You’ve probably seen the guy in the skeleton gloves, stepping out of a custom 1947 Cowboy Cadillac like he just walked off a movie set. Barry Weiss—the "Collector" from A&E’s Storage Wars—is a bit of a walking enigma. For years, fans watched him drop thousands of dollars on abandoned lockers, often just to keep the weirdest item for himself. It made everyone wonder: how does this guy actually afford to live like a billionaire hippie?
If you think he makes his money solely from digging through dusty boxes in California storage units, you’re mistaken. Honestly, the reality is a lot more "corporate" than his eccentric TV persona suggests.
The Produce Fortune: Barry’s Real Day Job
Before he was a reality TV icon, Barry was a produce mogul. Seriously. He spent about 25 years building a wholesale fruit and vegetable empire with his brother, Joey Weiss. They owned Northern Produce, a company that imported and exported wholesale goods on a massive scale.
Basically, while we were watching him bid on old bicycles and vintage toys, his bank account was already sitting pretty from decades of "legitimate" business. He retired from the produce world in his mid-fifties with enough cash to never work another day in his life. That’s why he always seemed so relaxed on the show; he wasn't bidding to pay his mortgage. He was bidding for the "rush."
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The "Professional Slacker" Era
When Barry left Storage Wars after the fourth season, he famously told anyone who would listen that he was going back to being a "world-class slacker."
He didn't just sit on a couch, though. He’s a guy who loves toys. His "living" for a few years consisted of:
- Antique Collecting: He’s been doing this since he was 15. It’s a hobby that sometimes turns a profit, but mostly it's about the hunt.
- Car and Motorcycle Restoration: Barry is a certified gearhead. His collection of custom vehicles is worth a small fortune on its own.
- TV Spinoffs: He did Barry’d Treasure and Storage Wars: Barry Strikes Back, which kept the A&E checks rolling in for a bit.
A Brutal Reality Check
Things took a dark turn in 2019. Barry was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident in Los Feliz. He slammed into a car pulling out of a parking space and ended up in ICU with serious chest and leg trauma. He was out of the spotlight for a long time, undergoing multiple surgeries and a grueling recovery process.
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What Is Barry Weiss Doing Now?
As of 2026, Barry is back in the game, but he’s picky about how he spends his time. He officially returned to Storage Wars in later seasons, much to the delight of fans who missed his "Robert Evans-meets-Jack Nicholson" energy.
He also took a gig as a brand ambassador for the Sherwood Valley Casino. If you’ve heard a familiar, gravelly voice in their commercials or seen his face on their promo material, that’s him. It’s a low-stress way to leverage his fame without having to wake up at 4:00 AM to drive to a storage facility in the desert.
There is often confusion online because of a certain Bari Weiss (the journalist). Let’s be clear: our Barry is not the one running The Free Press or taking over CBS News. He’s the guy with the custom cars and the witty one-liners.
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The Bottom Line on Barry’s Wealth
Barry’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. He doesn’t "work" in the traditional sense anymore. He’s a man of leisure who happens to have a very lucrative history in wholesale produce and a very popular "hobby" on reality TV.
Actionable Insights for Barry Fans:
- Check the Credits: If you want to see what he’s currently up to, keep an eye on A&E’s newest season rotations; he still makes "special" appearances.
- Follow the Auctions: While he’s mostly retired, Barry is still known to show up at high-end car auctions (like Barrett-Jackson) in the Los Angeles area.
- Don't Mix Up the Names: If you're searching for business news and see "Weiss," double-check the spelling. If it's about the media industry, it's Bari. If it's about a 1930s relic found in a locker, it's Barry.
Ultimately, Barry Weiss does whatever he wants for a living. And when you've spent 25 years selling vegetables and another decade as a TV superstar, you've earned that right.