Find Out What Chumlee From Pawn Stars Has Been Up To Recently
Pawn Stars first appeared on the small screen in 2009. The History Channel show has only gotten more popular ever since then! However, it seems like not everything is going well for Chumlee, one of the stars on the show.
The Star Of The Show
Based in Las Vegas, the show would not be successful if it were not for the cast members. However, there is one member of the cast who is particularly popular: Austin Lee Russell, otherwise known as Chumlee.
The Star Of The Show
Not The Best Student In High School
Before we talk about what is happening in his life, it is a good idea to talk about the childhood that he had. It might not come as a surprise, but Chumlee was never academically-inclined.
Not The Best Student In High School
He Never Graduated
When he was still in high school, he liked to pay other people to work on his homework for him! We doubt that people were very surprised to hear the news that he chose to drop out.
He Never Graduated
The Story Behind It
Apart from his difficulties in academic endeavors, there was something else that made his life hard: his nickname. Even though Chumlee sounds pleasant enough, this is not a nice nickname.
The Story Behind It
Cute Nickname But Cruel Intentions
People began calling him this as a reference to a character from an old cartoon, Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. The character Chumley was a fat walrus from the show! That is not nice at all.
Cute Nickname But Cruel Intentions
Friends From Childhood
We are glad that Russell had an awesome childhood friend that he could rely on whenever he needed help. Corey Harrison was his name, and the two of them ended up starring in Pawn Stars.
Friends From Childhood
A Friendship With Employment Benefits
When they were younger, they liked to spend some time at the shop owned by Corey’s father, Rick Harrison. It was called Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. When Chumlee was 21, he started working there too!
A Friendship With Employment Benefits
Not What He Expected
You might be surprised to hear that it is not really fabulous to work at a pawn shop. Even though it involves some precision, they mostly have to do menial work. It is really not a glamorous line of work.
Not What He Expected
Five Short Years Later
However, things changed when the entire team started working on the show! It happened five years after Chumlee started working there. We bet he enjoyed working after this new development arose. This guy was simply made for the cameras!
Five Short Years Later
Can’t Help It
The show went on to become even more famous and successful as it went on. Chumlee earned a reputation for being the comic relief type of guy. He always told jokes and made everyone laugh!
Can’t Help It
Not The Best Buys
He had a natural interest in pinball, sneakers, rap, and video games. You can actually tell this if you judge the items he liked to get. They are always fascinating, we will give him that, but they did not always help the business out. Oops!
Not The Best Buys
Making Many Mistakes
Chumlee often made all sorts of mistakes, but this was not new at all. Apparently, this also happened before the cameras got there. There was a time when he carelessly put a stand-up bass against the shelf. Everyone was horrified when it slid down and shattered. It cost them $20,000! Whoa.
Making Many Mistakes
Popularity For His Mishaps
The other cast members enjoy teasing Chumlee for errors like that. If you are a loyal viewer of the show, we bet you know that this happens constantly on Pawn Stars. Viewers love Chumlee for it.
Popularity For His Mishaps
Quite The Popular Guy
It turns out that he got so much attention when the show was just starting out that he hired a bodyguard to come with during public appearances. This is a clear sign of his newfound popularity.
Quite The Popular Guy
Enjoying The Fame
He initially liked all the attention that everyone was giving him. He and his personal assistant worked together to create a personalized merch line. The other members of the cast decided to do this too!
Enjoying The Fame
The Fan-Favorite
However, not one of them ever made as much money from it as Chumlee did! This is the perk of being the most popular cast member. Aside from this, Chumlee also opened the doors to a candy shop.
The Fan-Favorite
Quite The Private Person
Chumlee is really not the sort of person who would discuss how much money he earns. However, we do know that he made $155k after selling half of his shares in the store to Rick Harrison. This was in 2010.
Quite The Private Person
Surprisingly Business Minded
He did such a thing to focus on his merch line instead. As you can see, he has a good head for business. Do not let his bumbler ways make you think that he is a fool!
Surprisingly Business Minded
Time To Make A Change
Apart from that, he also started to show an interest in improving himself. Two weeks before the show went on the air, tragedy struck in his family. Let us see what happened to his father.
Time To Make A Change
A Healthier Lifestyle
In 2009, his father died after struggling with pancreatic cancer. He was fairly young at 54 years old. Chumlee was not really healthy, and this was what motivated him to make certain changes in his life.
A Healthier Lifestyle
The Mind And Soul
Chumlee started to eat healthier and exercising on the regular. Some things he did was to take up yoga and go to the gym often. For his mind and soul, he started to practice mindfulness and meditation.
The Mind And Soul
Taking The Necessary Steps
He had a great plan on how to reach his goal. He started going to the gym often, drinking fruit smoothies, and removing red meat from his diet plan. Are you ready to see the results of his hard work?
Taking The Necessary Steps
Impressive Transformation
The health plan worked to great effect. Are you ready to see the transformation he underwent? Make sure to follow the things he did to achieve the same results! The metamorphosis will blow you away.
Impressive Transformation
Healthy And Happy
He managed to lose so much weight in the span of time between 2012 and 2013. How impressive is that? Are you ready to see the results? We have to say that we could not believe it ourselves.
Healthy And Happy
A Major Change
Chumlee lost an incredible 75 pound within that time period. Not only does he look healthier, but he also seems much happier. We definitely agree that his life has turned around for the better. Sweet!
A Major Change
Turning His Life Around
Without a doubt, the most exciting thing about this was finally getting to ride the hovercraft. He wanted to do this in the past but had been too heavy for it. How exciting is that?! It sure beats fitting into your old clothes after a while.
