Reality TV is a gold mine of wealth and fame, and Dog The Bounty Hunter is no exception. The famous TV star has earned himself quite a fortune as an American bounty hunter, television personality, and former bail bondsman.
With all the money earned from his show and other businesses, Dog The Bounty Hunter net worth is at an estimated $6 million.
You may also like: Teresa Giudice Net Worth
How Dog The Bounty Hunter Make His Money?
Dog The Bounty Hunter earns most of his money from the show that made him famous, Dog The Bounty Hunter. His annual salary for the show was estimated to be around $200,000 per season. He starred in 200 episodes until the series ended in 2012.
He also owns several businesses in Colorado including a bail bonds business, which can give up to $500,000 in income. He also has a clothing line and his own sunglasses brand which helped him increase his wealth throughout the years.
He also has bounty hunting services and an auto repair shop. He also earns income from selling merchandise, such as t-shirts, hoodies, and hats with his logo on them. Dog The Bounty Hunter is an example of someone who has taken full advantage of reality TV fame.
Also see: Jeff Probst Net Worth
Early Life
Duane Lee Chapman was born on February 2nd, 1953 in Colorado. The son of Wesley Duane Chapman and Barbara Darlene Chapman, he only had three siblings. However, at age 15 he left his family home to join Devils’ Disciples- a biker gang..
Dog was charged with first-degree murder in 1976, but only served 18 months of his five-year sentence. This is because he was waiting in the car while a friend shot and killed a drug dealer. After being paroled in January 1979, Chapman’s wife LaFonda divorced him.
Dog was motivated to become a bounty hunter while he was serving time as a prison guard. Unfortunately, because of his felony conviction, Dog is not legally allowed to own or carry firearms and has even been banned from entering the United Kingdom.
Coming To The Limelight: The Capture of Andrew Luster
In 2003, Dog the Bounty Hunter rose to international fame after he tracked down Max Factor heir, Andrew Luster in Mexico. He was granted 10% of the $1 million reward for capturing him and appearing on numerous television shows to talk about it.
Chapman and his “hunt team” (his son, Leland, and friend Tim Chapman–oddly, the two Chapmans are not related) located Luster, who had been accused of drugging and raping numerous women in the United States and had fled before his trial. As they were transporting him back to jail, they were stopped by authorities and arrested.
Beth Chapman, Dog’s wife, alerted the media and they were granted bail. They followed their lawyer’s advice and left Mexico, becoming international fugitives in the process. Three years later, just days before the expiration of the statute of limitations on the crime, they were arrested by U.S. Marshals and jailed on behalf of the Mexican government. However, on August 2, 2007, the Mexican court dismissed all charges against the three men. Luster was eventually convicted of 86 charges and sentenced to 125 years in prison.
Dog the Bounty Hunter had become an international celebrity for his daring capture and successful mission.
Relevant: Nick Lachey Net Worth
Reality TV Show
Dog the Bounty Hunter went on to appear on several television shows as well as his own reality TV show, Dog the Bounty Hunter. The show, which aired on A&E for eight seasons from 2004-2012 followed Dog and his partners as they tracked down criminals and bail jumpers. The famous theme song of the show was performed by Ozzy Osbourne. In 2012, CMT announced a new series that would follow Dog, his wife Beth, and their son: Dog and Beth: On the Hunt. This spin-off ran for three seasons until it was canceled in 2016. In 2019, another spin-off show titled Dog’s Most Wanted airing for one season.
Dog has become an international celebrity due to his daring captures and successful missions. He continues to be a fan favorite with people across the world still tuning in to watch him bring justice to those who evade the law. Unfortunately, because of his felony conviction, Dog is not legally allowed to own or carry firearms and has even been banned from entering the United Kingdom. Despite this, he continues to follow his passion for bounty hunting and bringing justice to those who need it.
Similar: Caitlyn Jenner Net Worth
Other TV Appearances
Dog has made cameo appearances on numerous episodes of hit TV series such as Hollywood Squares, My Name Is Earl, Hawaii Five-O, and more. He has made numerous appearances on various talk shows as well.
Best Selling Books
Dog has also written five best-selling books. His autobiography, “You Can Run But You Can’t Hide” was released in 2008. He wrote his second book, “Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given” in 2010 an autobiographical novel based on Dog the Bounty Hunter life and second chances.
Personal Life
Dog the Bounty Hunter has been married five times and is a father to 11 children. Namely Leland Blaine Chapman, Lyssa Rae Chapman, Barbara Katie Chapman, Duane Lee Chapman, II, Tucker Dee Chapman, Cecily Chapman, Wesley Chapman, Zebediah Duane Chapman, Christopher Michael Hecht, Garry Chapman, Bonnie Chapman, Dominic Davis, Nicholas Chapman, James Robert Chapman.
His first marriage was to La Fonda Sue Darnell in 1972, but they divorced in 1977 after Dog was convicted of murder. He later remarried Ann Tegnell in 1979 shortly after his parole. His third wife was Lyssa Rae Brittain, whom he married in 1982 and divorced nine years later. Chapman had arrested his fourth wife, Tawny Marie Chapman, on a drug possession charge before they married in 1988. They remained together until their divorce in 2002.
His fifth and final marriage was to Beth Barmore, who had long been a part of Dog’s life before they officially tied the knot on May 20, 2006. Together with Beth, Dog ran his Bail Bonds business and she frequently appeared on Dog the Bounty Hunter. Tragically, Beth passed away due to throat cancer in June 2019 while in Hawaii.
Dog The Bounty Hunter Legacy
Dog the Bounty Hunter continues to be a fan favorite with many tuning in to watch him bring justice to those who evade the law. Throughout his career, Dog has shown dedication and commitment to tracking down criminals and providing people a second chance at life. He is an inspiration for us all of how you can turn your personal struggles into something positive. Although Dog is no longer actively bounty hunting, his inspirational story will continue to be remembered for generations to come.
Currently, Dog The Bounty Hunter net worth is estimated to be around $6 million.
Must read: Ozzy Osbourne Net Worth