Here Is The Truth About Pawn Stars’ Chumlee Russell
Pawn Stars first aired on the History Channel in 2009. It has been a decade since then, but it has only become even more popular! However, it turns out that not all is well for one of the cast members. Do you have any idea what Chumlee is going through?
The Star Of The Show
The program is based in the city of Las Vegas. Part of the reason it has become so successful is the awesome cast members. If you know anything about the show, you probably know Chumlee Russell! He is easily one of the funniest guys on the team.
The Star Of The Show
Not The Best Student In High School
What was childhood like for Chumlee? Hailing from Nevada, he did not have the best time when he was still in school. For starters, he did not do well when it comes to school and grades.
Not The Best Student In High School
He Never Graduated
When he was still a student in high school, he even paid other students to do his homework for him. In the end, he decided to just drop out. However, we doubt that others were surprised to hear the news.
He Never Graduated
The Story Behind It
There was more to the story than his academic hardships. What about his nickname? While Chumlee sounds like a harmless nickname, the truth is that it was not very of them to call him that.
The Story Behind It
Cute Nickname But Cruel Intentions
We do not know if you are familiar with Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. It was a cartoon that dates back to the ‘60s. There was a character called Chumley on the show. He was a stout walrus!
Cute Nickname But Cruel Intentions
Friends From Childhood
We are glad that he did not have to go through all of this alone. He had a childhood friend who was always there for him. It was Corey Harrison, his Pawn Stars co-star. Their friendship lives on to this day!
Friends From Childhood
A Friendship With Employment Benefits
When they were younger, the duo often went to Gold & Silver Pawn Shop to hang out. It was owned by Rick Harrison, Corey’s dad. When Chumlee was 21 years old, he started to work at the store as well.
A Friendship With Employment Benefits
Not What He Expected
It is true that one must be precise to work at a pawn shop. However, most of the work load is simply menial work and nothing else. It was not really a fabulous workplace, no matter what you might think.
Not What He Expected
Five Short Years Later
At any rate, he found himself on the small screen 5 years after he first started working at the shop. Knowing him, we are sure that he had a more enjoyable time at work when the cameras started to roll.
Five Short Years Later
Can’t Help It
To their relief, the show only got more and more famous as time went on. He became known as the one who provided comic relief. He was always there to crack jokes and make everyone laugh out loud.
Can’t Help It
Not The Best Buys
Chumley was interested in things like pinball, video games, sneakers, and rap. This is no secret at all. You can figure it out if you ever watch the show. He liked to target these objects, even though there are times when they did not mean good things for the business.
Not The Best Buys
Making Many Mistakes
As a matter of fact, Chumlee is among the fans and cast members for his tendency to make silly errors. They say that this is nothing new and has been happening before the show even begun! There was a time when he carelessly placed a stand-up bass against the shelf. It fell, broke, and cost the shop $20,000.
Making Many Mistakes
Popularity For His Mishaps
The other members of the Pawn Stars cast enjoy teasing him for mistakes like that. If you watch the show, you will probably be able to understand that this happens constantly. In fact, it helped make Chumlee as popular as he now is. Many think he is the crowd favorite!
Popularity For His Mishaps
Quite The Popular Guy
He got so much attention during the start of the show that he decided to hire a bodyguard. This was what happened when they made appearances in public. As you can see, he is clearly a successful man.
Quite The Popular Guy
Enjoying The Fame
At the start, he had no qualms about all the attention they gave him. He even worked with his personal assistant to launch a line of personalized merch. It did not take long before the others did it as well.
Enjoying The Fame
The Fan-Favorite
Even though they did the same thing, he was the one who managed to sell the highest number of products. After all, he is the most well-known star of the show. Aside from this, he also launched a candy store on the Vegas strip.
The Fan-Favorite
Quite The Private Person
The truth is that he is not the type of guy who would brag about how much money he makes. Still, we do know that he made $155,000 in 2010. He sold half of the shares he in Gold & Silver to Rick Harrison.
Quite The Private Person
Surprisingly Business Minded
It turns out that he chose to do such a thing because he wanted to turn his attentions on his merch business. He might be clumsy and all, but he does have a head for business.
Surprisingly Business Minded
Time To Make A Change
Aside from that, he also displayed an interest in bettering himself. This all started when something bad happened in his personal life, merely two weeks before the first episode of Pawn Stars premiered. What event triggered such a change in him?
