If there’s anything the age of streaming is making rather apparent, it’s that there's no shortage of bizarre, yet titillating reality TV shows to keep you glued to a screen on those days when whiling away time is all you can do. However, of all the reality TV shows that have come and gone, few have managed to capture viewers' interest quite as intensely as A&E’s Storage Wars.
The show, which premiered on the network in 2010, inexplicably managed to garner consistently high ratings and spawn close to a dozen spinoffs by chronicling the exploits of its beloved cast of trophy hunters. Despite lacking the trappings of reality TV gold and coming under fire for being fake on multiple occasions, the show has endured for fourteen seasons, even surviving an indefinite hiatus in 2019. By this time, the show had made bona fide stars out of its cast, with some even landing their own reality TV spinoffs following their tenure on the show. As fans wait with bated breath for season 15 of the iconic reality TV show, we take a look at what the original cast is up to in 2023.
8 Dan And Laura Dotson Run A Private Auctioneering Company
Dan and Laura Dotson, Storage Wars’ resident power couple, who became popular with audiences for their classic, albeit inarticulate auctioneer prattle, were the main auctioneers for the show’s entire 14-season run.
After financial troubles forced A&E to place the show on hiatus, the couple continued auctioning off seized lockers to bidders looking to strike it rich with unexpected treasures. The twosome currently run a private auctioneering company, dubbed American Auctioneers, which runs public auctions across California.
7 Dave Hester Works As An Auctioneer And Consultant
Dave Hester, Storage Wars’ indisputable villain, became popular with audiences for repeatedly and obnoxiously using the bizarro catchphrase “YUUUP!” After getting a pink slip from A&E for pointing out how scripted the show was, Hester opened an independent auctioneering and consulting business and permanently stepped away from the limelight.
The father of two is currently semi-retired and enjoying spending time with his family in Alaska. “I am going to get on the commission side of the business as the auctioneer for storage facilities and moving and storage companies,” he toldOnline Storage Auctions of his future plans in 2015. “I am already semi-retired. Just staying busy fishing, auctioneering and writing e-books about my business experience.”
6 Darrell Sheets Is On A Weight Loss Journey
Popularly known as “The Gambler,” Darrell Sheets gained a reputation with the Storage Wars fandom for going all out and winning big during auctions. After his time on the show, Sheets retreated from the limelight and went all out on a weight loss journey, shedding an impressive 40 pounds using the Nutrisystem method.
"Hope is having 200 bucks to buy a locker and a chance to change your life,” he said of his fitness journey. “It's that same hope that motivated me to lose weight. I knew life would be much sweeter when I achieved my goal. Now, I want to spread that message of hope to others. If I can change one life at a time by helping someone get off the couch, I will be happy."
5 Brandon Sheets Has Embraced Family Life
Known to fans as “The Sidebet,” Darrell Sheets’ son, Brandon Sheets, was part of Storage Wars' main cast for its first eight seasons. Sheets ended up leaving the show in 2016, after budget cuts forced production to streamline the cast line-up.
Following his time on the show, Brandon relocated to Arizona, seemingly abandoning the world of auctioneering for a career as a real estate agent. Brandon also retreated from the limelight and transformed into a devout family man.
4 Barry Weiss Landed Two Spinoffs After Leaving Storage Wars
Barry Weiss, also known as The Collector, became popular with the Storage Wars fandom for his unorthodox bidding style. Weiss left Storage Wars in 2015, after being part of the main cast rotation for four seasons.
After leaving the show, Barry landed his own spinoff, dubbed Barry’d Treasure, which ran for eight episodes, and chronicled Barry’s cross-country trophy hunting exploits. After Barry’d Treasure went bust, Weiss landed yet another spinoff, Storage Wars: Barry Strikes Back, in which he and fellow Storage Wars star Kenny Crossley reviewed their favorite Storage Wars moments and shared behind-the-scenes snippets.
3 Ivy Calvin Runs A Thrift Store In Palmdale California
Retired Footballer and MMA fighter Ivy Calvin joined Storage Wars’ main cast rotation in season five following a two-season stint as a recurring cast member.
After building up his grit in auctioneering on the show, Calvin retreated from the limelight and opened up a thrift store in Palmdale California called Grandma’s Attic, which deals in rare antiques. Calvin is still married to Wendy Calvin, with whom he shares two kids, Isaiah and Ivy Jr.
2 Rene And Casey Nezhoda Are Thriving As YouTubers
Rene and Casey Nezhoda, who joined the Storage Wars cast in season four, were known for their expertise in secondhand sales and deeply enthralling couple dynamic. The twosome remained part of the show’s main cast until it was placed on indefinite hiatus in 2019, and later reprised their roles when it was revived in 2021.
Unlike some of their castmates, Rene and Casey have retained their proclivity for the limelight. The twosome launched their YouTube channel, Bargainhuntersthrift, in 2019, and have since racked up over 100,000 subscribers. The two have also continued to run their secondhand store, Bargain Hunters Thrift Store, located in Poway, California.
1 Brandi Passante And Jarrod Schulz Are No Longer A Couple
Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz, yet another Storage Wars power couple, were known for their intense bickering and fearless bidding. The two were part of the show’s main cast from its debut, staying on through its initial twelve-season run, but declining to return after it came out of its 2019 hiatus.
Before their time on Storage Wars lapsed, the duo landed their own spinoff show, Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job, which ran for eight episodes on A&E, and chronicled the couple’s struggles as they tried to juggle family life and a thriving auctioneering business. Though their reality TV days are well behind them, Brandi and Jarrod have continued to pursue their passion for auctioneering. However, the two are no longer a couple, having split up back in 2018 for unclear reasons.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGiuoZmkYsGpsYysq6iqkZyybsPAq6pmm5GowW610mabqKGenHqvu9ZmoZqqoqSxbq7Aq6myZw%3D%3D