Alright, grab a coffee and pull up a chair, because we’re about to talk about one of the most gloriously greasy, gloriously loud, and gloriously ridiculous shows on television: Street Outlaws. Specifically, let’s dig into the bank account of the man, the myth, the mullet: Big Chief. Yes, Justin Shearer—the guy who looks like he wrestled a Grizzly Bear and won, then lost a fight with a hairbrush—has a net worth that’s almost as surprising as his ability to keep a 2,000-horsepower car going straight.
First, let’s get the obvious joke out of the way. If you’ve ever watched him crash a car into a ditch, a wall, or another car—because Street Outlaws is basically a reality show about mechanical disasters with a side of drag racing—you might think his net worth is negative. But no, Big Chief is sitting pretty. According to the loudest whispers on the internet (and a few dubious celebrity net worth sites), his fortune hovers somewhere between $200,000 and $400,000. That’s not “buy a private island” money, but it’s enough to buy a few dozen replacement transmissions.
How did a guy who once famously said, “I don’t read books, I read torque specs,” get so rich? Well, it’s not from his day job as a car detailer in Oklahoma City, though he still runs his shop, Shearer Performance. No, the real cash—and the real headache—comes from the Discovery Channel. Each episode of Street Outlaws reportedly pays him a tidy five-figure sum, plus bonuses for winning those 40-mph “no-prep” races that look like they’re being held on a washed-out gravel road.
Must Read
The Real Money is in Spin-Offs and Appearances
Big Chief didn’t just crash into fame; he brought the whole squad with him. He’s the star of the original show, but he also rakes in cash from spinoffs like Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings and Street Outlaws: Memphis (which is basically the same show, but with more banjo music and less traction). He also makes bank from personal appearances. Imagine paying your mortgage by showing up at a county fair, signing a sweaty poster, and yelling, “SMOKE’EM!” That’s his life. And it’s a beautiful, loud, flammable life.
But here’s a surprising fact that’ll make your jaw drop faster than a blown head gasket: Big Chief doesn’t actually own his most famous car. Yep, the black 1972 Pontiac LeMans, nicknamed “The Crow,” is partially owned by his father, Jerry, and a few friends. So when he wins a $10,000 race, he has to split the winnings like a divorced dad splitting a pizza. That’s why his net worth isn’t higher. The car is a money pit with wheels, and the pit is on fire.
What is ‘Big Chief’ doing today? - Net Worth Post
Let’s talk about that car for a second. The Crow is a monster— a single-turbo, nitrous-injected, methanol-burning beast that makes over 2,000 horsepower. That’s more power than a Toyota Corolla makes in a million years. But here’s the kicker: to run that car for one single pass down a quarter-mile strip costs roughly $500. That’s the price of a nice dinner for two, poofed into hot smoke and tire rubber. Multiply that by 50 races a season, and you realize Big Chief’s net worth is basically a pile of cash that he’s constantly shoving into a furnace and laughing maniacally.
He’s Not Rich, He’s “Rolling in Debt with a Smile”
If you ask Big Chief about his net worth, he’ll probably grunt, spit tobacco juice, and say something like, “I’m broke, man, but I got a fast car.” And to be fair, he’s not lying. Reality TV stars, especially ones who work on cars, often have more assets in aluminum and tires than in actual currency. But he’s smart—he also gets paid for merchandise, like t-shirts that say “In Crowd” and hats that look like they were designed by a drunken aardvark.
How Ryan Martin Achieved a Net Worth of $2 Million | Street outlaws
Also, let’s be honest: he’s not exactly known for frugality. He once bought a $30,000 motorhome just to haul the Crow to races, and then immediately filled it with beer, spare tires, and a broken Playstation. His house in Oklahoma isn’t a mansion—it’s a modest ranch-style home with a garage that’s bigger than the living room. The garage is where the real net worth is, because every tool in there is covered in grease and prayer.
And then there’s the divorce. He’s been married, divorced, and then got back with his ex-wife, because who needs stability when you have a race car? The legal fees alone probably shaved a good $50,000 off his net worth. But hey, you can’t put a price on drama that makes for good TV. He’s like a NASCAR driver who accidentally wandered into a trailer park reality show.
The BIG Secrets Behind Big Chief From Street Outlaws - Net Worth Post
So, what’s the bottom line? Big Chief’s net worth is weirdly low for a TV star but impressively high for a guy who spends his weekends trying not to crash into a wall at 180 mph. He’s not Jeff Bezos, but he’s not living in a van down by the river, either. He’s somewhere in the middle: a guy with a fast car, a loyal fan base, and a bank account that goes up and down faster than his car’s rpm gauge.
Remember: net worth is just a number. But you know what’s not a number? The look on his face when he actually wins a race. That’s priceless. And also, probably smell of burnt rubber and regret. So next time you see him on TV, give a little cheer. He’s out there, giving us all hope that you can be semi-famous, semi-broke, and fully awesome—even if you’ve never balanced a checkbook in your life.