Time To Make A Change
A Healthier Lifestyle
In 2009, his father died of pancreatic cancer at the young age of 54. Chumlee was definitely not the pinnacle of health at the time. The death of his dad pushed him to start living a better and healthier life.
A Healthier Lifestyle
The Mind And Soul
Some of the things he did to achieve this was eating healthier food and exercising every day. He wanted to be a better and fitter person, so he started going to the gym and practicing yoga. Aside from that, he kept his mind and soul sharp through mindfulness.
The Mind And Soul
Taking The Necessary Steps
He had a good plan when it comes to making his goal a reality. He started to visit the gym nearly every single day, drank fruit smoothies for breakfast, and stopped eating red meat. Let us see if it worked!
Taking The Necessary Steps
Impressive Transformation
He subjected himself to a strict health plan, but was it worth it in the end? As you can see, the answer to that is yes! If you want to experience the same result, it might be time for you to do the same thing.
Impressive Transformation
Healthy And Happy
His amazing transformation took place between 2012 and 2013. Chumlee Russell managed to shed off a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. We are sure that the results will shock you!
Healthy And Happy
A Major Change
Let us tell you just how much weight he actually lost. He dropped 75 pounds. Not only does he look healthier, but he also looks happier. This awesome metamorphosis truly changed the tides for this guy.
A Major Change
Turning His Life Around
If you ask him what he liked the most about the weight loss, the answer is not the fact that he could fit into old clothes. No, it is the fact that he is finally light enough to take out the hovercraft for a ride.
Turning His Life Around
New Relationships
It was also this time that he started to go out with Tanya Hyjazi, a chef at the STACK Restaurant & Bar at the Mirage Casino. We are happy that they have found each other! Chumlee is not just changing his diet and working out regularly, but he is also working on his relationships!
New Relationships
It’s Official
At last, Chumlee finally got around to asking her the question! She said yes and slipped on the big ring he brought her. The two of them celebrated the engagement twice. Once at the Royal Hawaiian Resort, the other at the Andiamo Italian Steakhouse.
It’s Official
The Whole Gang
The lovely couple had been surrounded by their loved ones when they held the celebration. There was not a single doubt in our minds that Corey and Rick Harrison, his Pawn Stars co-stars, would be there.
The Whole Gang
Where Things Went Wrong
Knowing all of these things, it is hard to think that it was possible for things to go very wrong for him. What happened, Chumlee? Everyone first learned about his fall from grace in March 2016.
Where Things Went Wrong
All Charges Were Dropped
At the time, he was a suspect in a sexual assault investigation. Perhaps the worst part about this was that the victim was another shop employee. In the end, the case was dropped for insufficient evidence.
All Charges Were Dropped
Just The Beginning
We are sure that Chumlee was relieved to hear that, but this was not the last time he got in trouble with the law. As a matter of fact, he found himself in hot water not long after that incident…
Just The Beginning
The Results Of A Police Raid
The next time, they raided his house. You would not believe what they found in there. While they did not see anything that helped them solve the case, they unearthed a number of interesting things there.
The Results Of A Police Raid
Illegal Substances Abound
What did they see in his home that time? Well, they found marijuana, crystal meth, and a gun there. As you can imagine, these served as ample reasons to be wary of this reality TV star.
Illegal Substances Abound
Even More Incriminating Things
They conducted another raid only to find more contraband things among his possessions. They found 11 firearms in his home. Now, this would not be an issue if they were all registered. Sadly, 7 were not.
Even More Incriminating Things
Chumlee Arrested
Aside from this, they saw even more drugs in his things. Not only that, but they also saw things that suggested cocaine use. These were the reasons that they decided to arrest our beloved Chumlee.
Chumlee Arrested
At The Very Least
Several months after that, the reality TV star found himself with 20 felony counts. Even though it is not really a consolation prize, he was probably relieved that the court failed to find any substantial evidence.
At The Very Least
Nothing Illegal
At the very least, they concluded that the firearms he owned had not been used for anything illegal. If that was the case, things would have been a lot worse for Chumlee. Aren’t you glad to hear that?
Nothing Illegal
Justice Being Served
What happened in the end? He pleaded guilty to drug possession, unlawful weapons possession, and attempted misdemeanor as a way to avoid serving time in prison. He was just put on probation for a year.
