It’s been a minute since we saw Jarrod Schulz aggressively overbidding on a locker full of rusty bicycles and 90s stereo equipment. For years, he and Brandi Passante were the "it" couple of A&E’s Storage Wars. They were the Young Guns. They were scrappy, they were constantly bickering, and they were—honestly—the primary reason many of us tuned in.
But then, the cameras stopped rolling for him.
The locker doors closed. Jarrod basically vanished from the show, and the gossip mill went into overdrive. If you've been wondering why he isn't standing next to Brandi in the newer seasons, the answer is a messy mix of a private breakup, a high-profile legal scandal, and a complete career pivot into the hospitality world.
The Secret Split That Broke the Show
For over a decade, fans assumed Jarrod and Brandi were the ultimate reality TV success story. They worked together, lived together, and raised two kids, Cameron and Payton. They even had a spin-off called Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job.
Funny thing about that title? They were never actually married.
Even weirder is how long they kept their breakup a secret. While viewers were still watching them spar over storage units in Season 12, the couple had actually called it quits back in 2018. They managed to keep the facade going for two full years before Brandi dropped the bombshell during the Season 13 premiere in 2021.
The dynamic changed instantly. Suddenly, they were bidding against each other as rivals rather than partners. It was awkward. You could feel the tension through the screen, and it wasn’t the "playful banter" kind of tension. It was the "I genuinely don't want to be in this parking lot with you" kind of energy.
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The Night at the Bar That Changed Everything
Things went from uncomfortable to legal real fast. In April 2021, an incident occurred at an Orange County bar that effectively ended Jarrod’s run as a beloved reality star. According to reports from the time, Brandi was at the bar with friends when Jarrod showed up.
A heated argument broke out.
It ended with Jarrod allegedly pushing Brandi twice. By the time the cops showed up, he was gone, but the damage was done. He was later charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence battery. Jarrod denied the allegations, but the court of public opinion—and likely the network executives—had seen enough.
A&E has a brand to protect. While the show hasn't officially "canceled" Jarrod in a dramatic press release, he simply stopped appearing. Season 14 and 15 moved forward without him, while Brandi remained a staple on the cast. It’s a classic reality TV ghosting.
Where is Jarrod of Storage Wars Now?
If you go looking for Jarrod Schulz today in 2026, you won't find him at a storage auction in Long Beach. You’re much more likely to find him behind a bar in Lake Forest, California.
Back in 2019, Jarrod bought The Rush Bar and Grill. He’s traded the unpredictable world of storage lockers for the equally unpredictable world of the restaurant business. Honestly, it suits him. He’s always been an entrepreneur at heart—remember his clothing line, Outlaw Apparel? That brand is still technically around, though most of his energy seems to go into promoting the bar’s St. Patrick's Day parties and live music sets.
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His Life Today
- The Business: He’s a hands-on owner at Rush Bar and Grill. He’s often spotted there, and the place has decent reviews for its "neighborhood dive" vibe.
- The Relationship: He’s moved on. Jarrod has been linked to a woman named Rochel Beckman for a few years now. They’ve shared photos together on social media, looking pretty happy, though Jarrod has become way more private about his personal life lately.
- The Kids: Brandi has been vocal about being the primary caretaker for their children. While Jarrod still sees them, the "family man" image he projected for a decade has definitely taken a hit.
The $2 Million Question: Is He Broke?
People always ask if reality stars go broke once the checks stop coming. For Jarrod, the answer is probably no. Estimates put his net worth around $1.5 million to $2 million.
He was reportedly making about $700,000 per season at his peak. That’s a lot of vintage toys and antique furniture. Even though the Now and Then thrift stores they owned together are long gone, the "Storage Wars riches" (as some call them) provided a massive cushion. Between the bar income and whatever residuals still trickling in, he’s doing fine financially.
The Unrecognisable Return (That Wasn't Him)
There was some confusion recently because a "Storage Wars star" was reported to be returning to the show looking "unrecognisable." A lot of people thought it was Jarrod.
It wasn't.
That was actually Dave Hester. "The Mogul" made a comeback for Season 16, looking a bit different than his early days. As for Jarrod? He’s expressed some interest on Facebook about coming back, once saying, "It’s just not the same without me."
But let’s be real: with the domestic violence charge in his rearview and the very public, very messy split from Brandi, the chances of A&E bringing him back are slim to none. The show has moved on. Brandi has moved on. And frankly, the fans have mostly moved on too.
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What You Can Learn From the Jarrod Schulz Story
Jarrod’s trajectory is a wild lesson in the fragility of reality TV fame. One day you’re the king of the auction, and the next, you’re a cautionary tale.
If you’re looking for a "next step" to satisfy your Storage Wars itch or just want to see how the other half lives, here is the move:
Check out the social media feeds of the remaining cast like Dan and Laura Dotson or Brandi Passante. They provide a much more transparent look at the industry today. If you happen to be in Lake Forest, you can stop by The Rush Bar and Grill—just don't expect him to give you a discount on a beer just because you liked his bidding style in 2012.
The biggest takeaway? Reality TV isn't reality. The bickering couple we loved was a broken couple for years. The "Young Gun" was a guy with a complicated past that eventually caught up to him.
Actionable Insight: If you're interested in the storage flipping business yourself, don't use Jarrod as your only blueprint. The modern game is much more about digital auctions and thin margins than the dramatic "find of a lifetime" moments you saw on TV. Focus on the logistics, not the drama.