Storage Wars Cast 2026: Who’s Still Bidding, Who’s Gone
Sixteen seasons is a long run for any unscripted show, and the storage wars cast has turned over more than most fans realize. A format that opened in December 2010 with four California buyers picking through abandoned units now runs on a group that’s shifted year after year — some names gone, one gone for good, and Season 17 already airing on A&E as of this writing.
Season 17 premiered February 28, 2026, and if you’ve caught a recent episode and wondered where a familiar buyer went, here’s the full rundown.
Who’s Currently in the Storage Wars Cast
The active storage wars cast in 2026 includes Dan Dotson and Laura Dotson running the auction ring, plus buyers Brandi Passante, Dave Hester, Ivy Calvin, Kenny Crossley, Mary Padian, Rene and Casey Nezhoda, Lisa Delarios, Dusty Riach, Lupe Riach, and Emily Pokoj. Dave Hester, one of the show’s original four buyers, has been back in the mix through Seasons 16 and 17 after time away from the series.
Anyone who’s followed the show since the early seasons knows the lineup never really settles. Producers bring in new buyers as older crews step back, and that rotation is a big part of why this format has outlasted nearly every other reality show from its era.
Brandi Passante is the one name that’s stuck around from day one. She’s appeared in every season since the 2010 premiere and has built a following outside the show itself, mostly through her own podcast and social channels.
The Newer Faces: Ivy Calvin, Kenny Crossley, and the Rest
Ivy Calvin came in as a longtime professional buyer with an easygoing, business-minded style — a contrast to some of the louder personalities the show built its early identity on. Kenny Crossley brings a similar low-key energy, more interested in flipping finds quickly than chasing a dramatic bidding war.
Lisa Delarios has carved out a reputation for spotting collectibles and vintage items other buyers overlook. Dusty and Lupe Riach, a husband-and-wife team, split their focus between household lots and niche resale categories. Emily Pokoj rounds out the newer group, still building her profile season by season.
None of these newer buyers have the name recognition Hester or Passante built over more than a decade. But their presence shows how the show keeps generating fresh storylines without abandoning what made it work.
Dan and Laura Dotson: The Auctioneers Running the Show
Dan Dotson has been auctioneering since he was a kid, learning the trade from his grandfather, a cattle and farm auctioneer in Arkansas. He founded American Auctioneers in Riverside, California, in 1983 — long before Storage Wars existed. Laura joined the business in 1996, and the two have run thousands of real auctions together, well beyond what makes it to air.
That real-world background is part of why the Dotsons carry weight on screen. They’re not reading lines. Dan usually calls bids while Laura works the ring, though the two sometimes swap.
What Happened to Jarrod Schulz
Jarrod Schulz left Storage Wars in 2021 after appearing in more than 260 episodes across 13 seasons. He and Brandi Passante ran the Now and Then thrift store in Orange, California, before the show picked them up, and their on-screen chemistry as “The Young Guns” was one of the format’s early draws.
His exit followed a misdemeanor domestic violence battery charge tied to an incident at an Orange County bar on April 30, 2021, involving Passante. He denied the allegations at the time. A&E never issued a statement linking his departure to the charge, though the timing kept speculation alive among longtime viewers. Passante has continued as a main cast member; Schulz has kept a low profile since, running The Rush Bar & Grill in Lake Forest, California.
Darrell Sheets and His Death in 2026
Darrell Sheets, known to fans as “The Gambler,” was one of the show’s original buyers and one of its most aggressive bidders, appearing in 163 episodes between 2010 and 2023. He’d dealt with serious health problems for years, including a 2019 heart attack that required surgery, and had retired to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where he ran an antique shop.
Sheets died on April 22, 2026, at age 67. Lake Havasu City police said he was found with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the medical examiner’s office later ruled the death a suicide. Authorities also opened an investigation into allegations, raised publicly by former co-star Rene Nezhoda, that Sheets had been targeted by online harassment in the weeks before his death. A&E called him a beloved member of the Storage Wars family in a statement following the news. His son, Brandon Sheets, appeared alongside him for years on the show.
