Dave Hester walked back onto the storage auction lot in June 2025 as a surprise addition to Storage Wars Season 16, marking his first appearance since suffering a serious stroke in 2018 that had forced him out of public life. His return was not teased in promos, and there was no press buildup—he simply appeared, bidding as if he had never left. Hester later revealed he spent months in physical therapy relearning how to walk, speak, and function, and that doctors doubted he would ever fully recover. His comeback was not warmly received by everyone.
Old tensions resurfaced immediately, with several cast members, including Brandy Pasante, Renee Nazoda, and Ivy Calvin, having complicated histories with Hester dating back to earlier seasons. Production sources said the mood behind the cameras was tense, and some cast members reportedly refused to film with him in the same scene. Renee allegedly said off camera, “We’re not friends. We never were,” a quote that later went viral in fan forums.
Producers leaned into the friction, using edited group shots to let the cold war play out on screen. Season 16 marked A&E’s revival of the show after a multi-year lull, and it came with significant format changes. For the first time in the show’s history, episodes expanded to a full hour, allowing deeper coverage of bidding strategies, rivalries, and personal moments. The returning cast included Brandy Pasante, Dave Hester, Kenny Crossley, Ivy Calvin, Renee and Casey Nazoda, Lisa Delarios, Dusty Riatch, and auctioneers Dan and Laura Dodson.
Viewership surged, particularly among millennials who had grown up with the show since its 2010 debut. Kenny Crossley, known for his loud laugh, wild outfits, and unpredictable energy, continued to play the role of comic tactician. In interviews, he admitted his entire persona is a psychological tool designed to throw off other bidders. He said, “I learned real quick that making people laugh gives you power.
They stop watching your hands. ” His online following has grown substantially, with his clips often going viral and his one-liners turning into memes, helping modernize the show’s reach. Brandy Pasante underwent a major reinvention. In June 2025, she launched The Real Reality with Brandy Pasante, a podcast in which she opened up about her abusive childhood, her complicated breakup with Jared Schultz, her experiences as a single mom, and years of holding the show together while her personal life unraveled.
She said in the first episode, “I spent years being told who I was supposed to be. Now, I’m going to tell you who I really am. ” The podcast drew immediate praise from fans and critics, with many acknowledging she had long been the real anchor of the show. Brandy’s relationship with Jared Schultz, her longtime on-screen partner, had deteriorated publicly over the years.
They split quietly after Season 12, but continued filming together for nearly two years before the tension became visible on screen. In Season 13, they appeared as rivals bidding against each other. In May 2021, Jared was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after allegedly pushing Brandy during a bar altercation. Brandy reportedly asked him to leave, he refused, and police were called.
Jared denied touching her, but the charge was filed. Brandy was awarded full custody of their two children, Payton, who was born deaf, and Cameron, who had faced kidney issues. Since then, Brandy has rebuilt her life. In 2023, she introduced a new relationship with Clifford Beaver, a real estate agent and bar owner from Lake Forest.
Fans noticed a visible change in her demeanor, with one commenting on Instagram, “You look free. Like you finally exhaled. ” In 2019, she partnered with Women’s Own Worth, a nonprofit for domestic abuse survivors, and helped raise over $100,000 at their Wapalooa charity event. Her advocacy came from lived experience.
In February 2025, Brandy posted a cryptic photo from inside a recording studio with the caption, “She back. Stay tuned,” sparking speculation about another upcoming project. By 2025, her estimated net worth exceeds $2 million, including Storage Wars earnings of roughly $15,000 per episode across more than 260 episodes, plus income from thrift stores, spin-offs like Brandy and Jared: Married to the Job, merchandise lines, and public appearances. She once said, “This was never about being famous.
It was about building something when I had nothing. ”
Daryl Sheets, known as The Gambler, made a quiet exit from the show after suffering two heart attacks. He last appeared regularly in Season 14, and after a serious health scare in 2019, he stepped away from the cameras. Updates from his son Brandon and former castmates indicated he moved to Arizona and focused on a slower lifestyle involving fishing, family, and faith.
Season 16 included a brief tribute to him, with a flashback montage and a voiceover celebrating his contribution to the show. Gunter Nazoda, father of Renee, passed away in March 2023 from lung cancer at age 67. He had appeared in several seasons alongside his son, known for his gentle smile, thick accent, and supportive presence. Renee posted a tearful tribute online, saying his father passed peacefully and was “the best dad and grandfather you could ever ask for.
” He said, “He wasn’t just my dad. He was my partner, my friend, and my hero. ” A&E aired a short in memoriam segment during Season 16. Barry Weiss, known as The Collector, has still not returned to the show.
He left after Season 4 to live a quieter life, but suffered serious injuries in a 2019 motorcycle crash, including broken bones and chest trauma requiring multiple surgeries. Since then, he has kept a low profile, avoiding social media and interviews. Friends say he focuses on his health and spends time with family, occasionally appearing at collector events in California. As of 2025, there is no confirmed return planned.
The show’s credibility faced a major challenge in 2012, when Dave Hester filed a lawsuit claiming the show was rigged. He alleged producers planted valuable items inside lockers before filming, including BMWs, rare newspapers, and gold coins, and that he had evidence in the form of emails, prop rentals, and reimbursement checks. He also claimed cast members, including Brandy and Jared, were allegedly asked to supply flashy items in exchange for a fee. The lawsuit dragged on with parts dismissed and other claims quietly settled.
A&E denied wrongdoing, but fan trust was shaken. Hester also cited potential violations of the Communications Act of 1934, which bans rigging contests or broadcasts. Since its 2010 debut, Storage Wars has expanded into a global franchise, airing in over 220 countries and inspiring spin-offs in the UK, Canada, and South Africa. Season 16 reflects the franchise’s evolution with longer episodes, higher production values, deeper character arcs, and integrated social media campaigns.
A&E executives have begun testing new concepts, including hybrid episodes with online-only bidders, celebrity guests, and live auctions broadcast in real time. Fans continue to watch for the sound of a metal door rolling up and the mystery of what’s inside, even as questions about the show’s authenticity persist. CONTENT ends here.
