Austin Chumlee Russell Net Worth

What is Austin Chumlee Russell's net worth and salary?

Austin Chumlee Russell is an American reality television star, businessman, and pawnshop employee who has a net worth of $2 million.

Austin Russell is best known as one of the breakout stars of the History Channel series "Pawn Stars." As a longtime staff member at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Russell became famous for his humorous personality, laid-back attitude, and frequent on-screen mishaps. While often portrayed as the comedic foil to his coworkers, his popularity with viewers helped turn him into one of the most recognizable faces on the show. His easygoing charm and genuine enthusiasm for collectibles have made him a fan favorite since the series premiered in 2009.

On "Pawn Stars," Russell works alongside shop owner Rick Harrison, Rick's son Corey Harrison, and the late Richard "Old Man" Harrison. Though the show often depicts him as the butt of workplace jokes, Russell developed a reputation for having surprisingly deep knowledge in areas such as video games, toys, and pop culture memorabilia. Over time, his popularity with fans translated into business opportunities, including merchandise sales, personal appearances, and his own retail ventures. Through his role on the show and related projects, Russell has helped make the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop one of the most famous pawn businesses in the world and a major tourist attraction in Las Vegas.

Salary Per Episode

At his peak, Chumlee earned $25,000 per episode of "Pawn Stars."

Early Life

Austin Lee Russell was born on September 8, 1982, in Henderson, Nevada. He grew up in the Las Vegas area and developed an early interest in pop culture collectibles, video games, and toys.

He earned the nickname "Chumlee" at the age of twelve after his father compared his large face and chin to the walrus character Chumley from the cartoon "Tennessee Tuxedo." The nickname stuck and eventually became the name by which he is widely known.

Russell grew up close to the Harrison family. One of his childhood best friends was Corey Harrison, the son of Rick Harrison and the grandson of Richard Harrison. The Harrison family founded the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas in 1989, and Russell spent much of his teenage years around the store and its operations.

He has two siblings, a brother named Sage and a sister named Terra.

Joining the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop

Russell began working at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop when he was 21 years old. Initially, his responsibilities included testing items, organizing inventory, writing tickets for pawned goods, and assisting customers behind the counter.

The shop was already a successful local business, but it began attracting broader attention after appearing on the Comedy Central travel series "Insomniac with Dave Attell" in 2003. Around this time, Rick Harrison began pitching the idea of a reality television series centered around the pawn shop.

When the History Channel eventually approved the concept that would become "Pawn Stars," Russell had already been working at the shop for several years. His familiarity with the Harrison family and the store's operations made him a natural choice to appear on the show.

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Pawn Stars

"Pawn Stars" premiered on the History Channel in July 2009 and quickly became a ratings hit. The series follows the daily operations of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop as customers bring in items they want to sell or pawn.

Russell quickly emerged as one of the show's breakout personalities. While the show frequently portrays him as naïve or accident-prone, his personality and humor resonated strongly with viewers.

His coworkers often tease him about mistakes or questionable purchasing decisions, which became a recurring comedic element of the show. However, Russell has also demonstrated real expertise in certain areas, particularly modern collectibles such as video games, toys, and pop culture memorabilia.

Over time, his friendly demeanor and ability to connect with customers helped make him one of the most popular cast members. The show's success turned Russell into a celebrity in his own right, with fans frequently visiting the pawn shop hoping to meet him.

"Pawn Stars" went on to produce hundreds of episodes and became the most successful show in the History Channel's history. The program also generated several spin-offs and specials, including the traveling series "Pawn Stars Do America," which premiered in 2022 and features the cast searching for rare collectibles around the country.

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Legal Issues

In March 2016, Russell faced legal trouble when his Las Vegas home was searched by police during an investigation related to sexual assault allegations. While authorities did not pursue charges related to those allegations, officers discovered drugs and firearms during the search.

Russell was arrested and later charged with multiple drug and weapons offenses. In May 2016 he pleaded guilty to a felony weapons charge involving unlawful possession of a firearm as well as a misdemeanor count of attempted drug possession.

As part of a plea agreement, Russell received three years of probation along with counseling requirements. The case drew significant media attention due to his public profile from "Pawn Stars."

Health and Weight Loss

Russell underwent a significant lifestyle transformation after struggling with weight issues for many years. At one point he weighed approximately 345 pounds.

Concern about his health, combined with the early death of his father from pancreatic cancer at the age of 54, motivated him to pursue major changes. Russell underwent gastric sleeve surgery, which significantly reduced the size of his stomach.

Following the surgery, he adopted a healthier lifestyle that included regular exercise and major dietary changes. He worked out several times per week and focused on eating more vegetables, drinking fresh juices, and eliminating red meat from his diet.

Through these efforts he reportedly lost more than 100 pounds.

Personal Life and Interests

Outside of the pawn shop, Russell has a wide range of hobbies and collecting interests.

He has a strong passion for vintage pinball machines and arcade games, as well as modern video games and trading card games such as the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He is also known for his large sneaker collection, which reportedly includes more than 200 pairs of shoes.

Russell enjoys skateboarding and is a fan of both punk rock and rap music. Among his favorite television series are "Boardwalk Empire," "Sons of Anarchy," and "Breaking Bad."

He has also built an impressive car collection that has included a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Range Rover, Cadillac Escalade, and a customized 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS. One of his favorite vehicles is a 1986 Buick Regal equipped with hydraulic lifts.

Russell married Olivia Rademann in 2019 after several years of dating.

Real Estate

Russell has owned property in the Las Vegas area, including a large home located about five miles from the Las Vegas Strip.

The two-acre property featured a 6,200-square-foot main house, a guesthouse, and an outdoor entertainment area with a rock-lined swimming pool. One of the more unusual features was a themed room nicknamed the "Chum Chum Room," which reportedly included a dance pole.

Russell purchased the property in 2012 for approximately $1.1 million and later sold it in 2019 for about $1.375 million.

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