This Is What The Original Cast Of Storage Wars Is Doing Now
What happens when you leave your junk in a storage locker and don't pay the rent? It's sold by an auctioneer for cash — and as A&E's "Storage Wars" showed us, the competition is fierce. The reality show follows a rough and tough group of bidders who have made this their career, showing up at the same auctions and fighting tooth and nail for the units they think will score them the biggest bucks in resale.
The show was a hit upon its premiere, running for 12 seasons from December 2010 to January 2019. Between father-and-son duo Darrell and Brandon Sheets, the always contentious Dave Hester, goofy and wide-eyed Barry Weiss, and the fights between former couple Jarrod Schulz and Brandi Passante, "Storage Wars" showed us that the stuff stuck in storage was only half the story.
Fans couldn't get enough, and in April 2021, the show — and some of its most entertaining cast members — returned. Some of these entrepreneurs are thriving after their newfound fame, and some have stepped away from the spotlight. Here's what the original cast of "Storage Wars" is doing now.
Dan and Laura Dotson
Dan and Laura Dotson were the ringleaders behind the whole operation, acting as the auctioneers selling off the storage units one by one on "Storage Wars." The happily married couple would swap turns taking bids, but were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at every auction. While "Storage Wars" executive producer and narrator Thom Beers was the one to bring this world to the small screen, Dan and Laura Dotson's operation was his main inspiration, as the couple pitched the concept to television networks after starting their own YouTube channel in 2007, according to their website.
The good news is, the Dotsons are still together and still in the business. Their California company American Auctioneers is thriving, hosting auctions throughout the state, and they've even taken their system national with StorageAuctions.Net. Their most valuable locker might just be a unit that contained a safe with $7.5 million in cash, which they unloaded for $500 and weren't even aware of until 2018, according to the Blast.
However, the Dotsons have gone through hardships, too. In 2014, Dan experienced a double brain aneurysm (via TMZ) and fully recovered, even though "doctors said he only had a slight chance of survival." Their son Garrett, who runs his own CBD business, was the victim of a drive-by shooting in 2020, per Outsider, and made it out alright after "a long and arduous recovery period." The couple rejoined the cast when "Storage Wars" returned in 2021.
Barry Weiss
Barry Weiss is "Storage Wars'" resident collector. The oddball storage unit warrior has always had a personality and demeanor made for television, which is perhaps why he scored two spin-offs of his own: "Barry'd Treasure" and "Storage Wars: Barry Strikes Back." "A Robert Evans-meets-Jack Nicholson type," as the show's website describes him, Barry's most entertaining moments were the extremes he'd take to throw off other buyers on the show — inspecting units with night vision goggles and enlisting psychics to suss out a locker, for example.
Weiss left the show after Season 4. Though he "had a blast" doing it, the star "had enough" and "kind of wanted to leave while it was still popular," he explained in a 2017 interview.
TMZ reported that Barry Weiss "had to undergo multiple surgeries" on his femur and back following a 2019 motorcycle accident. Still, nothing can keep a legend down. In 2021, he returned to the show for Season 13 in style, surprising his cast mates by pulling up in his 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and dropping the extremely cool line "Did you miss me?!" in his confessional (via TMZ). We certainly did!
Dave Hester
Dave Hester was "Storage Wars'" resident troublemaker, through and through. No one was better at nabbing a good deal — or starting a fight with the other buyers by racking up the prices. At the start of the series, he owned California resale stores Rags to Riches Thrift Store and Newport Consignment Gallery, which closed in 2012, according to his website.
Dave still works in the business, running his own auction, appraisal, and liquidation company. His relationship to the show, however, has become rather strained. In December 2012, the star reportedly called out producers for strategically placing items in storage units "to heighten the show's drama," as USA Today put it, and got the pink slip. He turned around and sued the company for wrongful termination, also alleging the show "manipulate[d] the outcome of certain auctions by paying for storage units on behalf of other weaker cast members..." In 2014, Dave Hester and the production company reportedly "settled for an undisclosed amount" out of court, per AuctionsTX.com.
That wasn't the only lawsuit he has been involved in. Dave's signature catchphrase while upping the bids on the show was "Yuuup," and he sued Trey Songz for using the phrase, which the R&B singer had been including in merchandise and records since 2009, per The Sun. The outlet reported that "the two agreed to undisclosed terms," and Dave currently holds the word's trademark.
