Though he’s probably used to all the cameras on him now, Paul Sr. was actually camera shy back then! As a child, he found it particularly difficult to be comfortable with the idea of being around cameras.
We couldn’t even find pictures of the elder Teutul!
Steel-Maker
Before he earned his massive fortune, Paul Sr. actually came from very humble beginnings working in the steel industry. Before getting into bikes, he was fabricating steel and iron.
In fact, he launched his own ironworks shop in Rock Tavern, New York in 1973 and it’s still open today!
Not A Fan
Though American Chopper has tons of fans around the world, Mikey is actually not one of them. When he was asked by an interviewer if he watches the show, Mikey responded with a firm “no way.”
He probably doesn’t want to be re-watching all the drama that he moved on from already!
Surprise Success
When American Chopper became a huge hit, the Teutul family instantly went from total unknowns to actual celebrities!
Imagine just receiving love and messages from people all around the world hoping to meet them, see their choppers, and get autographs!
Paul Sr. Said No
After the father-son relationship fell, Paul Jr. decided to open up his own shop. This eventually became the spark and beginning of the network’s new show.
They initially approached Paul Sr. but he wasn’t too keen on the idea. He obviously eventually agreed and the show American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior was born!