Television star and antique hunter Mike Wolfe has made a remarkable life for himself. Thanks to his penchant for treasure hunting, Wolfe has been able to make an impressive living and build up a sizeable net worth during his time co-hosting “American Pickers.”
According to reports, Wolfe has a net worth of $7 million. He began filming “American Pickers” over a decade ago, in 2010. The series followed Wolfe and co-host Frank Fritz as they travel the nation, scouring old shops for unique antique pieces.
In addition to co-hosting “American Pickers,” Wolfe is also credited as the show’s creator and serves as an executive producer. In addition to his work on the small screen, he’s also an established author. He published American Pickers Guide to Picking in 2011 and Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure in 2013.
In addition, Mike Wolfe also owns Antique Archaeology, two antique stores that viewers will often see in “American Pickers.”
Although he’s been successful financially, he gets most of his wealth from betting on himself. During an interview with Fast Company in 2015, he said, “History said something to me about four years ago, and I’ll never forget it: ‘We’re not in the Mike Wolfe business, we’re in the ‘American Pickers’ business,'” to which he responded, “I better get in the Mike Wolfe business real fast, and understand what that business is.”
Before becoming a household name, he began looking for hidden gems even before starting elementary school. He first became interested in antique bikes, which led to a career in competitive bicycle racing. He also opened up his own bike shop. Later, Wolfe transitioned from bicycle hunting to seeking out vintage motorcycles.
Mike Wolfe: Jack of All Trades and Treasures
In 2000, he opened a shop called Antique Archeology in Le Claire, Iowa, and he opened a second location in Nashville, Tenn., in 2011. One year later, Wolfe began selling pieces from his own lighting collection.
With his love for hidden hunting gems, Wolfe finally got the attention of the History Channel, and thus “American Pickers” was born. The show premiered on January 18, 2010, garnering more than three million viewers at the time.
According to the show’s official website, Wolfe “looks for things with a story; things that fill in some of the blanks in the everyday history of America.”
Besides his work on “American Pickers,” Mike also launched Two Lanes, a line of American-made apparel and accessories. He also recently opened his vacation rental in Columbia, Tenn., called Two Lanes Guesthouse. The lift-style rental allows guests to “see picks from the show that Mike has pulled out of barns and sheds across America presented as decor.” The rental also sits above Trek Bicycle Shop, which Wolfe also opened himself.
