Richard Rawlings '*** MONKEY' as Sue would say
He was a Fireman 1st, I think he was hurt real bad
in a collapsed building during a fire (don't quote me), still tried to be a fireman,
after that an Emergency Tech EMT, (again don't quote me) after that, didn't work out...
He got a huge settlement or something is how he started his 1st shops...
Made a shitload of $$$ out of nothing, he's a multi millionaire
it/he has a 3.4 of 5 rating 'isn't so great'
part of that is because of the show I'm sure
He had a crapload of help/combined ventures from his buddy Dennis Collins
of Collins Brothers Jeep, in Wylie Tx (he is filthy rich) his Jeep parts are nation wide
very respected company... Collins Bothers has a 4.5 of 5 rating...
GasMonkey Garage is still open & operating fulltime,
still thriving & building restoring classic & exotic cars/trucks 'today'
he added a gift shop too, I think I saw on some BS on MotorTrend TV
His TV persona is an ***, the real him isn't (I'd assume)
as bas bad as the scripted BS for TV persona, for ratings...
(like Mark Worman is, Graveyard Carz, same ****)
Aaron Koffman, after he left the show attempted to start his own show
& it failed horribly, twice, (His own shop/s went Bankrupt ?, allegedly, but it close post haste)
I watched it & it sucked ***, both attempts...
He/Aaron may have been a good tech/great fabricator, but not a good leader
or not a good business man,
scuttlebutt "allegedly" (again don't quote me) is that Richard,
helped made him a household name...
TV show like all of them
Made him/Aaron rich too, so he could go off on his own & try & do it the same way...
Didn't work out so much/or as well for him...
(did you know Street Outlaws 'Big Chief' Justin, is worth well over like $3,million now ?
I saw one place/writeup that said it was at a min. at least 10+ times that amount)