Rick Petko Net Worth

What is Rick Petko's net worth?

Rick Petko is an American custom motorcycle builder, welder, metal fabricator, and reality television personality who has a net worth of $2 million.

Rick Petko is best known for his long tenure at Orange County Choppers and his appearances on the Discovery Channel reality series "American Chopper." Known for his calm demeanor, strong work ethic, and technical expertise, he frequently served as a stabilizing presence amid the arguments and deadline pressure that made the series famous.

Petko joined Orange County Choppers in 2003 and remained with the company until 2016. During that period, he helped construct numerous elaborate motorcycles, including the shop's well-known POW/MIA Bike, and appeared on "American Chopper," "American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior," and several related specials. While still working at OCC, he founded RPD & Co., a Pennsylvania-based business specializing in motorcycles, custom metalwork, knives, and wedding bands.

After leaving OCC, Petko returned his professional focus to Pennsylvania. He became the lead custom fabricator at Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson and later partnered with American Road Group to offer custom motorcycle construction and restoration services through its network of dealerships. He has also remained involved in vintage motorcycle racing and has expanded RPD & Co. into the production of handmade, heirloom-quality culinary knives.

Early Life

Richard Petko was born in Pennsylvania in 1968. His interest in racing, engines, and motorcycles began when he was young. He started riding minibikes before progressing to go-karts, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, and eventually Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

After graduating from high school, Petko began working as a crane operator and cold-saw operator for Bethlehem Steel. Although the job gave him experience in an industrial environment, he wanted to apply his mechanical abilities to racing. He left Bethlehem Steel and enrolled in welding school with the goal of eventually building NASCAR chassis.

Racing and Industrial Metalwork

After completing his welding education, Petko found work at a driving school based at Pocono Raceway. He spent approximately five years at the track and also worked with a team competing in the Hooters Pro Cup Series.

Petko subsequently spent roughly a decade working as an industrial metalwork contractor throughout the East Coast. His projects included industrial kilns, furnaces and ovens used in precious-metal processing. The work required precision welding and fabrication under demanding conditions and helped him develop many of the skills he later used as a motorcycle builder.

During this period, Petko began restoring cars and motorcycles as side projects. His growing reputation as a skilled welder and fabricator ultimately led to an opportunity with Orange County Choppers.

Orange County Choppers

Petko joined Orange County Choppers in 2003, the same year "American Chopper" became a regular Discovery Channel series. Orange County Choppers was led by father-and-son motorcycle builders Paul Teutul and Paul Teutul, Jr.

The series followed the OCC team as it designed and assembled highly customized motorcycles for corporations, celebrities, charities and special events. Although much of the program revolved around the volatile relationship between Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., Petko became a fan favorite because of his relatively composed personality and ability to complete difficult fabrication work under tight deadlines.

Petko contributed to many of OCC's motorcycles, including the POW/MIA Bike, which honored American prisoners of war and service members missing in action. He frequently handled welding, exhaust fabrication, gas tanks and other custom metal components.

Following the breakdown of the working relationship between Paul Sr. and Paul Jr., Petko appeared on the spin-off series "American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior." The program, which premiered in 2010, followed the rivalry between Orange County Choppers and the newly established Paul Jr. Designs.

Petko also appeared in the 2014 Discovery special "American Chopper: Shaq Bike," in which OCC built an oversized motorcycle for former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. He later returned for an appearance during the 2018 revival of "American Chopper."

Petko remained employed by OCC until 2016, giving him a total tenure of approximately 13 years.

RPD & Co.

Petko founded RPD & Co. in 2006 while he was still working at Orange County Choppers. Rather than being created after his OCC departure, the business initially served as an independent creative outlet where he could pursue projects beyond the themed motorcycles featured on television.

Operating from his family farm in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, RPD & Co. has produced custom motorcycles, vintage race bikes, fabricated metal components, handmade knives and custom wedding bands.

Petko has become particularly known for crafting heirloom-quality culinary knives. His knives are made using materials such as Swedish Damasteel and high-carbon steel and are produced through a combination of stock-removal and hand-forging techniques. He has also made wedding bands from Damasteel, titanium, zirconium and stainless steel.

Petko participated in multiple editions of the Damasteel Chef Knife Invitational, an event that brings together notable knife makers working with the company's patterned steel.

Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson

In 2016, Petko left Orange County Choppers and returned to Pennsylvania full-time. The move allowed him to eliminate the lengthy commute to OCC's New York headquarters and spend more time with his wife and children.

He joined Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, where he became the lead technician and builder in the dealership's custom fabrication shop. His services have included full motorcycle builds, vintage restorations, welding, one-off components, trike conversions and modifications intended to make motorcycles more accessible to riders with physical limitations.

Petko later expanded this work through a partnership with American Road Group, a family of Harley-Davidson dealerships that has included Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, Hall of Fame Harley-Davidson and Mad River Harley-Davidson. Through the partnership, customers at participating dealerships have been able to commission custom motorcycles and restoration projects designed and fabricated by Petko.

Vintage Motorcycle Racing

Petko has continued racing in addition to building motorcycles. He has competed in Sons of Speed events created by custom builder Billy Lane. The races feature stripped-down motorcycles powered by early American engines, often dating from before 1925, and are held on banked oval tracks without modern brakes or transmissions.

Petko has raced vintage machines powered by Indian Powerplus engines and participated in some of the earliest Sons of Speed competitions. The events allowed him to combine his interests in fabrication, motorcycle history and racing.

Personal Life

Rick Petko married Brittany Cockeram in 2012. Their wedding was featured on "American Chopper." The couple has two daughters, Everly Rose, born in 2013, and Lucy Mae, born in 2016.

Petko has said that his decision to leave Orange County Choppers was largely motivated by his desire to spend more time at home. He and his family live in Pennsylvania, where he operates RPD & Co. from their farm.

Real Estate

In September 2007, Rick Petko paid $320,000 for a three-acre property in Bath, Pennsylvania. He later based his business and family life in the Pocono Mountains region, where RPD & Co. operates from a farm property.

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