Originally posted on March 4, 2020 @ 10:53 am
Considering who America’s first-ever President was, the country really does love its rebels. We have no other way of explaining all the success and popularity of Discovery’s ‘Moonshiners‘ has been able to rack up through the years. The show does have some interesting content, its cast members, a group of outlaw moonshiners who have either a tradition or a livelihood on producing the world’s finest and illegal moonshine.
Right now, we will be discussing all of the ‘Moonshiners’ cast members that are one of the reasons behind the success of the show with their net worth and bio. We sense some skeptics on the show, so; we will be addressing if Moonshiners is real or fake. For the die-hard fans, we have info on Moonshiners’ new season as well, so stick by until the end.
Tim Smith’s Net Worth
We cannot start this list without one of the only two veteran and original cast members of ‘Moonshiners,’ Tim Smith. While most of you may remember him from the reality series, you should also know that Tim Smith is an actor. Among his many projects, the most notable one is certainly ‘Top Gun‘ starring Tom Cruise.
Despite his theatrical passion through college and early career, Tim Smith went back to his family traditions of moonshine as a third-generation moonshiner. It was his as well as his good friend and co-star. Tickle’s notoriety that got them the deal of a lifetime through the show ‘Moonshiners.’ He must receive a thrifty salary from the show itself, enough to build a good deal of net worth.
However, we feel that Tim Smith’s salary from his own business should be more significant in making up his net worth considering how successful it has been. If you are a fan you already know, Tim Smith, since 2013, has tried his hand in the legal liquor business and slowly but surely is growing it to large heights. Now his ‘Climax’ moonshine is available in Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Ever since the beginning, Tim Smith has had problems with meeting the production for the huge demand for his moonshine. He already collects a handsome salary, but if he can manage his business further, he can easily have a net worth for the billions. His verified net worth is pretty old, from 2015, which was estimated to be around $140,000. It was impressive in 2014, but considering how both his business and popularity has grown significantly since then, we can estimate his net worth as of 2020 is approximately $700,000.
Tim Smith Married Life and Kids
Tim Smith has been a married man since 1986, and the woman who tied down the rebel is Shelby Smith, his wife of over 34 years. Smith’s wife is a nutritionist for a school who is really great at taking care of the kids. She is also a churchgoer and is the coordinator behind the church’s summer programs. They together have a son together named JT Smith, who is also a supporting character in ‘Moonshiners.’
Steven Ray Tickle’s Net Worth & Married Life
Steven Ray Tickle is the second original cast member of ‘Moonshiners’ who truly captures the essence of the show. For an entire show based on illegal activity, we are surprised that other cast members do not land them in trouble as much as Steven Ray Tickle. Tickle has been a part of ‘Moonshiners’ since season 1.
In 2015 he was arrested and charged a year later in a three years sentence for possession of a sawed-off shotgun. However, a probation violation would further extend his sentence, meaning he was not able to commit fully to the show, completely missing out on season 8. However, he is out of jail and all set to return in the new season 9, perhaps his net worth has not taken too big a stumble in the meanwhile.
Tickle’s net worth as of 2016 was reported to be as much as $500,000, but it seems that year of absence from his life to serving time in prison. His net worth certainly took a big hit and as of 2018, stands at an estimate of $300,000. Being a reality star must be quite impressive to be able to earn such an amount.
Steven Ray Tickle married only recently on October 19, 2019, to his longtime sweetheart Carol making her Mrs. Tickle. His co-stars Tim Smith, Henry, and Kenny Law, were in attendance to see their friend get married along with Tickle’s former moonshining partner Howie.
Jeff Waldroup’s Net Worth; Where was Jeff Waldroup?
Jeff Waldroup and his son Lance Waldroup were one of the most favorite bootleggers from the show. They were a season late from being the original cast members of the show but have been loyal since. It is fun to see Jeff Waldroup’s teamwork and eventual bickering with his son Lance when he ends up doing something wrong.
