Fast N’ Loud was a hit Discovery reality series that thrust car builder and businessman Richard Rawlings into the spotlight. He owns the Gas Monkey Garage and its venues for music and food. Richard Rawlings currently has a net worth of $18 million from his Gas Monkey brand.
Key Takeaways:
- Rawlings made $50,000 per episode of Fast N’ Loud.
- Gas Monkey Garage makes an estimated $4.4 million in annual revenue.
- He’s been divorced on three occasions.
Early Life
Richard was born on March 30, 1969 and grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. His father was an automobile enthusiast and took him to car shows as a kid. Richard became a car lover and helped his father build cars. At 14 years old, he purchased his first car, a 1974 Mercury Comet.
By the time he was 16, he had already bought and sold multiple cars and could legally drive. Richard was a student at Eastern Hills High School, graduating in 1987.
Career Beginnings
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he served as a police officer, firefighter, and paramedic. In 1999, he bought a printing company called Lincoln Press for $100,000. He grew sales from $200,000 to $2 million per year in 2002.
Rawlings sold Lincoln Press in 2004 to start Gas Monkey Garage, an auto shop. It’s now a world-renowned hot rod shop. In 2007, he held the world record for the shortest time to finish the Cannonball Run and won the Bullrun and Gumball 3000.
Reality Television
Richard and his Gas Monkey Garage became the center of the reality TV series Fast N’ Loud. The show began airing on the Discovery Channel in 2012 and had two spin-off series.
The series helped Rawlings start other endeavors. He got the chance to work with several NASCAR drivers. In 2015, he wrote his autobiography, Fast N’ Loud: Blood, Sweat and Beers.
The entrepreneur also launched Gas Monkey Live and Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill. To further expand his empire, he developed an energy drink line in 2019. However, his reality show ended the following year.
Net Worth and Earnings
Reports claim that Rawlings made $50,000 per episode of Fast N’ Loud. But when it ended, Richard still had a substantial source of income. His Gas Monkey Garage business is turning into a massive franchise. According to konaequity.com, the Gas Monkey Garage in Texas makes an estimated $4.4 in annual revenue.
As the CEO, the Texas native launched an online merch store to grow sales. He has earned a hefty fortune from his business efforts, and makes extra income as a road rally pro and author. This is why his fortune is worth $18 million.
Personal Life
Richard Rawling married Karen Grames in 1993, but divorced after a year. Next he married Suzanne Marie Mergele in 1999, but he got divorced for a second time in 2009.
Richard and Suzanne remarried in 2015, but sadly split up again in 2019. Today, it seems he’s only focused on his Texas estate and car collection, which includes a Dodge Challenger, a Shelby Mustang, and a Pontiac Firebird.
