Behind The Scenes: What Is Going On With Chumlee From Pawn Stars?
In 2009, The History Channel started airing one of its most popular shows ever: Pawn Stars. Since then, this program has only gotten more and more attention! However, the truth is that not all is well for one member of the cast. Read on to learn more about what Chumlee is going through.
The Star Of The Show
Based in Las Vegas, Pawn Stars would not be such a big hit if it were not for the hilarious stars of the show. When it comes to laughs, you can always count on Austin Lee Russell! Chumlee, as he is also called, knows how to deliver the best jokes on the show.
The Star Of The Show
Not The Best Student In High School
We will start talking about the recent developments in his life very soon. However, it’s also important to take a look at what his early years had been like. As a child, he was not really good when it comes to school.
Not The Best Student In High School
He Never Graduated
As a matter of fact, he had no desire to do the homework that the teachers handed out to the class. Can you believe that he paid other students to do it instead? In the end, he decided to just drop out.
He Never Graduated
The Story Behind It
It was not just the academic aspect of school that made things hard for him. Let’s take a look at how he got the nickname. ‘Chumlee’ sure sounds cute right? Wait until you hear why he’s called such a thing.
The Story Behind It
Cute Nickname But Cruel Intentions
It turned out to be a reference to a character in the old cartoon program called Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. On the show, ‘Chumley’ was a stout walrus. It looks like they have some similarities…
Cute Nickname But Cruel Intentions
Friends From Childhood
We are just glad that he did not need to go through these things on his own. There was always Corey Harrison, his good pal, to help him out. Before this pair started appearing on Pawn Shops, they were actually childhood friends.
Friends From Childhood
A Friendship With Employment Benefits
When they were kids, they liked to spend their time at the shop owned by Rick Harrison. He was the father of Corey! That was not all. When Chumlee was 21 years old, he started working there as well.
A Friendship With Employment Benefits
Not What He Expected
While one must be pretty precise when working at a pawn shop, there is nothing glamorous about the job at all. In fact, it is mostly just menial work. In case you were wondering, there are definitely more fabulous jobs that you can apply for!
Not What He Expected
Five Short Years Later
However, it seems like he was destined to make his way to the small screen. Around five years after he began to work at the store, they started filming for the show. We bet he prefers the new arrangement!
Five Short Years Later
Can’t Help It
The show became more successful and popular with each season that went on the air. Chumlee never failed to make others laugh! As you can see, this was one guy who will crack jokes as much as he could.
Can’t Help It
Not The Best Buys
If you watch the show, we bet you already know that he is interested in sneakers, video games, pinball, and rap. After all, he always displays extra attention to these things! While we agree that they are awesome items, sometimes the store does not get a lot out of these decisions. Oops.
Not The Best Buys
Making Many Mistakes
He actually makes a lot of silly mistakes. You might think that he only does this for the camera, but the truth is that he already had a reputation for this even before the show. Once, the store lost $20k thanks to him. All of this was simply because he propped up a stand-up bass against a shelf. It fell and broke.
Making Many Mistakes
Popularity For His Mishaps
Chumlee often gets teased for mishaps like that one. Watch Pawn Stars and you will notice just how often moment like that happen on the show. In fact, some might even say that these incidents only make Russell even more popular! He is one of the most famous stars of the show.
Popularity For His Mishaps
Quite The Popular Guy
After the show went on the air, he received plenty of attention. In fact, he felt that it was necessary to get a bodyguard for the public appearances they made in those days. This is life for the rich and famous!
Quite The Popular Guy
Enjoying The Fame
He liked the attention he was getting, at least in the beginning. This is the reason he and his personal assistant worked to craft his own brand of personalized merch. The other stars followed in his footsteps.
Enjoying The Fame
The Fan-Favorite
Despite this, Chumlee was the one who ended up victorious. His merch did much better than everyone else’s did! This is all thanks to the fact that he is the most popular person on the show. Apart from that, he also opened a candy shop on the Las Vegas strip as well.
The Fan-Favorite
Quite The Private Person
He is not the sort of person who would brag about the money he makes. However, we do know one thing. In 2010, he sold half of his shares in Gold & Silver to Rick Harrison. He made $155k after this.