Caption: Jeff Waldroup with son Lance in ‘Moonshiners’
The business has always been up and down for Jeff Waldroup, but over the years, things have been even more challenging for Jeff from ‘Moonshiners.’ It would certainly have affected his income and almost directly affect Jeff’s net worth. As of 2018, Jeff’s net worth from Moonshiners was estimated to be around $400,000.
However, from the business being down to Jeff completely missing out on season 8 of ‘Moonshiners.’ We think Jeff’s net worth as of 2020 is much less. Let us hope that he returns to the show and is just taking time off to help recover their business, not just for the sake of our entertainment but his net worth as well.
Mark Ramsey’s Net Worth
Mark Ramsey was born in the forests of Eastern Tennessee and grew up in the Appalachia Mountains. So, Ramsey is no stranger to living off the land that the moonshining business demands. However, like Tim Smith, Mark Ramsey has forever had the dream of running a legal business of liquors. That dream is finally gaining fruition with the help of his co-star partner Digger Manes.
Mark Ramsey has been appearing in Discovery’s ‘Moonshiners since season 2 as well, so hopefully, he has collected enough salary over the years to result in large net worth. However, Mark Raney’s business has also been booming lately. What is jointly known under the brand ‘Sugarland Shines,’ which includes whiskeys, ryes, and moonshines in different flavors, is what their company produces.
Caption: Mark Ramsey and Digger Mane’s legal Moonshine brand
So jointly, Mark Ramsey’s net worth as of 2018 was estimated to be around $300,000. In 2020 too, his net worth is expected to only grow with his business. With interesting new flavors in legal moonshine still made from traditional ways, Mark Ramsey’s business shows a lot of prospects from growth and development.
Eric “Digger” Manes’ Net Worth
Now let us talk about Digger Manes, his partner. We have already gone on to discuss their joint business, Sugarland Shines. We see why Mark Ramsey would choose Digger Manes to be his partner. Digger practically grew around moonshine and moonshine-making, and it would just so happen that he would meet and come to be the apprentice of the late legendary moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton.
Digger would eventually outdo even his master when coming up with creative ideas and experimental flavors. With his views, his company is bound for great things. Digger Manes has a net worth of approximately around $300,000, which is similar to that of Mark.
It is not very appalling to know that the BBF’s have matching net worth. Mark is married to a wife, and Digger’s married status isn’t available, but we sense a good bromance from longtime friends and partners.
Josh Owens’ Net Worth; know what happened to him?
Josh Owens is, without a doubt, the coolest guy in the ‘Moonshiners’ cast. He used to be a motocross racer and still loves to race in some other form like stock cars and vintage bikes. Of course, if moonshining wasn’t enough of a brush with death for Josh Owens, he is a speed junkie, and it has almost cost him his life many times.
The terrifying accident for Josh Owens was in 2018 when he crashed his motorcycle at 100mph speed. He had a broken nose, left collar bone, all but one of his left rib cages, which punctured his lungs, and he also tore his rotator cuff. Furthermore, he lost a finger, which was already partially amputated in an industrial accident from the past after scraping all the skin off to the bone.
All that hurt better mean that he is making some money, as seen from her net worth. Luckily, Josh Owens’ net worth is estimated to be around the sum of $400,000. He must receive a handsome salary from his appearance in Moonshiners, which began in season 2. He would never have had the chance to be on the show if he wasn’t a proper moonshiner, and then there is his racing career, so; we believe his net worth can easily sum up to that amount.
Bill Canny’s Net Worth
We can’t talk about Josh Owens without discussing his partner and friend Bill. Bill or Billy Canny, as well as Josh Owens, leaned how to moonshine under the same legend that was Barney Barnwell. Bill is also a master carpenter and builder so you can always count on him to build a great laboratory for creating moonshine, which will still be hidden from the law.
Bill Canny’s estimated net worth is estimated to be at the approximate of $150,000 as of 2020. With his partner and good friend, Josh being prone to so many accidents, he had to cover up for him a lot of times. He also likes Josh has been a part of the show since season 2 until season 6, so in that time frame has been able to garner quite a huge net worth.
