The Discovery Channel struck reality television gold with its hit series Gold Rush. The long-standing, popular series follows small mining crews as they brave the elements and the perils that make mining one of the toughest jobs on the planet. For these hard working rich-seekers, sometimes the payoff is worth all their troubles.
Gold Rush features several rotating reality cast members, but the main cast has stayed the same. Young Parker Schnabel and the father and son duo of Jack and Todd Hoffman have allows fans into their cut-throat world of mining for the most precious metal of all, gold. While the reality television show does put so much of the mining world on display, not everything is put out there for the public.
15 Parker Schnabel Comes From Mining Royalty
Gold Rush reality star, Parker Schnabel, comes from a long line of mining moguls who made their fortune striking it rich with precious metal. His dear old grand dad, John, was the proud owner of the famous mining company, The Golden Nugget. This lucrative business set his grandson up for life.
14 Schnabel Looks Homeless & Complains Of Poverty, But Is Actually A Millionaire
More than once, fans have caught Parker Schnabel alluding to the fact that he struggles with the moolah, and he often appears homeless as opposed to wealthy, but that isn't exactly accurate. Schnabel makes a very good living filming the reality series and it is estimated the young star is worth millions.
13 Todd Hoffman Owns His Own Airport
Todd Hoffman made good money working in the mining industry and on reality television, but his first major business venture was in purchasing a small airport in Sandy, Oregon. He owned and operated the small airport, but once that industry went belly up, he turned to the wonderful world of gold mining.
12 Parker Schnabel Asked His Parents For Birthday Machinery!
Most young men Parker Schnabel's age beg their parents for Nike Air Force One sneakers or new Airpods when their birthday rolls around. Schnabel is no ordinary young man though. He asked his parents for construction equipment. We wonder how much of a struggle it was to wrap those gifts!
11 There Are No Hard Feelings Between Gene Cheeseman And Parker Schnabel
Reality television loves some drama and tension between costars, but fans might be interested to know that even after the departure of Schnabel's right-hand man, Gene Cheeseman, the two fellas remained good friends. After they stopped filming together, they still got together and talked whenever they could.
10 The Show Has Some Seriously Dedicated Fans Who Have Shown Up To Set In Mobile Homes
Reality television has some of the most dedicated fans in the world! They will go to just about any length to get close to their beloved reality stars. Gold Rush is no different in this respect. People love the show. Fans turn up to wherever the show is filming. One Lousiana family trekked all the way from the south to the Yukon in their motorhome just to be near the action.
9 Todd Hoffman Is A Basketball Lover
Todd Hoffman is a lover of many things, and basketball is one of them. The entrepreneur is a big fan of the sport and has even been known to show off his baller skills. With all the pressures of striking gold and starting up new business ventures, maybe shooting hoops is Hoffman's way of blowing off some steam.
8 Todd Hoffman Earns $25,000 Per Episode
Aside from actually striking it rich when he hits gold, Todd Hoffman makes plenty of dough just by appearing on Gold Rush. It is estimated that Hoffman pulls in anywhere from two hundred thousand dollars to four hundred thousand dollars from filming alone. That is no chump change, not by a mile.
7 Show Regular David Turin Has No Teeth!
Gold Rush regular, David Turin, was asked to reveal something about himself that no one else really knew. He told fans that the teeth in his mouth were actually all fake! It turns out Turin was in a childhood altercation and ended up losing his pearly whites. They had to be replaced with imposter teeth.
6 Parker Schnabel's Team Was Chosen By Him, Not By Production
Shows such as Gold Rush often have their crews and teams put together by production teams who seek to pair up people that will pull in decent ratings for them. Parker Schnabel decided that he was going to assemble his own team, and choose to work with people he trusted. He is doing pretty darn well for himself these days, so it seems he chose well.
5 Much Of The Show Is Scripted
Many reality shows have come under fire for being scripted or staged to some degree, and Gold Rush is no different in this respect. Some of the cast members on the show have commented before on how many events production misses when cameras turn off. When this happens, everyone has to go back and reenact the missed event.
4 It Takes Over Six Straight Months To Produce 12 Episodes
Filming Gold Rush is a daunting job for the cast members, but also for the film and production team. Not only do they brave the elements of wherever filming is occurring, but they also work long hours to gather the film that is needed to put a season together. The crew might film for six straight months and only get twelve episodes from that footage.
3 Parker Says His Social Life Is Non-Existent Thanks To The Show
Parker Schnabel is a young man who loves his work, and his devotion to his craft has had a negative impact on his social life. Most guys his age are out with friends and socializing, but Parker only seems to have time for the job. We hope that at some point he surrounds himself with a fun and loving support system.
2 Calling All Inexperienced Miners! The Less Experience, The More The Show Wants You
Producers of Gold Rush prefer miners who have little experience in the industry. People seem to relate to the cast members who are a little wet behind the ears, and the drama proves to be a little more intense with those still learning the ropes. Ratings are everything with reality t.v., and this show has found that inexperienced cast members mean higher ratings.
1 The Word "Gold" Is A Must For Cast Members. Production Makes Them Use The Word A Lot
The more the cast members say the word "gold" during filming, the better. Saying this single word over and over again is not an option. Per producers and executives, it is a must. When cast members start using their own mining jargon, they are reminded to refer back to the continuous use of the word "gold."