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. He is also a road rally veteran who became a fixture in NASCAR. As of 2023, Richard Rawlings has a net worth of $18 million.
Early Life
Richard was born on March 30, 1969 and was raised in Fort Worth, Texas. His father was an automobile enthusiast who took him to a lot of car shows when he was a kid.
This influenced Richard to become a car lover himself as he helped his father construct cars at a young age. At 14 years old, he got to purchase his first car, a 1974 Mercury Comet.
He had already acquired and sold multiple cars by the time he was 16 and could legally drive. Richard was a student at Eastern Hills High School, graduating in 1987.
Career Beginnings
Though he was very passionate about cars, it wasn’t his first business venture. He served as a police officer, firefighter, and paramedic before becoming an entrepreneur. In 1999, he started a printing company called Lincoln Press.
Rawlings sold his first company in 2002 to start Gas Monkey Garage, an auto shop. He began building cars for customers all around the world and is now a world-renowned hot rod shop.
Aside from being a mechanic, he was also a road rally competitor. In 2007, he held the world record for the shortest time to finish the Cannonball Run. He also won the Bullrun and Gumball 3000.
Reality Television
Richard and his Gas Monkey Garage became the center of the reality television series Fast N’ Loud. The show started airing on the Discovery Channel in 2012. It was so successful that it was able to initiate two spin-off series.
The series also 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. In 2019, he developed an energy drink line to further expand his empire. However, his reality show ended the following year.
Net Worth and Earnings
Reports claim that Rawlings made $50,000 to $75,000 per episode when Fast N’ Loud was still airing. But even when it ended, Richard still has a substantial source of income. His Gas Monkey Garage business is slowly turning into a massive franchise.
As the company’s CEO, the Texas native constantly makes moves to expand the company. He has earned a hefty fortune from his business efforts, and he makes extra income as a road rally pro and author. This is why his net worth is around $18 million.
Personal Life
Richard Rawlings got married to Karen Grames in 1993, but they divorced after a year. He married Suzanne Marie Mergele in 1999, but they got a divorce in 2009.
Richard and Suzanne remarried in 2015, but sadly they split up again in 2019. Today, it seems that he is only focused on his Texas estate and car collection, which includes a Dodge Challenger, a Shelby Mustang, and a Pontiac Firebird.
