Austin “Chumlee” Russell is an American reality television personality, businessman, and pawn shop employee who has an estimated net worth of $2 million.
Russell is best known as one of the breakout stars of the History Channel reality series Pawn Stars. As a longtime employee at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, he became famous for his humorous personality, relaxed attitude, and frequent on-screen mishaps.
Although the show often portrays him as the comedic foil to his coworkers, Russell’s popularity with viewers helped make him one of the most recognizable personalities on the series. His enthusiasm for collectibles and friendly interactions with customers have made him a fan favorite since the show debuted in 2009.
On Pawn Stars, Russell works alongside shop owner Rick Harrison, Rick’s son Corey Harrison, and the late Richard “Old Man” Harrison.
Over time, Russell’s popularity translated into business opportunities such as merchandise sales, public appearances, and retail ventures. Through his role on the show, he has helped make the pawn shop one of the most famous pawn businesses in the world and a major tourist attraction in Las Vegas.
| Austin “Chumlee” Russell Net Worth | $2 Million |
| Date of Birth | September 8, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Henderson, Nevada |
Austin “Chumlee” Russell Salary Per Episode
At the height of Pawn Stars, Austin “Chumlee” Russell reportedly earned about $25,000 per episode.
Early Life
Austin Lee Russell was born on September 8, 1982, in Henderson, Nevada.
He grew up in the Las Vegas area, where he developed an early interest in collectibles such as video games, toys, and pop culture memorabilia.
Russell earned the nickname “Chumlee” at the age of 12 after his father said his face resembled the walrus character Chumley from the cartoon Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. The nickname stuck and later became the name he is widely known by.
Russell grew up close to the Harrison family. One of his childhood best friends was Corey Harrison, the son of Rick Harrison and grandson of Richard “Old Man” Harrison.
The Harrison family founded the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in 1989, and Russell spent much of his teenage years around the shop.
He has two siblings, a brother named Sage Russell and a sister named Terra Russell.
Joining the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
Austin “Chumlee” Russell began working at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop when he was 21 years old.
His early responsibilities included:
- Testing items brought into the shop
- Organizing inventory
- Writing pawn tickets
- Assisting customers at the counter
The shop gained national 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 show about the pawn shop.
When the History Channel eventually approved the concept that became Pawn Stars, Russell had already been working at the shop for several years.
“Pawn Stars” Success
Pawn Stars premiered in July 2009 and quickly became a major ratings success.
The show follows the daily operations of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, where customers bring items to sell or pawn.
Russell quickly became one of the show’s breakout personalities. Although he is often portrayed as accident-prone or naïve, his humor and personality resonated strongly with viewers.
His coworkers frequently tease him about mistakes or unusual purchasing decisions, which became a recurring comedic element on the show. Despite the jokes, Russell has demonstrated genuine expertise in certain areas, particularly modern collectibles such as video games, toys, and pop culture memorabilia.
The show has produced hundreds of episodes and remains the most successful series in the history of the History Channel.
It also led to spin-offs and specials, including Pawn Stars Do America, which premiered in 2022 and follows the cast traveling across the United States in search of rare collectibles.
Legal Issues
In March 2016, Russell faced legal trouble when police searched his home in Las Vegas during an investigation related to sexual assault allegations.
Authorities did not pursue charges related to those allegations. However, officers discovered drugs and firearms during the search.
Russell was arrested and later charged with drug and weapons offenses. In May 2016, he pleaded guilty to:
- A felony weapons charge involving unlawful firearm possession
- A misdemeanor charge of attempted drug possession
Under a plea agreement, he received three years of probation and was required to complete counseling.
The case attracted widespread media attention due to his fame from Pawn Stars.
Health and Weight Loss
After struggling with weight issues for many years, Austin “Chumlee” Russell underwent a major lifestyle transformation.
At one point he weighed about 345 pounds. Concern for his health—along with the early death of his father from Pancreatic cancer at age 54—motivated him to make significant changes.
Russell underwent gastric sleeve surgery, which reduced the size of his stomach.
Following the procedure, he adopted a healthier lifestyle that included:
- Regular exercise
- Eating more vegetables
- Drinking fresh juices
- Eliminating red meat
Through these efforts, he reportedly lost more than 100 pounds.
Personal Life
Outside the pawn shop, Russell has many hobbies and collecting interests.
He enjoys collecting:
- Vintage pinball machines and arcade games
- Modern video games
- Trading card games such as the Pokémon Trading Card Game
He is also known for a large sneaker collection that reportedly includes more than 200 pairs of shoes.
Russell enjoys skateboarding and listening to punk rock and rap music. Among his favorite television series are:
- Boardwalk Empire
- Sons of Anarchy
- Breaking Bad
He has also owned several luxury vehicles, including a Rolls‑Royce Phantom, Range Rover, Cadillac Escalade, and a customized Chevrolet Impala SS (1964). One of his favorite cars is a Buick Regal (1986) equipped with hydraulic lifts.
Russell married Olivia Rademann in 2019 after several years of dating.
Real Estate
Austin “Chumlee” 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
- An outdoor entertainment area with a rock-lined swimming pool
One of the home’s unusual features was a themed room nicknamed the “Chum Chum Room.”
Russell purchased the property in 2012 for about $1.1 million and sold it in 2019 for approximately $1.375 million.
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