What is Rick Petko's net worth?
Rick Petko is an American motorbike enthusiast and reality TV star who has a net worth of $2 million. Rick Petko earned fame and a large chunk of his fortune as a motorcycle fabricator for Orange County Choppers, which was chronicled on the reality TV show "American Chopper."
Early Life
Richard Petko was born in Pennsylvania in 1968.
His passion for racing and motorcycles began at an early age when he started riding mini bikes. He then progressed to go-karts, three wheelers, four wheelers, dirt bikes and Harleys – every bikers' ultimate dream.
Metal Work
After graduating from high school he took a job as a crane operator then coldsaw operated for Bethlehem Steel. At some point around this time Rick left Bethlehem and enrolled in welding school with the goal of ultimately working on NASCAR chassis. After graduating from welding school he took a job in the driving school at his local NASCAR track, the Pocono Raceway. He worked there for five years, during which time he also worked for the Hooters Pro Cup team.
For the next decade Rick worked in industrial metalwork contracting all over the east coast. He primarily worked on industrial kilns, furnaces and precious metal ovens. Through this work he began dabbling in automotive and eventually motorcycle restoration.
This side project is what ultimately led Petko to being hired by Orange County Choppers.
American Chopper
Petko eventually moved away from racing and joined the team at Orange County Choppers.
Orange County Choppers is world renowned and praised for their custom motorcycles. Their work, which is led by father/son duo Paul Teutul and Paul Teutul, Jr, ultimately led to a reality TV show on the Discovery Channel (later aired on TLC).
When the show was first aired in March 2003, it was evident that Rick Petko was the one of hardest working guys in the show. He worked at OCC from 2003 to 2016 and appeared on some form of the show from 2003 to 2012. As a member of the OCC team, Petko was involved in one of their most memorable projects, the POW/MIA Bike.
Petko was a regular on the American Chopper's spin off, "American Chopper: Senior vs Junior," which was first aired on TLC and later the Discovery Channel. Launched in 2010, the show reveals the bitter rivalry between OCC and Paul Junior Designs. He appeared in a 2014 Discovery special "American Chopper: Shaq Bike."
In 2012 Rick left OCC to launch his own motorcycle fabrication business in Stroudsburg, P.A. There were also speculation that Petko had joined, Paul Jr. Design, working for fellow Chopper Paul Teutul, Jr.
RPD & CO
After leaving Orange County Choppers in 2012, Rick moved back to Stroudsburg, PA to be closer to family and focus on his custom metalwork company RPD & CO. In addition to custom vintage bikes, RPD makes custom knives, wedding bands and performs various other custom metal welding. He runs the business from his farm in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania.
He also ran the custom fabrication shop at the Pocono Mountain Harley Davidson dealership.
Personal Life
Rick Petko married Brittany Cockeram in 2012. Their wedding was featured on American Chopper. They have two daughters.
Real Estate
In September 2007 Rick Petko paid $320,000 for a 3-acre property in Bath, Pennsylvania.