This article discusses sensitive themes from an educational perspective. If this topic touches on something personal for you, support is available — in the US, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Mary Padian’s Path Through the Show
Mary Padian, nicknamed “the Junkster,” made her name spotting value in items other buyers wrote off. She was a regular through Season 12, then made a brief return in Season 13 to announce her move back to Texas. She’s stayed loosely connected to the extended storage wars cast since, running Mary’s Finds, a business focused on upcycled furniture, and staying visible to fans on social media between filming stretches.
Barry Weiss, the Nezhodas, and Other Former Buyers
Barry Weiss, “The Collector,” joined at the suggestion of executive producer Thom Beers and became known for his eccentric collecting habits, love of vintage cars, and general disinterest in turning a profit. He left the main series in 2013, returned briefly for Seasons 14 and 15, and later starred in his own spin-off, Barry’d Treasure.
Rene and Casey Nezhoda, a married couple, have been part of the cast since Season 4 and remain active buyers as of Season 17, running their own business, Bargain Hunters Thrift, alongside their TV appearances.
How Storage Locker Auctions Actually Work
The show’s entire premise runs on a real legal process. Under California law, if rent goes unpaid on a storage locker for 36 days, the facility can sell off its contents as a single lot at public auction. Buyers get about five minutes to inspect a locker from the doorway before bidding opens — they can’t step inside or touch anything.
Winners typically resell what they find through swap meets, thrift stores, online marketplaces, or specialty dealers. Some lockers pay off big. Plenty barely cover the winning bid, and that gamble is a big part of what’s kept the format compelling for over a decade.
Where to Watch Storage Wars in 2026
New viewers picking up the show mid-run often want to know where to find it. As of mid-2026, Storage Wars streams on Philo, A&E’s own platform, Disney Plus, and Hulu, with free ad-supported options on Pluto TV, Tubi, and the Roku Channel. Episodes are also available to buy through Apple TV and Amazon Video, and it’s on 362 tracked streaming services according to JustWatch’s directory.
That wide availability matters for a show closing in on its 350th episode — new viewers need an easy entry point before they can follow current storylines involving the newer storage wars cast.
How the Format Has Changed Around Its Cast
Storage Wars stretched its runtime from the original 30 minutes to a full hour starting in 2025, giving producers more room to build out each buyer’s personal storyline around the auctions themselves. That shift changed how the cast gets presented on screen, leaning more on personal arcs between bidding scenes.
The franchise has also expanded through regional spin-offs, including Storage Wars: Texas and Storage Wars: New York, each with its own local buyers and its own auctioneer running the gavel.
What the Research Shows
Industry analysts who track unscripted television consistently note that ensemble-driven formats tend to survive individual cast departures better than shows built around one or two lead characters — no single exit derails the whole show. Storage Wars now sits at 17 seasons and 349 episodes, a run few reality shows from its 2010 launch window have matched, and that’s largely down to how the cast has been allowed to rotate rather than staying frozen in place.
Who’s Actually Searching for the Storage Wars Cast
Longtime viewers checking in on favorite buyers make up one slice of this audience, but they’re not the only one. Newer fans discovering the show through streaming often look up cast details just to sort out who’s who before diving into current episodes. Parents watching with older kids curious about the business side of auctions, small resale sellers studying how buyers flip their finds, and casual viewers who catch a rerun and recognize an older face all end up searching for the same information, for different reasons.
After 17 seasons, the rotating cast remains the show’s biggest strength. If you’re curious about how networks consistently find the right mix of personalities to keep unscripted TV alive, you can learn more about How Reality TV Casting Works behind the scenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brandi Passante still on Storage Wars in 2026?
Yes. She’s remained a main cast member and has appeared in every season since the show began in 2010.
Did Jarrod Schulz get fired from Storage Wars?
A&E never confirmed a firing. His 2021 exit followed a domestic violence battery charge tied to an incident involving Brandi Passante, and while the network never linked the two publicly, the timing fueled ongoing speculation among fans.
How did Darrell Sheets die?
Sheets died on April 22, 2026, at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. His death was later ruled a suicide by the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office, and police opened an investigation into reported online harassment he’d faced beforehand.
Is Mary Padian still part of the storage wars cast?
She stepped back from regular episodes after Season 12 but has appeared periodically since and stays loosely connected to the franchise.
Where can I stream Storage Wars in 2026?
It’s available on Philo, A&E, Disney Plus, and Hulu, with free options on Pluto TV, Tubi, and the Roku Channel.