Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz, known as the “Young Guns,” were part of A&E’s hit reality show Storage Wars from the very first season.

When the series debuted in 2010, nobody anticipated that a reality show focused on bidding for abandoned storage lockers would turn out to be so captivating.

Yet, Storage Wars remains one of A&E’s most popular programs today, thanks largely to its vibrant cast of characters.

One of the standout personalities is undoubtedly Brandi Passante.

Producers first heard about Brandi and Jarrod through their secondhand store in Orange County, California. The couple had started their locker-bidding business to find items for their thrift shop, ”Now and Then.”

During an auction, Jarrod was approached about joining Storage Wars — but then nearly a year went by without any word. Finally, the producers called back and asked if they could come and film at the couple’s store. When the camera crew arrived, they found Brandi managing the cash register.

The crew asked about the girl at the front and if she would be interested in being on TV. In an interview with The Saline Courier, Passante explained that they were initially just asked to be on camera for a few minutes. She didn’t expect it to mean so much, but Brandi would soon be one of the most famous faces in reality TV.

However, fame came with a price.

”It’s a blessing and a curse,” Passante told the Register.

”Sometimes you just want to go to the grocery store and pick up some milk.”

Stressful environment

Brandi and Jarrod got together just before the turn of the millennium and had been working together for quite some time before the show premiered.

Their somewhat complicated relationship and playful banter made them immensely popular. While arguing had always been part of their dynamic, the presence of cameras added an extra layer of intrigue.

Bickering or laughing, Brandi and Jarrod showcased all the facets of their arguments and tender moments, making their relationship relatable to the everyday viewer.

Working together under stressful conditions while being a couple can be incredibly challenging. Brandi experienced this firsthand and was careful to establish boundaries about what was acceptable and what was not.

”We figured out a balance because we’re together 24/7,” Passante told Pep.ph in 2016. ”You cannot bring your work life into your home life, so whatever conflict we ever had during the day, we let it go when we come home.”

Her boyfriend was on the same page.

”You really have to separate the drama that happens at the auction from the life that you have once you walk in the house,” Jarrod explained. ”You really have to. A lot of the times, we pick it back up tomorrow when we get back to the shop but we don’t take it home. We don’t talk about it during the dinner, we just really have to check it at the door.”

Leaving Storage Wars

Fans eagerly awaiting season 5 of Storage Wars were disappointed to learn that Brandi and Jarrod were absent for parts of the season. The reason? They were offered their own spin-off series, Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job.

The new opportunity prompted them to temporarily step away from the original Storage Wars cast.

This spin-off showed the real lives of the couple and their two children, Payton and Cameron Schulz, who were young at the time. Onscreen, the parents bickered, cracked jokes, and got their hands dirty while working at their thrift store.

The series gave viewers an up-close look at the family as they worked in their shop and cared for their children, Payton and Cameron Schulz. While landing their own spin-off showcased their immense popularity, the new show didn’t become a major hit. It wasn’t long before Brandi and Jarrod made their return to Storage Wars.

Breaking up

The plan was for Brandi and Jarrod to tie the knot on Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job, and A&E promoted their spin-off with this very idea. The wedding was meant to be the grand finale of the first season

”After 15 years together, Brandi and Jarrod finally decide to tie the knot, and they approach wedding planning in a way that only they could: with a little love, a lot of bickering and constant detours along the way,” A&E described the spinoff in a press release.

In the end, the wedding never happened. Their own reality show might actually have been the beginning of the end.

Spending every moment together – working at their shop, filming, raising their kids, and being together 24/7 – eventually took a toll on their relationship.

In 2019, rumors began swirling that Brandi and Jarrod had split. Fans noticed that Jarrod almost never featured in her Instagram posts. Instead, a mysterious, unknown man started making occasional appearances. On her Instagram, it was clear that Brandi was living a different kind of life. She started showcasing her figure more and posted many pictures of herself having a great time with her friends.

Eventually, Brandi decided to set the record straight. In an interview with The Dad Diary on Facebook, she revealed that her relationship with Jarrod had actually ended back in 2018, confirming what many had suspected.

As more details emerged, they painted an unflattering picture of Jarrod. The exact cause of the breakup and why the couple split remains unclear. However, what we do know is that Brandi has accused her ex-partner of being an absent father.

”Teenagers are tough, especially when you’re doing it by yourself,” she stated.

I the The Dad Diary interview, Brandi referred to herself as the primary caregiver.

Meanwhile, Jarrod announced that he had found a new partner and started a relationship with Rochel Beckman.

Calling Jarrod an ”idiot”

Even after their split, Brandi and Jarrod continued to appear on Storage Wars, though separately. Their strained relationship became evident on screen, especially during their competitive bidding wars.

Despite their personal issues, most viewers felt that the former couple managed their private matters with a degree of professionalism, not letting their problems interfere too much. The most dramatic incident on the show was when Brandi called Jarrod an ”idiot” once, but overall, they kept their conflicts relatively contained.

Things took a dramatic turn in April 2021 when the exes crossed paths at a bar in Orange County. According to TMZ, Brandi was at the bar with friends when Jarrod showed up.

Their encounter quickly escalated from a verbal altercation to a physical confrontation. TMZ reported that Jarrod allegedly shoved a stunned Brandi twice. As a result, he was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence battery. Neither Jarrod nor Brandi has publicly commented on the incident.

Brandi tattoo meaning

Brandi’s fans have noticed a distinctive tattoo on her finger and many have linked it to the events at the bar in April 2021.

The Storage Wars star has inked the word ”Free,” which some interpret as a reminder of her independence and escape from a tumultuous near-marriage.

”To me, it means that somehow, by the grace of god, I managed to escape a very difficult situation, that so many people fall victim to. I will be eternally grateful, for the life and freedom, without fear that I get to live now. I am also grateful for the empathy and grace, that I am able to give others as a result of the things, that I have endured! I love you all & thank you for all the support!,” she wrote on Instagram.

In a Youtube interview with Spirit Talk, she also discussed this topic:

”I wasn’t really allowed to have an identity for many, many years. And so these last couple of years, I’m kind of coming into my own and figuring out who I am.”

There’s no doubt that this cause is close to Brandi’s heart. Outside of her work with second-hand items and her role on Storage Wars, she is deeply involved in charity work. Brandi actively supports Women’s Own Worth, an organization that raises awareness about domestic violence and funds to assist victims. She has personally helped raise $100,000 for the organization.

But her philanthropy doesn’t stop there. In recent years, Brandi has also focused on advocating for children’s disability rights, inspired by her own experience. Her daughter, Payton, was born with a hearing impairment and was initially deaf, but a successful surgery resolved the issue. Brandi has used her social media platforms to share empowering videos for children with disabilities.

Brandi Passante today

Today, Brandi Passante has moved past her turbulent split with Jarrod Schulz. She has navigated personal and professional challenges with grace, including her high-profile breakup and her work in charity.

And not long ago, she dropped a much-anticipated announcement.

Brandi Passante is now joyfully embracing a new chapter in her life with her new boyfriend, Clifford Beaver. Clifford is a real estate agent and the owner of Our Place Bar & Grill in Lake Forest, California.

The couple appears deeply in love, and from the photos, it’s clear that Brandi has found genuine happiness once again. Clifford, who has his own children, seems to be a great fit for Brandi, and their relationship seems to bring a new sense of joy and fulfillment to her life.

At 44, Brandi still looks fabulous. She continues to appear on the latest seasons of Storage Wars and seems to be truly enjoying life. Having experienced so much heartache, she certainly deserves all the happiness.