried to personalize his videos and make something different for each fan.
4. Business Ventures
After finding success in the pawn shop, Chumlee realized he had a knack for business. So, he decided to start his own business—not another pawn shop!
Selling Merchandise
Chumlee founded a company that focused on producing and selling novelty items he designed himself. And let me tell you, his company made more profit than any of the other cast members on Pawn Stars.
He was no longer the butt of everyone’s jokes but a successful businessman who prioritized optimized efficiency. That’s why he sold half of his stake in that company to Rick Harrison.
He knew the people at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop would sell and distribute his merchandise line more efficiently. Sure, he lost his control over the business, but he made a decent profit of $155,000.
Selling Candy
You know what I like the most about Chumlee? From one glance, you could tell his inner child is active and thriving.
That’s why I wasn’t surprised when I learned that he opened a candy store called Chumlee’s Candy in 2017.
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5. Real Estate
It seems like Chumlee’s calculative thinking abilities don’t just work in business but in real estate as well. You see, in 2012, he bought a 6,200-square-foot home in Los Angeles for $1.1 million.
However, he sold it in 2019 for $1.3 million. That’s more than a $200,000 profit right there!
Controversies & Legal Issues
Despite his childlike demeanor, it seems like the Pawn Stars actor wasn’t as innocent as we all thought.
In 2016, the cops broke into Chumlee’s house after a Gold & Silver employee accused him of sexual assault.
Image source: Google
But they didn’t expect what they found there: Guns and drugs. Lots of them. After being arrested, Chumlee was released on bail of $62000. Appearing in court, Chumlee pleaded guilty, and instead of going to jail, he had to attend counseling and stay on probation for three years.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, Chumlee’s net worth is a combination of intelligence, perseverance, and courage. He may have had a rough start, but he managed to make the best out of the bad hand he was dealt.
Even after succumbing to unhealthy and illegal habits, he successfully powered through that phase and went back to being the man we all love.
Featured image source: Google