Justice Being Served
The Worst Is Behind Him
The deal was that he would only get the attempted misdemeanor charge on his record and nothing else. This is only if he behaves properly during the probation period. He also needed to undergo counseling.
The Worst Is Behind Him
A Rough Patch
Is Chumlee finally about to get rid of his bad luck streak? We shall see. However, there is also the matter of his career. Do not worry because it did not seem to affect his career whatsoever.
A Rough Patch
A Hard Year
Chumlee took part in a follow-up interview towards the end of 2016. He finally let his fans in on what he had been going through. At last, it was time for him to acknowledge that he had a hard time.
A Hard Year
Thanking His Supporters
Aside from this, he also took the time to express his gratitude to his supporters who never left his side no matter how tough it got. He said that he would not have been able to go through it without them.
Thanking His Supporters
Endless Gratitude
On Instagram, the reality TV star posted a photo with this caption: “I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to all my amazing fans that come and see me daily at @chums_candy – Thank you all for all the amazing love you show me”.
Endless Gratitude
The Fate Of Pawn Stars
But what were things like for Pawn Stars? In those days, there were a lot of rumors that surrounded the show going around. Everyone out there wanted to know if it was getting canceled or renewed.
The Fate Of Pawn Stars
Back To Normal
There is no need to worry because the reality TV series is here to stay for now. If you were wondering, Chumlee is around. We hope that his life will return to normal soon. The end of his probation is near.
Back To Normal
Self-Improvement
You should know that he did go on a break from Pawn Stars when he was fixing all his legal issues. At the time, he decided that it was time to better himself in both the physical and mental sense of the word.
Self-Improvement
500 Episodes
At any rate, the show is doing just fine. Pawn Stars also celebrated its 500th episode fairly recently. This was the post Chumlee made about it. The caption read, “Come celebrate our 500th episode Monday night on History [channel]. This is something we could not have done without you!!!! Thank you!!!”
500 Episodes
Thanks To Chumlee
Pawn Stars would simply not be the same if it did not have Chumlee. After all, many viewers tune in thanks to his kind heart and lively personality. He is one of the most entertaining people on TV!
Thanks To Chumlee
Spin-Offs
The show has done so well that the History Channel launched a number of spin-offs. There are 9 of them right now: Pawn Queens, Cajun Pawn Stars, Pawn Stars Australia, Counting Cars, Pawn Stars: Pumped Up, Pawn Stars UK, Pawnography, Hardcore Pawn, and Harcore Pawn: Chicago.
Spin-Offs
Money, Money, Money
We bet you will be glad to hear that Chumlee is doing more than just fine. He has made quite a fortune thanks to his businesses, his appearances, and the show. Wouldn’t you love to call this $1.5 million mansion in Las Vegas your home? That pool is too gorgeous for words.
Money, Money, Money
Back And Better Than Ever
Hopefully, Chumlee will be able to return to his happy-go-lucky self soon enough. The reality TV star might have made a number of mistakes in the past, but he is clearly better for these things. Let us just hope that he never makes the same misjudgments ever again.
Back And Better Than Ever
A Stable Life
We are glad to hear that he is working on improving himself every single day now. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that he has a stable home life. Stability is always great, right?
A Stable Life
New Beginnings
You can see more of Chumlee by tuning into Pawn Stars. Aside from, it looks like he is not afraid to try his hand in other businesses. We are a hundred percent sure that he will do great things in the future!
New Beginnings
Fan Favorite
Did you know “Pawn Stars” is the second most-watched reality show in North America? “Jersey Shore” used to have the number one spot, followed by “Pawn Stars” and it still stands strong at second place on the list.
Fan Favorite
Had To Hire New Employees
The stars of the show can’t actually work behind the counter in the shop due to strict privacy laws. Since they’ve become as famous as they are now, fans and tourists constantly come into the store to take pictures of them. This puts the privacy of whoever is at the pawn counter at risk.
Had To Hire New Employees
Pawnshop Special
This all started when PBS did a special on the pawnshop. Of course, this caused the business to jump, so Rick began to pursue the idea of doing a reality show after this. HBO expressed interest first. In fact, they even developed a pilot, but they focused more on the negative aspects of the shop, which the employees didn’t want. The show ended up with The History Channel but took off in a completely different direction.
