Discover american pickers star dies, how rich Bob Peterson was and how he influenced people, especially Mike Wolfe from ‘American Pickers’. Learn about his big wealth and the lasting mark he left on others, showing he was more than just his money.
In October 2022, something very sad happened in the world of “American Pickers.” Mike Wolfe, who’s a big part of the show, told everyone that his mentor, Bob Petersen, had died. Bob was 72 years old and had been on the show a few times. Mike Wolfe wrote a really heartfelt message on Instagram to remember his mentor and friend.
American Pickers Star Dies: Health Issues Among Cast Members
After Bob Petersen died, other people on “American Pickers” also faced health problems. Frank Fritz, who’s really important on the show, has been very sick for a while. Doctors aren’t too hopeful, but he’s fighting hard and was even seen hanging out with friends near the Quad Cities not too long ago.

Other Losses in American Pickers
Over the years, the show has seen other sad losses. Ronald “Moleman” Heist, who was in the show’s early episodes, passed away in 2011. Mike Wolfe shared his feelings about losing his friend on Instagram, thankful for the times they spent together.
Who Else From American Pickers Passed Away
More cast members from “American Pickers” have died over the years. Ronald “Moleman” Heist, who was in one episode in 2015, died in March 2023 when he was 72. His heart stopped working properly because of heart disease. Bob Petersen also died in September 2022 when he was 72, but no one knows why. Both Heist and Petersen loved collecting things and left behind a lot of stuff. Mike Wolfe wrote about both of them on his Instagram to remember them.

Cause of Death of Ronald Heist
The Butler County Coroner’s Office in Pennsylvania said that Ronald “Moleman” Heist died because his heart had an irregular beat due to heart disease. He died in his sleep on March 7, 2023, at 72 years old. Bob Petersen, another guest who was on the show a lot, also died in September 2022 at 72, but we don’t know why he died.
Ronald Heist’s Age When He Died
Ronald C. “Moleman” Heist left us in his sleep on March 7, 2023. He was 72 years old. Born on May 7, 1950, in Butler, Pennsylvania, Ronald was the oldest child of Mary L. Heist and Charles P. Heist Jr. He lived a very colourful life and was known for being really funny. He collected lots of things and left a huge pile of these for his brothers and sisters to go through. Ronald’s family, including his brothers Timothy and James, sisters Cathy, Debra, and Christine, his niece Autumn, and nephews Clayton, Matthew, Michael, and Christopher, will remember him.
Impact of Bob Petersen’s Death on American Pickers
Bob Petersen’s death affected “American Pickers” and its fans a lot. Here’s what happened:
Mike Wolfe’s Tribute
Mike Wolfe, who’s a big part of the show and learned a lot from Petersen, wrote a really touching letter on Instagram. He talked about how grateful he was for the time they spent together and what he learned from Petersen.
Fans’ Reactions
Fans of “American Pickers” felt really sad about Petersen’s passing. They shared their feelings on social media and online forums, saying how much they liked his unique way of doing things and what he knew about picking.
Petersen’s Legacy
Bob Petersen was really into cars and good at making his inventions. His obituary talked about this passion. He left a mark on people’s lives, especially Mike Wolfe’s.

The Show Goes On
Even after losing Petersen and other cast members facing tough times, “American Pickers” keeps going. They’re still making new episodes for their fans. The show has had to deal with other challenges, like Frank Fritz leaving and Ronald “Moleman” Heist passing away.
Bob Peterson’s Net Worth
Bob Peterson, who was really successful, had a lot of money. In 2024, people thought he had about $105.5 million. But, there are different guesses about his wealth. Forbes magazine in 2007 said he was worth $400 million. In 2023, a website called GuruFocus thought he had at least $317,682, and another site, Wallmine, guessed about $11.1 million. With all these different numbers, it’s hard to say exactly how much he had, but it’s clear he was pretty rich.
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Mike Wolfe’s Reaction to Bob Petersen’s Death
Mike Wolfe, who is famous for “American Pickers,” was very close to Bob Petersen, who was like a teacher to him. When Petersen died on September 27, 2022, Wolfe felt really sad. He wrote a very touching message on social media, thanking Petersen for teaching him and being a big part of his life. Here are some important things about Wolfe’s reaction:
- Wolfe Saw Petersen as a Big Teacher
- Mike Wolfe said Bob Petersen was his biggest mentor and really important in his life.
- Wolfe’s Tribute
- In his tribute, Wolfe talked a lot about how Petersen loved life and inspired people.
- Reaction of American Pickers Cast
- The other main people on “American Pickers” also felt sad about losing Petersen.
- Fans’ Responses
- Many fans wrote on Mike Wolfe’s posts, saying nice things about Petersen and how he affected the show.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Bob Peterson was really rich, with people saying he had between $11.1 million and $400 million. Even though these numbers are different, it’s clear he had a lot of money. When he died in 2022, it really affected a lot of people, especially Mike Wolfe from “American Pickers.” Wolfe looked up to Peterson a lot and shared how important he was to him. The other people on “American Pickers” and the fans also felt sad about Peterson’s death and remembered how he influenced many. So, Peterson will be remembered not just for his wealth but also for how he helped and inspired people in his work and life.