Ivy Calvin
Ivy Calvin joined "Storage Wars" in Season 3, standing out amongst the crowd of jokers as "a no-nonsense buyer" with an eye for good deals. His cutthroat attitude makes sense, especially considering he spent his younger years playing arena football and competing as an MMA fighter, per his show bio. With his successful California thrift store Grandma's Attic, Ivy has gained the nickname "The King of Palmdale," a moniker that he has certainly taken a liking to.
Since his original appearance on the show, Ivy's business has been steady, and he created a Cameo account to engage with his fans. He got married to his wife Wendy in 2014, per an unconfirmed report from Screen Rant, and the couple has two sons: Ivy Jr. and Isaiah. They have both visited the show as they learn the tricks of the trade from their father. When "Storage Wars" returned in 2021, Ivy was there to keep the competition in line.
Darrell Sheets
Darrell Sheets and his son Brandon brought a fun family dynamic to the series. According to his show bio, Darrell is known as "The Gambler" on "Storage Wars," and he runs "a small operation based on low volume, no overhead, and high value." Although he's choosy about which lockers he invests in, he's got a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to valuables. In 2012, he spent $3600 on a locker containing Frank Guttierez artwork. The locker was appraised for $300,000, making it "Storage Wars'" largest payout ever at the time, according to HuffPost.
In 2014, Darrell revealed that he had lost 40 pounds using weight management program Nutrisystem (via a company press release). His renewed outlook on his health even transferred to his business buying storage units. "Hope is having 200 bucks to buy a locker and a chance to change your life," he said. "It's that same hope that motivated me to lose weight. I knew life would be much sweeter when I achieved my goal."
Surprisingly, he nearly walked away from the show in 2015 after A&E reportedly planned to cut his salary in half, according to TMZ. It seems the two parties have worked it all out, however. Although his son has left the biz — more on that later — Darrell hung on a few seasons longer before slipping into retirement.
Brandon Sheets
Brandon Sheets was "The Sidebet" on "Storage Wars," running backup to his father Darrell as he learned the tips and tricks of the storage locker buying biz. He knew how to sneak in with a good bid when other buyers least expected it. While Brandon appeared alongside his father in the show's first nine seasons, he was noticeably absent when "Storage Wars" returned for Season 10. According to posts from his since-deleted Twitter, Brandon was let go due to budgetary reasons. He voiced his disdain for his departure in a tweet a few months after the premiere, writing, "Funny how @AETV fired me for lack of budget but they still have their people follow me on Social media and want me to do free stuff" (via Looper).
It appears Brandon has left the business behind altogether. He moved to Gilbert, Arizona, where he lives with his wife Melissa and their two kids. As of this writing, he works as a UPS driver, a profession he finds quite rewarding. "I love what I do, from customer interactions to making sure people are getting their products/merchandise," he wrote in a post on Instagram. "It's never a dull moment. I have seen and done lots of kool things in my young adult life, this is what makes me happy." That doesn't mean he doesn't have plenty of other outlets for his creativity, though. He regularly shares his culinary creations on social media, as well as satirical videos about his "#AverageMiddleClass" lifestyle.
Rene and Casey Nezhoda
Rene and Casey Nezhoda are a husband-wife duo on "Storage Wars." The couple, who made their first appearance on Season 4, own and operate the 7000-square-foot thrift shop Bargain Hunters in San Diego, which closed in 2021. Their history in the biz goes way back; according to their show bio, Rene has been turning a profit on storage lockers since he was 11 years old.
Since the show, the duo has kept fans abreast of their latest hauls and happenings in their lives with their own YouTube channel, where they have over 140 thousand subscribers. A big claim to fame came in 2018 when the couple revealed that they purchased storage units that once belonged to Farrah Fawcett for $3500. "It wasn't this mega-explosion unit," Rene said on YouTube. "But we still found some stuff." The unit was the subject of some controversy when Fawcett's nephew reportedly sued "a trustee of the late actress' estate" for listing the lockers for sale in the first place, after Fawcett had allegedly left her personal effects to him in her will, according to the Blast.