Chico’ Net Worth; Did he Leave Moonshiners?
Chico was the ‘Moonshiners’ cast member who was always fearless and looking for opportunities to make money. He pours himself immensely into every project he can find, and it was the same for his career as a reality star in ‘Moonshiners.’ He was paid handsomely for it though as even though we do not know of his salary, just three years with the show was able to gain him a grand net worth, but it is unfortunately still under review.
We would be able to estimate Chico’s net worth more fluently had he stuck by the show, but as you know, he took an exit in season 8. The reason as to why he left the show was later found out to be his family. His wife, Sondra, had given birth to a son named Wyatt.
The birth of his son must have been like a sign to the usually fearless rebel Chico. After leaving the show, he has also gone legal with his work. He works with Olde Towne Distillery for producing legal Bourbons and Spirit Whiskeys. So, even though we do not know his net worth, we can say that he is well off.
David Parker and Patti Bryan’s Net Worth
David Parker and Pattie Bryan are the father and daughter duo who joined the cast of ‘Moonshiners’ quite late, only from only since season 5 but quickly have become a favorite among the fans. Parker is a North Carolina native, but she and her daughter have gained notoriety as one of the best, if not the best, moonshiners from Louisiana.
David and Patti are still relatively new to the celebrity scene, and thus we do not have a proper estimate on their net worth yet. Patti Bryan is married and has children, but the details or identity of her husband and kids are not available. Despite being married, Patti is still very close to her father, with whom she runs a moonshining business together.
Jim Tom Hendrick; What Happened to Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton?
Jim Tom Hendrick may not be the leading character of ‘Moonshiners,’ but there is not a fellow a cast member that respects him anymore. He is a legend in these parts, and so was his former partner, Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, who was like a mentor to both Tickle and Tim.
Sadly, Popcorn died on March 16, 2009. Jim Tom appeared in the series for six seasons but also left eventually but not before earning a net worth of approximately $200,000.
Moonshiners New Season
Moonshiners’ new season is currently running on its newest season, so we do not have many details like we usually do about premiere dates and the number of episodes with upcoming seasons. It was currently in its 9th season with its premiere date on November 19, 2019, and things are looking great so far.
https://www.facebook.com/Discovery/videos/2695351513819959/?t=0
Caption: Moonshiners season 9 promo
‘Moonshiners’ comes every Tuesday night at 10 pm EST and 9 pm CST. So, its most recent episode aired on February 18, 2020. Since Moonshiners typically have at least 20 episodes or more, it is coming to an end very quickly. So make sure you don’t miss out on the remainder of the show.
Is ‘Moonshiners’ Real or Fake?
Fans and Haters are a phenom of every good show or series in existence, so why should ‘Moonshiners’ be any different? Well, reality shows nowadays come under a lot of fire for trying to mislead their viewers, and ‘Moonshiners’ is a series about an illegal activity happening in large scales. So, people have a tendency to be skeptical about how no one is being reprimanded for it.
While the cast members of the show have been vocal about the reason as to why they are immune to arrests and charges, they simply say that they have to be caught in the act or some other formidable evidence for them to be arrested. Simply using the clips of the show will not be enough because, after all, they can dismiss it being an act with fake props. A man is innocent until proven guilty, after all.
We all do get to see how the Moonshiners take extra measures to hide deep into the forests to keep away from law and civil people. We will leave the people of the law to deal with this complex question and just enjoy the entertainment the show provides. What do you think? Is the show real or fake?
Moonshiners Cast Net Worth Table
| Moonshiners Cast | Net Worth |
| Tim Smith | $700,000 |
| Steven Ray Tickle | $300,000 |
| Jeff Waldroup | $400,000 |
| Mark Ramsey | $300,000 |
| Eric ‘Digger’ Manes | $300,000 |
| Josh Owens | $250,000 |
| Bill Canny | $150,000 |
| Chico | Under review |
| David Parker | Under review |
| Patti Bryan | Under review |
| Jim Tom Hendrick | $200,000 |