Last Updated on February 28, 2024
Who Is Paul Teutul Sr.?
Paul John Teutul Sr. is an American entrepreneur, reality television personality, television producer, actor, and author.
Teutul is best known for being the founder of Orange County Choppers (OCC), an American custom motorcycles manufacturer and lifestyle brand company that’s based in Newburgh, Orange County, New York. The company was founded in 1999.
On television, John Teutul is most noted for his role in the reality series American Chopper. The series, which is produced by Pilgrim Films & Television and airs on the Discovery Channel, debuted in September 2002. It centers on Teutul (frequently known as Senior) and his son Paul Teutul Jr. (also called Paulie or Junior) as they manufacture personalized chopper-style motorcycles.
Besides American Chopper, Paul Teutul’s other notable television project includes the reality series Orange County Choppers. The show premiered on the CMT television channel in 2013.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Paul John Teutul Sr. |
Popular Name: | Paul Teutul Sr. |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | May 1, 1949 |
Age: | 73 years |
Parents: | Paul Teutul and Helen Blauchut Malara Teutul |
Siblings: | Unknown |
Birth Place: | Yonkers, New York, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | Mixed (White, German, and Austrian) |
Education: | Pearl River High School |
Marital Status: | In a relationship with Joan Bulger-Kay (since 2011); was previously marred to Paula Teutul (from 1969 until their divorce in 1995) and Beth Ann Santos (from 2007 until their divorce in 2015) |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Joan Bulger-Kay |
Children: | Paul Teutul Jr., Michael “Mikey” Teutul, Christin Teutul, and Daniel Teutul (all from his first marriage to Paula Teutul) |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD 1 million |
Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneurship, Reality Television, Television Producing, Acting, Writing, and Other Ventures |
Height: | 6′ 0″ (1.83 m) |
Weight: | 98 kg; In pounds: 216 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Paul John Teutul Sr. was born on May 1, 1949, in Yonkers, New York, United States, to Paul Teutul and Helen Blauchut Malara Teutul. At the age of 18, John Teutul joined the United States Merchant Marines and subsequently participated in the Vietnam War.
Teutul took an avid interest in motorcycles in the ‘70s. He claims to have been inspired by motorcycle-themed films like Hells Angels on Wheels and Easy Rider.
After riding bikes for some time, Teutul took his passion a notch higher by getting involved in fabrication work.
In 1973, Paul John Teutul Sr. launched Paul’s Welding, a fabrication business in New York. He started off with a single pick-up truck and one welding machine.
With time, Paul Teutul Sr. was able to expand his fabrication business to a 7,000-square-foot Rock Tavern facility. He subsequently renamed the company from Paul’s Welding to Orange County Iron, finally changing the name to Orange County Ironworks, LLC in 2004.
Orange Country Ironworks moved from a general fabrication business to a custom motorcycle manufacturer. Paul Teutul Sr. eventually handed over the controls of the company to his son Daniel Teutul.
In 1999, Teutul founded Orange County Choppers (OCC) in Newburgh, New York. OCC is a custom bike manufacturer and lifestyle brand company.
After a successful career in motorcycle manufacturing, Paul John Teutul Sr. began venturing into television. Teutul launched the series American Chopper in September 2002. The series premiered on Discovery Channel in 2003 and ran until 2010 before production stopped and resumed in 2018. It features Teutul and his son Paul Teutul Jr. as they showcase their skills in manufacturing customized chopper-style bikes.
American Chopper since spawned various spinoffs, including American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior (2010–2012), Orange County Choppers (2013–2014), and Orange County Choppers: American Made (2015–2016). The series has also led to several specials, such as American Chopper Live: The Build Off (2011) and Chopper Live: The Revenge (2012).
In 2020, Paul John Teutul Sr. closed the Newburgh Orange County Choppers location. In June 2021, he opened the OCC Road House and Museum in Florida’s Pinellas Park. The facility features a billiards hall, floor games, bar & restaurant, and retail space.
Additional Television and Film Appearances
Paul John Teutul Sr. appeared in the 2007 film Wild Hogs. The following year, he appeared in an episode of the television series, My Name Is Earl.
Writing Career
Paul John Teutul Sr. published his first book, Orange County Choppers: The Tale of the Teutuls, in 2006.
He followed up with his second book in 2009, titled Ride of a Lifetime: Doing Business the Orange County Choppers Way.
Paul John Teutul Sr.’s Net Worth
Paul John Teutul Sr. carved himself a lucrative niche in the custom motorcycle industry through his Orange County Choppers Company. As of 2023, the motorbike enthusiast had a net worth of $1 million.
Teutul’s net worth may not be commensurate with his long career designing custom motorcycles. That’s probably due to the multiple lawsuits he has been subjected to. As of the time of writing, Paul Teutul Sr. has at least five outstanding lawsuits, most of which were filed by his former business associates.
Paul Teutul has also battled financial troubles of his own. In March 2018, Teutul filed for bankruptcy. According to details from the filing, Paul listed his assets and debts as $1,801,729 and $1,070,893, respectively. The filing also revealed that Teutul earned $15,000 monthly working as a steel fabricator and that his total monthly expenses stood at least $12,600.
Lessons from Paul John Teutul Sr.
1. Convert your passion into something useful
Paul John Teutul became interested in motorcycles at a young age. He was able to turn his passions into a full-time business by founding Orange County Choppers.
2. Explore multiple income streams
Teutul pursues numerous potentially income-generating ventures besides his role in Orange County Choppers. Examples include appearances on television and films, as well as writing.
3. Spare some thought for your hobbies
Paul Teutul hasn’t forgotten his hobbies despite being a fairly busy man. Teutul regularly shares photos and videos of him bike riding, fishing, and performing at karaoke.
Famous Quotes by Paul John Teutul Sr.
• Ever since we came back from Laconia, Paulie thinks he’s something else with his new girlfriend, new car, and new freaking Gucci watch or whatever kind of watch that is!
• I’ve been in the business a long time, and if there’s one thing I know about building a motorcycle, it’s that you have to have a motor.
• You know, everybody gives me a problem about the grinder facing up, and they think my middle name is “safety.” But it’s not… It’s “danger.” No, I’m kidding… It’s “Joseph.
Final Word
Paul John Teutul Sr. is an American motorcycle entrepreneur who converted his passion for motorbikes into a lucrative venture by founding Orange County Choppers.
Teutul is also known for his numerous television and film appearances, particularly for his role in the reality series American Chopper.