AMERICAN Pickers star Frank Fritz has struggled to pay off over $5,000 in property taxes on his $155,000 Iowa farmhouse after he was fired from the show.
Frank, 58, was fired from American Pickers in July after he took time off the series to recover from back surgery.
The Celeb Report can exclusively reveal Frank missed the September 1, 2021 and March 1, 2022 tax payments on his Iowa home, making the total debt $3,402, according to the Scott County Treasurer’s Office.
Frank bought the Iowa farmhouse for $130,000 back on May 14, 2010.
As for the adjoining property that he purchased in 2013 for $25,000, he also missed the September 1, 2021 and March 1, 2022 payments, as he owes $1,636.
His grand total in property tax debt is $5,038.
IOWA FARMHOUSE
The 1,660 square-foot farmhouse sits on .79 acres of land, and features two bedrooms and one bathroom.
The home also boasts a basement, three garages, barn and shed.
Frank renovated the farmhouse from when he bought it, as he painted it blue with white shutters, according to photos obtained from the Scott County Assessor’s Office.
Frank built a 3,240 square-foot warehouse in 2015.
FRANK’S SOBER JOURNEY
As The Celeb Report reported, Frank last appeared on American Pickers during a March 2020 episode, as he took time off to recover from back surgery, which left him with 185 stitches and two rods in his spine.
During his time off the show, Frank lost 65 pounds, as he is living a healthier lifestyle and is sober from alcohol.
He also told The Celeb Report that he entered rehab for alcohol addiction in Iowa for 77 days.
Frank previously said: “I went to rehab and I’ve been sober now for 11 months.
“I didn’t like drinking anymore. My mom was an alcoholic and she died five years ago and it was alcohol-related. My grandfather was an alcoholic and he died. That didn’t sit well with me.”
Frank said of his time in treatment: “They gave me a lot of information and we were booked up for 13 or 14 hours a day. There was no sitting around watching TV or eating food. You were scheduled out for an hour, then an hour and half, all through the day.
“They really give you a lot of one-on-one time. I read 12 self-help books while I was there. I didn’t f**k around. I really got into it. I went there to learn and get the most out of it that I possibly could.
“I had a great time there and I helped other people who were having problems too. It’s one of the best things that have happened to me.”
Frank continued that he goes to meetings “twice a week” after the stint.
He said: “I sit back and listen and if I get one thing out of one person, that’s enough. I have a couple of sponsors and I’m sponsoring people too.”
Frank said he would’ve been sober for a year if it weren’t for a relapse.
Frank was open about wanting to return to American Pickers after his hiatus, as he said: “I’d still like to get back to my job, I miss my friends and my people and being on the road and meeting all those different characters.”
FRANK’S FIRING
But Mike revealed in July that Frank had been fired from the show.
He wrote on Instagram: “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me. The journey that Frank, Dani and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding.
“The support that you all have given us has been a constant reminder of what the show’s message has always been; thru these places, people, and things we all have a common thread. We’re here to not only take care of the past, but also each other.”
Mike concluded: “I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
FEUDING CO-STARS
The co-stars had been feuding, as Frank previously told The Celeb Report of their falling out: “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years. He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.
“The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much.
“That’s fine. It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man. I found my spot, I’m second and he’s number one on the show. That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.”
Mike’s younger brother Robbie replaced the original cast member.
Ratings have struggled since the cast shakeup, as viewers have vowed to boycott the show over Frank’s absence.
