The legendary John Schnabel was known for his extensive gold mining knowledge, documented on the Discovery Channel’s Gold Rush. He was a primary shareholder of the Big Nugget Mine and served as the mayor of Haines, Alaska. Sadly he passed away in 2016 but John Schnabel left behind a net worth of $7 million.
Early Life
Born on February 11, 1920, Schnabel was raised by a wheat farmer in Kansas. The family lost their farm when The Great Depression hit. During Prohibition, John’s father began bootlegging booze and was persecuted, so he escaped to Alaska.
In his father’s absence, John stepped up to become the breadwinner. At 12 years old, John was working as a paperboy in 1932 to support the family.
Career
In 1939, John Schnabel relocated to Haines to join his father at 19 years old. The Schnabel family opened up the first large lumber business in the area. However, Schnabel left the Alaskan sawmill after the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He joined the Navy and served as an airplane mechanic.
In 1984, John purchased his first claim at Porcupine Creek, now known as the Big Nugget Mine. By this time he was 68 years old, he initially bought it as a place for the family but eventually dug for gold.
Later in his career, he was the mayor of Haines, Alaska. John was also a savvy businessman, he owned a share in the local power company, hardware store and motel.
Gold Rush
The Schnabel family became renowned gold miners in Alaska and were chosen as main cast members in the Discovery reality series Gold Rush, which began airing in 2010.
A year later, John handed over operations of the Big Nugget Mine to his grandson, Parker Schnabel, due to his declining health. As a major shareholder of the mine, he was always available for advice.
Parker became one of the leading characters in Gold Rush but left the family mine in season four to mine on a claim owned by Tony Beets in Klondike, Canada. John once again took over full control of the mine and continued working there until his death.
Net Worth and Earnings
The main cast members on Gold Rush such as Parker and Tony Beets were paid $25,000 per episode. Although John Schnabel mostly made cameo appearances on the show, it’s unlikely he received a payback from Discovery. However, the iconic miner didn’t care too much about money.
Before the Big Nugget Mine’s operations were televised, Schnabel had considerable amounts of gold on his claim. It’s reported he once discovered 50 ounces of gold in a single day at Porcupine Creek. As the owner of the company, he received a massive cut from the findings. This is how he was able to leave behind a fortune worth $7 million.
Personal Life
After completing his service in the US Air Force, John married Erma Dire. They had five children and a number of grandchildren. Schnabel passed away in his sleep in 2016 at the age of 96, surrounded by close family and friends.
