Barry Weiss From Storage Wars Has A Famous Godson
Whether you are a dedicated fan of "Storage Wars" or cannot help but linger for a few episodes while channel-surfing, most will agree that the eccentric presence of Barry Weiss adds to the absurd appeal of the hit show. Known to the A&E crowd as "The Collector," Weiss charmed American audiences with his vibrant personality, humorous one-liners, and wealth of antique knowledge when bidding for lockers and assessing his treasures.
He left the show after the fourth season for no other reason than wanting to commit to being a "professional slacker." According to Distractify, Weiss' departure was all positive. "I had a blast," he explained. "It was fun, but I had enough and I kind of wanted to leave while it was still popular." Beyond two short-lived spin-offs, Weiss stayed fairly quiet for several years, occasionally seen by fans at auto events until news of his 2021 return for Season 14 of "Storage Wars."
With his wise-cracking persona, many do not know that Weiss actually has a famous godson, one that has fittingly worked in the same sphere of entertainment.
Who is Barry Weiss' godson?
Jesse James is a celebrity mechanic, founder of West Coast Choppers, and well-known as the host of the Discovery Channel's "Monster Garage." Between 2002 and 2006, James and a crew would use their mechanical, fabricating, and modifying expertise to transform and customize vehicles in a short amount of time.
James' father was an antique collector, like Barry Weiss, who got James a small dirt bike when he was 7 years old, proving early on that he was, what Biography called, a "natural tinkerer." His experience with specialty vehicles and Barry Weiss being an avid car collector really ties together the godson-godfather connection, even more so with their dynamic television presences.
James was attached to a huge celebrity scandal in 2010 when news broke that he cheated on Sandra Bullock, his wife at the time, with multiple women, per Daily Beast. After the messy chaos and split from Bullock, he released a memoir titled "American Outlaw" with a straightforward message: "That part of my life is over now. If you want to read about it, read about it. Me, I'm moving forward. I'm trying to not live in the past." During the same interview with Daily Beast, James noted he and his father do not talk, leaving it unclear whether he has any sort of cordial relationship with his godfather either.
What has Jesse James been up to?
Jesse James and Kat Von D had an on-and-off relationship between 2010 and 2011, ending in a similar fashion to his split from Sandra Bullock.
In addition to "Monster Garage," James appeared on the second season of "Celebrity Apprentice," placing third overall, and starred in the Spike TV show "Jesse James Is a Dead Man," where he performed death-defying stunts (per IMDb). He also operates Jesse James Firearms Unlimited out of his private workshop, according to My San Antonio. "Monster Garage" returned with a new season after 14 years off-air in early 2021 on Discovery Plus, with James at the helm of an upgraded garage. The series showcases the skills of "builders from diverse backgrounds," using "cutting-edge technology" to create one-of-a-kind vehicles, per Discovery.
"It's crazy to think my relationship with Discovery Channel started exactly 20 years ago. After all this time I'm still excited to step into the Monster Garage," James said in a talk with The Wrap. "Excited to work hard and push the limits again. Showing people what you can do with teamwork, skills, and a refusal to quit."