Turning His Life Around
New Relationships
He started to go out with Tanya Hyjazi, a chef who works at the STACK Restaurant & Bar at the Mirage Casino. We are happy for the two of them. As you can see, Chumlee was truly making changes in more ways than one.
New Relationships
It’s Official
The two even got engaged! They decided to celebrate the good news by going to the Royal Hawaiian Resort in Waikiki and then to the Andiamo Italian Steakhouse in Las Vegas. We are so happy for them!
It’s Official
The Whole Gang
The lovely couple had been surrounded by their friends and family as they celebrated. This includes Corey and Rick Harrison, his good friends and co-stars on Pawn Stars. They all go a long way back, after all.
The Whole Gang
Where Things Went Wrong
Knowing this, it is hard to understand how things could have gone so wrong for Chumlee. Where did it all start? Well, the first problem started in March 2016. What could have possibly happened?
Where Things Went Wrong
All Charges Were Dropped
There was a sexual assault investigation going on at the time. Chumlee was considered a suspect during the investigation. Worse, the charges were made by another shop employee! It was dropped later on because there was insufficient evidence.
All Charges Were Dropped
Just The Beginning
Even though he got out of that scot-free, Chumlee had more legal problems ahead of him. Everything was going well… or was it? Let us talk about the next time he got in trouble once more.
Just The Beginning
The Results Of A Police Raid
There was an investigation that made the police go to his home and raid it. This resulted in a lot of problems. They did not see anything important about the case but found another thing altogether.
The Results Of A Police Raid
Illegal Substances Abound
They found marijuana, a gun, and crystal meth in his house! As we all know, these things have no business in any law-abiding home. The police decided it was time to take a closer look at Chumlee.
Illegal Substances Abound
Even More Incriminating Things
They did a second raid of his house and found more contraband items in the form of 11 firearms. There was no issue there as long as they were registered. That was not the case for 7 of these.
Even More Incriminating Things
Chumlee Arrested
Apart from that, they also discovered even more drugs among his things in the house. They saw evidence that suggested cocaine use as well. What did the police do? Well, they arrested him, of course!
Chumlee Arrested
At The Very Least
After a couple of months, the reality TV show star was facing 20 felony counts. Uh-oh. It might not be the best news ever, but they did not dig up any substantial evidence at the very least.
At The Very Least
Nothing Illegal
They did not see any evidence to believe that the firearms in his possession were used for anything illegal. This is a very good thing because the penalties would be much worse if this was not the case.
Nothing Illegal
Justice Being Served
Chumlee decided to plead guilty to attempted misdemeanor, unlawful weapons possession, and drug possession. He did that to avoid any prison time. However, they did put him on probation for a year.
Justice Being Served
The Worst Is Behind Him
If he obeyed the rules during this that period, they will only put his misdemeanor charge on the record. Apart from that, he needed to undergo counseling. This does not sound too bad to us!
The Worst Is Behind Him
A Rough Patch
It simply looks like he got out of some bad luck. Did the scandal end his career? The answer to that question is no. However, we will see if there are future repercussions because you never know…
A Rough Patch
A Hard Year
There was a follow-up interview at the end of 2016. He finally told his fans just how rough things have been for him. The reality TV star even acknowledged that it had been a tough year.
A Hard Year
Thanking His Supporters
The important thing here is that Chumlee showed his gratitude to fans who supported him during a trying time. If they were not there to support him through it, he would not have gotten through this.
Thanking His Supporters
Endless Gratitude
This was a photo he posted on his Instagram profile. It read, “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 how was Pawn Stars going? At the time, there were a lot of speculation about the show and its status. Many feared that it was not going to get the renewal they were hoping for.
The Fate Of Pawn Stars
Back To Normal
We are very happy for the fans. The reality TV show would continue to air! Chumlee is still around, of course. We just hope that everything returns to normal for him soon enough. The probation is nearly done.
Back To Normal
Self-Improvement
Chumlee decided to go on a break when he had to deal with the law. He needed to take a break from Pawn Stars. At the time, the 36-year-old chose to improve himself in a number of ways. This sounds like a very good course of action.
Self-Improvement
500 Episodes
The show has been doing very well too. Pawn Stars celebrated its 500th episode. This was what Chumlee posted on his Instagram profile: “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 not be this successful if it were not for Chumlee. He has such a lively and kind personality. The viewers simply could not get enough of him, and we understand it completely.
Thanks To Chumlee
Spin-Offs
The show has become such a huge hit that the History Channel launched several spin-offs such as Pawn Stars Australia, Pawn Stars: Pumped Up, Counting Cars, Pawnography, Pawn Queens, Cajun Pawn Stars, Hardcore Pawn, Pawn Stars UK, and Harcore Pawn: Chicago.
Spin-Offs
Money, Money, Money
It is no secret that Chumlee is raking in the big bucks. Thanks to his talent fee for the show and his numerous side businesses, he is now made for life. He clearly brings in a lot of money. We are very jealous of his $1.5 million mansion. How gorgeous is this pool?!
Money, Money, Money
Back And Better Than Ever
We just hope that Chumlee is going to return to his happy self soon. It looks like there was a time that he went down the wrong path, but he is now back and better than ever. Let us hope that he learns from the mistakes he made.
Back And Better Than Ever
A Stable Life
At the moment, Chumlee is working hard to improve himself every single day. He has a rather stable home life with his wife and dog. We all know that stability is the most important thing in life sometimes.
A Stable Life
New Beginnings
Chumlee is still on Pawn Stars, so there is no need to fear. Aside from that, he continues to get into new business ventures! This is one guy who is going to make it even further in life, we promise.
New Beginnings