Frank Fritz Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What was Frank Fritz’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $6 million, Frank Fritz was an American reality star and antique collector. Sadly, he passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60.

Fritz gained fame as the co-host of the reality series “American Pickers,” which debuted in 2010 on The History Channel. He teamed up with his close friend Mike Wolfe to host the show. The program chronicles their nationwide travels in search of antique and rare items. “American Pickers” has consistently been one of The History Channel’s most beloved shows across various age demographics, even achieving the status of the top-ranked non-fiction series on television. As of this writing, the show has aired over 300 episodes across 22 seasons. Additionally, Frank authored two books: “American Pickers Guide to Picking” (2011) and “How to Pick Vintage Motorcycles” (2013).

Early Life

Born on October 11, 1965, in Davenport, Iowa, Frank Fritz’s childhood was marked by his parents’ divorce, with his mother Susan marrying Richard Zirbe in 1974. As a child, he had a passion for collecting rocks, beer cans, and postage stamps, alongside his love for riding dirt bikes. During his teenage years, he took on jobs at Coast to Coast Hardware and Quad-City Automatic Sprinkler, saving diligently to afford a $4,100 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It was at Sudlow Intermediate School that he met Mike Wolfe, who would later become his “American Pickers” co-host. Both graduated from Bettendorf High School in 1982.

(Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic)

Career

After completing his education, Frank dedicated 25 years to his work as a fire inspector, during which time he began accumulating firefighter and firehouse memorabilia. His turning point came when he purchased an item for $15 and sold it for $475, leading him to believe he could turn it into a career. In 2002, he transitioned away from fire safety to concentrate on collecting antique and vintage items, establishing the antique shop Frank Fritz Finds in Savanna, Illinois. Known for his knack for discovering vintage toys and cars, he quickly gained popularity among collectors and designers alike, eventually capturing the attention of The History Channel. When “American Pickers” premiered on January 18, 2010, it attracted over three million viewers, making it the highest-rated debut for the network since “Ice Road Truckers” in 2007. Alongside his work on “American Pickers,” Fritz made guest appearances on several TV shows, including “Rachael Ray,” “Cincy Entertainment,” “American Restoration,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Pawn Stars,” “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and “Today.” In 2017, he also lent his voice to an episode of the animated series “American Dad!”

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Personal Life & Death

For over three decades, Frank endured Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition. While searching for antiques, he traveled in an RV equipped with a bathroom. He expressed to the “Quad-City Times” his desire to demonstrate that “regardless of the adversities… and the social situations, the awkwardness, accidents, that you can live a productive life.”

Fans observed a noticeable weight loss in Fritz between the eighth and ninth seasons of “American Pickers,” to which he attributed to his Crohn’s disease, saying, “I started losing weight and ran with it!” He also made lifestyle changes by engaging in exercise and improving his diet.

In 2017, Frank faced charges for OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) after he drove the wrong direction on the interstate. Police discovered traces of Xanax and THC in his system, and he admitted to having consumed one beer before driving. After entering a guilty plea, Fritz was sentenced to a year of unsupervised probation, fined $625 (along with court costs), and mandated to complete a substance evaluation program. Due to back surgery, Frank had to miss several episodes of “American Pickers” in 2019.

Sadly, Frank passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60. He had been hospitalized for a stroke two years prior.