Quite The Private Person
Surprisingly Business Minded
Why did he do such a thing? Apparently, Chumlee wanted to keep his attention on his merch line. He does have a reputation as a bumbler, but he does have plenty of business sense on him as well.
Surprisingly Business Minded
Time To Make A Change
Apart from that, he also began to display an interest in other forms of self-improvement. He decided to turn his life around after tragedy struck. Just two weeks prior to the Pawn Stars premiere, his dad died.
Time To Make A Change
A Healthier Lifestyle
It was in 2009 that his father passed away after suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was only 54 years old at the time of his death. Chumlee was not a fit man whatsoever, so he knew that it was time for him to make a change if he wanted to avoid the same fate.
A Healthier Lifestyle
The Mind And Soul
He began to eat a cleaner and more nutritious diet. On top of that, he started going to the gym and practicing yoga on the regular. He did not neglect his mind and soul either. He started practicing meditation and mindfulness as well. As you can see, Chumlee was dedicated to his goal.
The Mind And Soul
Taking The Necessary Steps
Chumlee had a solid plan on how he can make his dreams come true. He hit the gym nearly every single day. In the morning, he drank fruit smoothies and cut out red meat. Did it work? Let’s find out.
Taking The Necessary Steps
Impressive Transformation
You would not believe the transformation that occurred after he went on this intense health regimen. Maybe you will feel the motivation to change your lifestyle as well! Self-care is in right now, after all.
Impressive Transformation
Healthy And Happy
From 2012 to 2013, he worked hard to improve the state of his health. He managed to lose quite a lot of weight in the process. Trust us when we say that the result is simply unbelievable. Are you ready?
Healthy And Happy
A Major Change
We think that there is nothing short of incredible about the fact that he shed 75 pounds. We are glad to say that he also looks happier on top of everything else! This is a huge change for Chumlee, we are sure.
A Major Change
Turning His Life Around
When people lose weight, they are often most thrilled about slipping into their old clothes once more. This is not the case for Chumlee. In fact, he was most excited about taking his hovercraft out for a spin! Previously, he was too heavy for it. We are glad to hear he finally got to do this.
Turning His Life Around
New Relationships
Apart from this, he also started to go out with a chef called Tanya Hyjazi. She works at the STACK Restaurant & Bar at the Mirage Casino. It must have been an exciting time for the two of them. Aside from living a healthier life, he also managed to form a meaningful relationship. Good job, Chumlee!
New Relationships
It’s Official
Eventually, the two of them got engaged. At last, Chumlee finally found it in him to ask her to marry him. The two first celebrated this amazing development at a Waikiki restaurant called the Royal Hawaiian Resort. They also celebrated it with friends at the Andiamo Italian Steakhouse.
It’s Official
The Whole Gang
The friends and family of the sweet couple had been present during this celebration. There was no way that Rick and Corey Harrison, his old friends and Pawn Stars coworkers, would skip the event, of course!
The Whole Gang
Where Things Went Wrong
With that said, you can see why everyone was so shocked when things started to go wrong for Chumlee. It all started in March 2016. Let’s take a look at what happened in that time period.
Where Things Went Wrong
All Charges Were Dropped
That was the time when he was named a suspect in a sexual assault case. It was even more terrible since the victim was a Gold & Silver employee. In the end, the case was dropped for insufficient evidence.
All Charges Were Dropped
Just The Beginning
He must have been relieved to hear that, but this was not the last of his legal issues. If you ask us, it seems like Chumlee just could not stay away from trouble. Let’s see what else fate had in store for him.
Just The Beginning
The Results Of A Police Raid
The police had to raid his house for an investigation. This gave the reality TV show star more issues to deal with. While they did not see anything that they could use for the case, they did learn other things…
The Results Of A Police Raid
Illegal Substances Abound
We doubt that they expected to find crystal meth, marijuana, and a gun in his home. Of course, these things did not belong there! The authorities decided to take a closer look at Chumlee after this.
Illegal Substances Abound
Even More Incriminating Things
They then conducted a second raid of the house. The police managed to find even more illegal items in there. Overall, they saw 11 firearms. It would have been fine if they were all registered, but only 4 were.
