Les Gold is an American pawnbroker, reality television star, author, and media personality. He is best known for his role on truTV’s cable and satellite reality television series Hardcore Pawn.
Gold was born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 20, 1950. He is the grandson of a pawnbroker and is the third-generation owner of American Jewelry and Loan, a pawnbroker in Detroit.
Gold opened his first business at age 12, buying pizza and reselling it by the slice to his classmates at Hebrew School. He opened American Jewelry and Loan in 1978, and the business has since grown to five locations.
File
- Full name: Leslie Gold
- Date of birth: June 20, 1950
- Age: 73 years
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Detroit, Michigan
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Pawnbroker, Reality TV Star, Author, Media Celebrity
Early life and education
Leslie Gold, now 73, was born on June 20, 1950, into a family of pawnbrokers. His grandfather, Sam Gold, opened a pawnshop in Detroit in 1918.
Gold’s father, Harry Gold, took over the business in the 1950s and Les Gold began working there as a teenager.
Gold attended Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Michigan. After graduating from high school, he attended Wayne State University, where he studied business. However, after two years, he dropped out of college to focus on his family’s business.
Personal life
Gold is married to Lilli Gold. They have two children together, Seth Gold and Ashley Broad. Seth Gold is also a pawnbroker and appears on Hardcore Pawn with his father.
Career
Gold opened American Jewelry and Loan in 1978. The store was originally located in Oak Park, Michigan, but moved to its current location in Detroit in 1993. American Jewelry and Loan is now one of the largest pawn shops in the United States.
In 2009, Gold began appearing on the reality television series Hardcore Pawn. The show followed the day-to-day operations of American Jewelry and Loan, and was a ratings success for truTV. Gold became a popular character on the show, known for his outspoken and flamboyant personality.
Gold is known for his outspoken and flamboyant personality. He is often seen on Hardcore Pawn haggling with customers over the prices of their items.
He is also known for catchphrases like “You’re killing me, Smalls!” And “I’m not here to make friends“ .
In addition to his work at Hardcore Pawn, Gold also wrote a book, For What It’s Worth: Business Wisdom from a Pawnbroker. The book was published in 2011.
Net worth
Gold’s net worth is estimated to be $15 million.
His wealth comes from his successful business, American Jewelry and Loan, along with income from Hardcore Pawn.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
