On paper, Storage Wars seems like an idea that would've never worked—but it did.
Watching people bid on storage containers that have been abandoned by their original
owners just sounds strange.
But viewers can't get enough, and they want to know more.
Well, let's unlock the secret vaults and pore over some Storage Wars facts you may not have
known...
Some of it's staged
Storage Wars is another reality show that, allegedly, plays loose with the definition
of the word "reality."
Cast member Dave Hester approached producers with concerns over the show's authenticity
numerous times.
In fact, he filed a lawsuit against the A&E network and Original Productions over those
concerns in 2012.
Hester's suspicions arose because whenever he won a bid, producers would draw his attention
to certain boxes, or unload the storage unit so he would "discover" certain items.
Like the time he found a pile of old newspapers...which announced Elvis Presley's death.
Or when he found a car underneath a pile of trash—a BMW mini car, to be exact.
Hester alleged that the producers were planting valuable goods in the storage units ahead
of time to make the show more interesting.
But that wasn't the only reason Hester filed his lawsuit...he also alleged that A&E fired
him from the show after season three as a result of his concerns.
Eesh.
But A&E wasn't going down without a fight.
A&E is a First Amendment proponent
Oddly enough, A&E didn't really deny Hester's accusations.
The channel claimed whatever behind-the-scenes actions it took were protected by the First
Amendment.
Since Storage Wars isn't a game show, the producers can do as they please.
A&E claimed Hester's lawsuit was driven by spite, and nothing else.
When all was said and done, Hester was ordered to pay A&E's legal fees...but a judge also
ruled he could proceed with his wrongful termination suit.
In the end, Hester and the network settled out of court, and he came back to the show
with season five.
Jarrod Schulz' dark past
Though he may have vaguely mentioned it a few times on the show, veteran bidder Jarrod
Schulz never elaborated on his criminal past.
Too bad for him that the Internet is a thing.
OK Magazine reported in 2012 that Schulz was arrested for felony possession of a controlled
substance, narcotics transportation, and a DUI back in 1997.
OK also reports that in 1999, Schulz was busted again for pretty much the same things, only
this time he got a parole violation added to his charges.
For his crimes, Schulz served a 16-month stretch in a state prison.
There's no bidding for the top bunk.
Jarrod Owes his fame to His Aunt
According to The Orange County Register, Jarrod Schulz was having a rough go staying afloat
in the mortgage business when he got his first whiff of storage auctions from his aunt, who
at the time was managing a public storage facility.
Over time, he and his longtime partner, Brandi Passante, would go on to open up their own
second-hand store, Now and Then.
How did they go from there to Storage Wars?
It all went down at an auction in Harbor City, California, where he met producers who were
planning Storage Wars.
The rest, of course, is history.
Mark Balelo's arrest and suicide
In February 2013, storage warrior Mark Balelo was arrested for possession of methamphetamine,
but not enough to distribute, meaning it was probably for his own personal use.
This had happened before, too: Hollywood Life reports that in December 2007, he was arrested
and charged with three controlled substance felonies.
Sadly, Balelo's latest arrest seemed to push him over the edge, as he committed suicide
just two days later via carbon monoxide poisoning.
Love at first sight
If you’ve ever wondered how Dan and Laura Dotson have stayed solid all these years,
it might have a little to do with their relationship’s beginning.
“I found the right man because I am very high-energy,” Laura told The Huffington
Post while discussing her relationship with Dan, whom she met in 1996.
“When I saw him auctioneering all over the place, I thought, 'I’m going to marry that
man!'
… We just looked at each other, said 'Let’s get married, I’ll snatch you up.’”
“Four months later, I was pregnant—the whole doggone thing!”
she continued.
“We work well together.
He’s taught me how to auction and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my
life.”
Dan Suffered a double brain aneurysm
In 2014, Dan and Laura got the health scare of their lives when Dan suffered a double
brain aneurysm in Palm Springs, California.
According to TMZ, Dan’s condition was so bad when he got to the hospital that he was
given only a four to 20 percent chance of living.
Miraculously, Dan’s surgery turned out to be a success; he was released from the hospital
a little over a week later.
As an added bonus: Dan decided to quit smoking after 40 years after his surgery saved his
life.
Pirate's booty
Talk about buried treasure.
In 2011, TMZ reported that a storage unit auctioned off by Dan and Laura Dotson unknowingly
contained about $500,000 worth of Spanish gold “dating anywhere between the 16th and
19th century.”
The booty was discovered after the storage unit had been auctioned off.
It was reportedly located inside a real pirate's’ chest that was “at least 200 years old."
If that wasn’t amazing enough, the report says the winning bidder made off with the
gold by paying a little over $1,000 for the storage unit.
Barry got his start in wholesale produce
Speaking to Wisconsin’s Big Cheese on 107.9 FM, Barry Weiss, who left the show in 2013,
revealed he worked for 30 years in the wholesale produce business before his Storage Wars fame
came about:
"No, actually I was in the wholesale produce business, fruits and vegetables, that sort
of thing, but in pretty big volume.
We provisioned everything from cruise ships, hotels, restaurants, that sort of thing.
So I was in that business, jeez, 30 years.
But always been collecting antiques on the side, collectibles, wheelin' and dealin',
ya know, with kooky off the wall objects.
So that helped fund my passion for collecting weird stuff."
It's like that old saying, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade...or just sell enough
of them until you get a reality TV show.
Thanks for watching!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch more videos like the one you just saw.
And leave us a comment to let us know what surprised you the most about the cast of Storage
Wars...