Pawnshop Special
They Hired Help
Since their rise to fame, Corey and Chumlee have hired their own personal assistants. Corey once said, “I do a lot of desert racing. My assistant empties out the septic tank of the trailer when I go! It’s a little weird asking somebody to do that for you.” At least he’s honest about the work.
They Hired Help
Embarrassing Tales
Seeing as Corey and Chumlee have been friends for so long, Corey has an abundance of embarrassing stories about his buddy. One of them goes into more detail about the infamous bass incident. What happened from Corey’s perspective was that after a customer came into the shop to pawn a stand-up bass, Chumlee leaned it against a shelf and walked away. The bass then fell – accidentally – and shattered to pieces. Chumlee put the pieces into a box with the pawn number written on it. When the customer returned to pick it up, he understandably had a strong reaction when he opened the box. “He started freaking out,” Corey said. “He pawned it for $700, and it ended up costing us $20,000 because it was rare.” Chumlee was embarrassed by this and had no explanation to give.
Embarrassing Tales
Other Business Ventures
If you’re a fan of the show, you might know that Rick has always been an ambitious entrepreneur. At one point, he even went on to purchase a Quizno’s Sub franchise! Corey and Chumlee ran the shop as a team, but eventually, it didn’t work out. The team is now hilariously known for their love of Subway sandwiches.
Other Business Ventures
Family Partnerships
Corey’s brother, Adam, used to work at the pawnshop as well, but it didn’t last too long. He wasn’t interested in being on the show, and he didn’t want to dedicate his whole career to working at the pawnshop. Nowadays, Adam works as a full-time plumber, so I wouldn’t plan to see much of him anytime soon.
Family Partnerships
Safety First
The stars of the show are famous for their silly and sometimes questionable antics on-screen. However, the most dangerous thing Chumlee has ever tested out was a blunderbuss, which is a super old type of gun. He said, “A flame shot out, and I did get burned up my arm.” We hope this experience taught him a lesson!
Safety First
Name Swap
The smash-hit TV show was originally meant to be named something different. “Pawn Stars” was signed on to be titled “Pawning History” until an employee at the production company suggested they change the title to what it is now. We think “Pawn Stars” is worlds better.
Name Swap
International Superstars
“Pawn Stars” isn’t only popular in America. In fact, it’s become an internationally adored television show. It’s currently airing in a variety of countries all around the world, including countries like Singapore and Serbia. In Germany, the show is called “Die Drei vom Pfandhaus”, which translates to, “The Three of the Pawnshop”.
International Superstars
Various Tastes In Entertainment
When it comes to entertainment, Chumlee has a pretty wide variety of TV shows he can’t live without. He makes sure not to miss the new episodes of “Boardwalk Empire”, “Sons of Anarchy” and “Breaking Bad”. On the other hand, Rick has a very different outlook on the way he spends his free time. He would rather be reading than spending his time sitting in front of the TV. “Television is so mind-numbing to me,” he boldly stated, for someone who stars on a TV show.
Various Tastes In Entertainment
Bon Jovi Loves Them
It’s not an everyday occurrence that you become a famous enough celeb that Bon Jovi and his family request to meet you. Jon Bon Jovi once requested to meet the “Pawn Stars” crew backstage at one of his concerts. They went to the meet and greet because Bon Jovi’s kids are huge fans of the show. Chumlee stated, “He gave us front row tickets. That was pretty cool. When does Bon Jovi personally invite you to his show?”
Bon Jovi Loves Them
No Longer Welcome In Public
Since the show aired, Rick said he often gets kicked out of a lot of garage sales and swap meets because people are worried he’ll catch onto something that’s worth a lot of money. That, or he’ll try to negotiate prices down as low as possible. He said that as soon as people recognize him, they take away the items he has his eye on!
No Longer Welcome In Public
Chumlee Loves Shoes
Other than his candy shop and working at the pawnshop, Chumlee has another side hobby. He absolutely loves collecting shoes. He currently owns over 200 pairs of shoes, and his collection just keeps growing more and more each day.
Chumlee Loves Shoes
The Show Impedes On Business
When an episode of the show is being filmed, the store has to be closed, and often times they lose out on a lot of business because of these delays. Not only does shooting the show get in the way of interacting with customers and making sales, but due to the popularity of the series, a lot of tourists and fans are always visiting Las Vegas. Most of those people tend to go to the shop just to meet the stars, not to buy or sell anything.
The Show Impedes On Business