You probably remember the chair. That heavy, black office chair Paul Teutul Sr. hurled across the room in a fit of rage while Paul Jr. stood there, defiant, during the 2008 blowout that effectively ended the original run of American Chopper. It was the fight heard 'round the world—or at least throughout every suburban living room in America.
But honestly, the TV cameras didn't capture the half of it.
Most people think Paulie just disappeared into a cloud of exhaust smoke after the show slowed down. They assume the "Junior vs. Senior" drama was just a scripted ploy for ratings. It wasn't. The fallout was real, the lawsuits were brutal, and the path Paul Teutul Jr. took to find himself in 2026 is a lot more interesting than just bolting together chrome pipes.
The Firing That Actually Saved Him
Getting fired by your dad on national television is a unique kind of trauma. Yet, if you talk to Paulie today—or read his reflections in his book The Build—he’ll tell you it was the best thing that ever happened to him.
He was stuck.
At Orange County Choppers (OCC), he was the creative engine, but he didn't own the engine. He was the chief designer of the iconic theme bikes like the Fire Bike and the Black Widow, but he was still just an employee in his father's kingdom. When the axe finally fell, it triggered a mandatory one-year non-compete clause. He couldn't build motorcycles. For a guy who had been molding metal since he was 12, that was like being told not to breathe.
So what did he do? He designed a dog park. He designed a grill for Coleman. He proved to himself that his "eye" for design wasn't limited to two wheels.
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Starting Over with Paul Jr. Designs
When that non-compete finally expired in 2010, he didn't go back to OCC. He opened Paul Jr. Designs (PJD) right down the road in Montgomery, New York. He took some of the best talent with him, including Vinnie DiMartino, which felt like a "divorce" for the fans.
The rivalry was intense.
It wasn't just about who could build a cooler bike; it was about two different philosophies. Senior was all about the brand, the muscle, and the old-school shop vibe. Junior was about the art, the flow, and the "impossible" builds. This era gave us the World of Warcraft bikes and the massive Cadillac build-off. It also gave us a front-row seat to a family falling apart under the weight of fame.
Where Is Paul Jr. Now? (The 2026 Reality)
Fast forward to today. If you’re looking for Paulie in 2026, don’t expect to see him screaming at a computer screen.
He’s 51 now. He's calmer. He's a father to his son, Hudson, and a husband to Rachael. His business has evolved into something much broader than a custom bike shop. While the shop in Montgomery is still a hub, he’s spent a lot of time lately at his new location in Ship Bottom, New Jersey, on Long Beach Island. It’s a different vibe—coastal, relaxed, and focused on high-end lifestyle branding.
The Shift to Electric and Classic Cars
One of the biggest shifts in his career has been the move into the E-bike market. He partnered with Ruff Cycles to create the PJD-E Ruffian, a high-end electric bicycle that looks like one of his vintage board trackers but runs on a Bosch motor. It’s a smart pivot. The custom chopper market isn't what it was in 2004, and Paulie knows it.
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He's also become a serious figure in the world of car collecting.
You’ll see him now as a judge at prestigious Concours d'Elegance events. He’s traded the greasy shop rags for a straw hat at the Greenwich Concours, judging pre-war French cars like Delahayes and Lincolns. It sounds like a total 180, right? But to him, it’s the same thing: appreciating the lines, the hand-formed metal, and the soul of a machine.
The Truth About the Relationship with Senior
This is the question everyone asks: Do they talk?
The answer is complicated.
In 2024 and 2025, there were several "reunions" filmed for Discovery specials, and they’ve even sat down for podcast episodes together. But don't expect them to ever share a shop again. They’ve both admitted that working together is the "poison" that kills their relationship.
They are in a "peace treaty" phase. They can grab a meal, they can talk about Hudson, and they can appreciate each other’s builds from a distance. But the days of the Teutuls under one roof are over. Senior is mostly based in Clearwater, Florida now, running his OCC Roadhouse & Museum, while Junior remains a fixture of the Northeast.
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Why the "Chopper" Legacy Still Matters
Some people dismiss American Chopper as just another loud reality show. They’re wrong.
Before Paul Jr., custom bikes were mostly for the "outlaw" crowd. He turned them into corporate art. He made it okay for Microsoft, Gillette, and the New York Yankees to want a custom chopper in their lobby. He bridged the gap between blue-collar fabrication and high-end design.
What You Can Learn from the PJD Journey
If you’re a creator or a business owner, Paulie’s story is basically a masterclass in "The Pivot."
- Your Skill is Portable: He proved he wasn't just a "bike guy." He was a designer who happened to use bikes as a canvas.
- Boundaries Save Families: He realized that to love his father, he had to stop working for him.
- Niche Down, Then Expand: He dominated the custom chopper niche, then used that fame to move into E-bikes, apparel, and consulting.
Looking Ahead
Paul Jr. isn't chasing the "fame" anymore. He’s already had it. These days, he seems more interested in the legacy he’s leaving for his son and the quality of the work coming out of PJD Studios.
Whether he’s restoring a 1940s classic car or designing a new line of apparel, the "Junior" style is still unmistakable. It’s messy, it’s loud, it’s intricate, and it’s undeniably American.
If you want to keep up with his current projects, his Paul Jr. Podcast is the best place to get the "unfiltered" version of what's happening in the shop. He’s moved away from the edited drama of cable TV and toward a more direct connection with the people who have followed him for over two decades.
What to do next:
If you're looking to see his work in person, a trip to the PJD shop in Montgomery, NY, or the LBI location is your best bet. You can also check out the PJD-E electric bikes online if you want that Paul Jr. aesthetic without the 100-inch shovelhead engine vibration. If you're a fan of the old-school builds, re-watching the "Series vs. Junior" era provides the most honest look at the creative peak of the Teutul rivalry.