Even More Incriminating Things
Chumlee Arrested
Not only that, but the officers also saw more drugs and even evidence of cocaine use in the house. Can you guess what they did after this? That is right. They arrested Chumlee for his contraband items.
Chumlee Arrested
At The Very Least
Several months after the raid of his house, he had 20 separate felony counts to his name. That is not good at all! Even though the situation was grim, we are glad they did not find any substantial evidence.
At The Very Least
Nothing Illegal
The police admitted that they had no reason to believe that the firearms they found there had been involved with any illegal activity. After all, things would be a lot worse for Chumlee if that was the case.
Nothing Illegal
Justice Being Served
What was next for him? He pleaded guilty to the counts of unlawful weapons possession, attempted misdemeanor, and drug possession to avoid prison time. He was put on a probation of one year as well.
Justice Being Served
The Worst Is Behind Him
The agreement was that they will only put up the misdemeanor charge on his records. Of course, this is assuming that he would behave well during the probation. He also had to go to mandatory counseling.
The Worst Is Behind Him
A Rough Patch
Are things finally looking up for him? As you can see, he definitely hit a rough patch along the way. Did this scandal cause the downfall of his career? If you were wondering, the answer seems to be no!
A Rough Patch
A Hard Year
Chumlee finally got the chance to open up to fans about everything that he went through when he took part in a follow-up interview near the end of 2016. He talked about how hard the year had been for him.
A Hard Year
Thanking His Supporters
He also wanted to take that opportunity to express just how grateful he was for his fans. They supported him through that rocky moment in his life. He did not know where he would be without them!
Thanking His Supporters
Endless Gratitude
Chumlee posted this photo on his Instagram account. Here was what the caption said: “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 about the show? How was it doing after everything that happened? Around that time, the grapevine was busy with speculation about the state of the show. Was it getting a new season or not?
The Fate Of Pawn Stars
Back To Normal
You can all let out your breaths, folks. Many fans were glad to hear that this reality TV show was going to be around for another season. On top of that, Chumlee was there to stay as well. The probation is almost over, which is definitely a cause for celebration.
Back To Normal
Self-Improvement
When Chumlee had to deal with the legal problems he had, he decided to take a break from the show. He took a Pawn Stars hiatus because he wanted some time to focus on himself instead. He worked hard to improve himself both mentally and physically. It sounds like it worked well for him.
Self-Improvement
500 Episodes
Pawn Stars is actually doing better than fine, you know. The show recently celebrated the 500th episode of its run. Chumlee took the time to post this on Instagram: “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
Without a doubt, there was no way Pawn Stars would have been such a huge hit if it were not for the presence of Chumlee on the cast. A lot of viewers stuck around because they adored this funny guy!
Thanks To Chumlee
Spin-Offs
The History Channel experienced a lot of success with this show. This must be the reason they also worked on a couple of spin-offs in the past. They made 9 such shows. They are as follows: Pawn Stars: Pumped Up, Harcore Pawn: Chicago, Counting Cars, Cajun Pawn Stars, Pawn Stars UK, Pawnography, Hardcore Pawn, Pawn Queens, and Pawn Stars Australia.
Spin-Offs
Money, Money, Money
It is no secret whatsoever that Chumlee has made a lot of money over the years. He has raked in a fortune thanks to his show contract, side businesses, and public appearances. Money problems do not exist for him! Take a look at his incredible $1.5 million mansion in Las Vegas. That pool is to die for!
Money, Money, Money
Back And Better Than Ever
However, we hope that he will soon return to the happy ol’ Chumlee that everyone knows and loves. As you can see, he went down a rocky slope not that long ago. We are glad to report that he is stronger than ever. Let’s just hope that he has learned from his past mistakes and keep moving forward.
Back And Better Than Ever
A Stable Life
Right now, he continues to work on improving himself every single day. We are sure that a stable support system in the form of his wife and cute has helped. Stability is the key to happiness, after all.
A Stable Life
New Beginnings
Chumlee is still on the Pawn Stars cast. Apart from that, however, he seems to be trying his hand at new business ventures every so often. At the moment, we think it would be a good idea to keep your eye on him. We have no doubt that this is one guy who will continue to do great things!