Unfortunately, the Nezhodas faced some hard times: their store was robbed, costing them nearly $4000 in damage and lost goods in 2019 (via iHeart), and again in 2021, per TMZ. Rene and Casey returned to "Storage Wars" in 2021 and have continued their high-profile hauls, documenting their explorations through lockers belonging to celebs like Lamar Odom and Jamie Kennedy on YouTube.
Mary Padian
Quirky treasure hunter Mary Padian got her start on spin-off series "Storage Wars: Texas," which ran for four seasons from 2011 to 2014. Known for her "chaotic" process — she dumpster dived to stock her brick-and-mortar store Mary's Finds, per her show bio — producers plucked the thrifter and relocated her to California for the main series after the Texas show was canceled. She even became pals with "Storage Wars" star Brandi Passante, whom she dubbed a fellow "treasure finder queen" on Instagram.
Although she closed her physical store in Texas, Mary has since relocated back to Dallas and runs a virtual version of her shop. She's also become an influencer of sorts, partnering with nutrition brands and sharing information about drunk driving with her more than 340,000 Instagram followers. That's not the only cause she's passionate about, either. Through Mary's Finds, she partnered with Kenyan non-profit charity Ubuntu Life, which "uses the power of global commerce to create social impact for mothers and children in Kenya," per her website. She sells beaded "Joy Bracelets," with all proceeds benefiting charity. She appeared on Season 13 of "Storage Wars" in 2021 as a guest.
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Kenny Crossley
Kenny Crossley is a heavy hitter on "Storage Wars," and it's no surprise why: his introduction to the field came from none other than Barry Weiss. Kenny helped Barry open a stuck storage locker back in the early episodes, according to his show bio. Kenny, who used to work for the Sheriff's Department in New Orleans before moving to California, made his mentor proud after he joined the show as a buyer in Season 10. Since then, he's settled into the role of comic relief on the series — who could forget when he dragged a Barry Weiss cardboard cutout around to help suss out the best storage lockers?
Following "Storage Wars'" original run, Kenny Crossley has been busy expanding his portfolio. According to his Instagram bio, he's a comedian, emcee, and has even launched his own merchandise line featuring his signature catchphrase: "Kenny Do It." On his YouTube account, he shares clips of his podcast and funny stories, including behind-the-scenes looks at his homemade pralines business, Jackie's, which promises to give customers "a taste of New Orleans." Yum!
In 2021, Crossley returned to "Storage Wars," starting with its thirteenth season.
Edwina Registre and Shana Dahan
Edwina Registre and Shana Dahan — also known as "Storage Wars'" Vegas Ladies — appeared on the show during Seasons 11 and 12. According to their show bio, the power duo met in high school where they both performed in the orchestra, clicked, "and have been nearly inseparable ever since."
Although their time on the show was short-lived, their passion for thrifting — and their friendship — is still alive. The two scour Las Vegas thrift shops for the best deals and document their adventures on their YouTube channel Thrifters Anonymous, where they have nearly 43,000 subscribers. They sell curated pieces from their thrifting journeys as well as pieces from artisans across the globe on their virtual shop, Throw It In the Cart.
Edwina, who is an army vet, also dabbles in comedy, per her Instagram, while Shana documents her adventures as a mom on her blog and Instagram.
Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz
Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz have been a fixture on "Storage Wars" since Season 1. The couple's squabbling and their dedication to the job — they frequently hit up auctions on birthdays and anniversaries — made for such good television that they scored their own spin-off show, "Brandi and Jarrod: Married to the Job." The couple have two kids together (via People) and created their own Western-inspired clothing line Outlaw Apparel.
The two returned for "Storage Wars" Season 13 in April 2021, where Brandi revealed they had split after Season 12. A month later, Jarrod was charged "with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence battery against" Brandi, according to EW. While no arrest was made, the case is expected to go to trial as of this writing, per TMZ, and Jarrod did not return for Season 14 of the show.
For her part, Brandi seems to be enjoying motherhood and continues to appear as a buyer on "Storage Wars." She has since become an advocate for victims of domestic abuse and shared a photo of a new tattoo reading "Free" in October 2021 on Instagram, writing, "...somehow, by the grace of god, I managed to escape a very difficult situation, that so many people fall victim to. I will be eternally grateful, for the life and freedom, without fear that I get to live now."
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