If you look him up, he mentions going broke a couple times trying to start gas monkey. It's not like he got a show and became rich... he spent many years to get where he is. He was with Arron working on one of the builds on Overhaulin many years ago. He may not work on cars now, but he did at least some in the past.

I really liked the show when it first came on the air, but can barely stand watching it now. Not really cause of Rawlings either.