New Beginnings
Pawn Stars Was Sued
In one episode of the show, the store got sued! Apparently, they bought a collection of gold coins from a woman and then melted the gold. However, the uncle of the seller then stepped forward to say that he was the rightful owner. The coins were worth more than $50k, which explains the uncle’s reaction.
Pawn Stars Was Sued
Best-Sellers
Not only do they buy items from others and then resell them, but the pawnshop also makes new things and sells these to the customers. The designs made by Chumlee often does best, which is yet another reason this guy had a lot of fans. The pawnshop has its very own merch line primarily designed by him!
Best Sellers
Stolen Items
When you work at a pawnshop, you can expect a lot of people to sell you stolen items in the hopes of making quick cash off them. Aren’t you glad to hear that some of these people get caught and then apprehended? There was a time when a woman had a pair of earrings and pawned them off for $40,000. The following day, they were reported as stolen! The purchase was still fresh in the minds of the employees, so they were able to help the authorities catch the crook.
Stolen Items
Chumlee And His Sandwiches
Have you ever noticed just how often Chumlee and the other members of the cast eat sandwiches from Subway? The truth is that Subway is a big sponsor of Pawn Stars. However, we bet that they also enjoy eating the subs. Of course, it is important for them to show off the wrappers and the name of the brand on them.
Chumlee And His Sandwiches
Must Be Incognito
The stars of this reality TV show have become so famous that people recognize them when they are out in public. It is rare for them to step out without signing an autograph or posing for a photo. We are sure that this gets hard when they want to take a look at a garage sale to hunt down valuable objects that they can sell at the store. Sometimes, the owners of the sale would make things more expensive for them or even hide things so that the stars cannot sell them for more.
Must Be Incognito
A Married Man
While Chumlee has been through a lot of ups and downs the past couple of years, there is something that has made his life that much sweeter. He found his one true love! The couple got married in May 2019 and appear very happy together. They tied the knot in Hawaii, which sounds like the dream!
A Married Man
Animal Lover
He can usually be seen snuggling up to the nearest dog he can see, but Chumlee actually has two dogs in his house. Previously, he mentioned that he would love to have two pit bulls. However, this has not become a reality for him just yet. His puppies are very cute, at any rate!
Animal Lover
Keeping Up With His New Lifestyle
Like we said earlier, he wanted to improve his lifestyle as much as he possibly could. He made a promise to live healthier and do everything he could to stay happy, healthy, and in shape. Even when he is on vacation, he makes sure to look after his fitness and stamina.
Keeping Up With His New Lifestyle
A Designer Punch
As does this, he has also given himself a wardrobe upgrade. He works hard on his body, so he should also work hard on his appearance. We think that he looks good in these designer boxing gloves!
A Designer Punch
A Man Of Many Talents
He is a pawn star, a businessman, a candy shop owner… Is he a pilot as well? He took to Instagram to post this photo of him in the cockpit of a plane. It looks grounded, but who knows what the future holds.
A Man Of Many Talents
Bobble Head Chumlee
He is now so famous that they created a bobble head of him! If you ask us, this is a true indicator of your fame. You will find this figure in Chumlee’s Candy On The Boulevard, his very own candy shop!
Bobble Head Chumlee
Don’t Forget Your Keys
You will never have to worry about leaving your keys at home when you own this keychain! This is one of the merch that he sells at the shop. How awesome are these? Chumlee fans will love this, no doubt.
Don’t Forget Your Keys
Making A Living For Himself
We already talked about this earlier, but Chumlee did not always have it easy. He had problems in school and his personal life. Things have looked up for him, however. At this point in time, he no longer has to worry about his bank account! He is worth around $5 million. Good job, Chumlee!
Making A Living For Himself
He Loves Lynyrd Skynyrd
Can you believe that the cast members of Pawn Stars once enjoyed a private concert from Lynyrd Skynyrd? Yes, we are also jealous! The band flew down to Las Vegas to give the cast of this hit reality TV show a private concert in the store’s parking lot. Customers were free to join in on the fun.
He Loves Lynyrd Skynyrd
Inspirational Messages
As you can see, things have not been easy for Chumlee recently. He decided to take to his Instagram profile to share some sunshine into the feed of his followers. He uploaded this photo of himself and capped it off with an inspiring caption. We sure hope he had an awesome day after that!
Inspirational Messages