How Old Is Barry Weiss, Really?
If you've spent even five minutes watching Storage Wars, you know Barry Weiss. He's the guy who rolls up in a custom 1947 Cowbelly Cadillac wearing skeleton gloves. He’s the one who brings a psychic to an auction or uses a remote-controlled helicopter to scout a locker. He's a character. But for years, people have been scratching their heads about his actual age.
Let's cut to the chase. Barry Weiss is 74 years old. He was born on February 11, 1951. In a world where reality TV stars often try to look twenty years younger with aggressive fillers and questionable hair plugs, Barry has always leaned into his look. The silver hair, the sharp suits, and that "I’ve seen everything twice" attitude. It's part of the charm. Honestly, he’s lived more life than three average people combined, which is probably why he doesn’t mind being the elder statesman of the storage unit world.
The Produce Empire You Probably Didn't Know About
A lot of fans assume Barry got rich from reality TV. That's a mistake. He was already a multimillionaire long before the cameras started rolling. He and his brother, Joey Weiss, ran a massive wholesale produce company called Northern Produce in Los Angeles.
They did this for about 25 years.
Think about that for a second. While most of us are trying to figure out how to use a spreadsheet, Barry was building a fruit and vegetable empire that supplied hotels and cruise lines. He retired from that life around 2005. He didn't need the money from Storage Wars. He joined the show because his buddy Thom Beers—the guy who created the series—basically asked him to come hang out and buy weird stuff.
That Nasty Motorcycle Accident
You might remember a few years back when Barry suddenly vanished from the spotlight. It wasn't because he was tired of the fame. It was because of a terrifying accident in April 2019. Barry was out riding his motorcycle with a friend in the Los Feliz area of L.A. when a car pulled out of a parking space and slammed into them.
It was bad.
He ended up in the ICU with serious injuries to his chest and legs. He had to undergo multiple surgeries on his back and his femur. For a guy in his late 60s at the time, that kind of trauma is no joke. Recovery took months. There were rumors flying around that he might never walk the same way again, or that he’d officially retire from public life.
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But Barry is stubborn. By 2021, he was back on the auction trail for Season 13, looking a bit thinner but still possessing that same eccentric spark. Seeing him bounce back at 70 was pretty impressive, honestly.
Why People Get Him Confused With the Music Mogul
Here is where it gets confusing for people searching for his age online. There is another Barry Weiss. This other Barry Weiss is a massive music executive who worked with Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Justin Timberlake.
- Storage Wars Barry: Born 1951, produce background, collector of oddities.
- Music Executive Barry: Born 1959, record label legend, went to Cornell.
If you see a biography saying Barry Weiss is 66, you’re looking at the music guy. Our Barry—the Collector—is the one pushing 75. It’s a common mix-up, but their lives couldn't be more different. One was signing Backstreet Boys, and the other was finding 1950s dental equipment in a locker in West Covina.
The Secret to His "World-Class Slacker" Lifestyle
Barry once described himself in an interview as a "world-class slacker." It’s a funny way to put it, considering he’s worth an estimated $10 million. But it points to his philosophy: don't take it too seriously.
He’s been a collector since he was 15 years old. He doesn't just buy things to flip them like Dave Hester or the Sheets family. Half the time, he keeps the weirdest stuff for his own house. He’s a guy who values the story behind an object more than the profit margin.
He’s also been a single man for quite a while. He was married once, decades ago, and has two grown kids, Julie and Jack. He’s even a grandfather now. But you won't see him settling down into a typical "retired grandpa" role. He’s too busy driving custom hot rods and looking for the next piece of automotive history.
What Barry is Doing in 2026
Even at 74, Barry isn't exactly slowing down. He’s still a staple in the car culture scene in California. You’ll catch him at shows like the Grand National Roadster Show or just cruising around Malibu. He’s the face of Sherwood Valley Casino now, doing voice-over work and appearances.
He’s living proof that age is mostly just a number on a birth certificate. Whether he’s 74 or 94, Barry Weiss is always going to be the coolest guy in the room—mostly because he’s the only one who doesn't care if you think he's cool or not.
How to Apply the Barry Weiss Mindset to Your Life
- Build your "boring" foundation first. Barry didn't start chasing lockers until he'd spent 25 years in the produce business. Financial freedom gives you the room to be eccentric.
- Focus on the niche. He doesn't know everything about everything, but he knows classic cars and war relics better than almost anyone. Find your thing and own it.
- Don't let setbacks stop the engine. After a near-fatal crash at 68, he worked through rehab and got back on TV. Resilience is the best anti-aging cream there is.
- Keep the "Why" simple. He did the show because he liked it. When he stopped liking it, he left. When he missed it, he came back. Life is too short to do stuff you hate just for a paycheck you don't need.
The next time you're watching a rerun and see Barry overpaying for a locker just because it looks "funky," remember that he's a man who has already won the game. He’s 74, wealthy, and still the most interesting person on the screen.