Laura Dotson is a well-known American auctioneer and television personality, best recognized for her role on A&E Network’s hit reality show Storage Wars. Born Laura Christine Payton on May 13, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, she gained fame as a cast member of the series, which aired from 2010 to 2015. With a career spanning decades, Dotson has built a reputation in the auction industry and amassed considerable wealth along the way.
Laura Dotson’s Net Worth and Career Beginnings
As of 2017, authoritative sources estimated Laura Dotson’s net worth to be around $5 million. Her wealth comes primarily from her career as an auctioneer, as well as her television appearances.
Dotson grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, and was introduced to auctioneering at the age of 20. In 1996, she met Dan Dotson, a seasoned auctioneer and the owner of American Auctioneers, a company established in 1983. Leveraging her knowledge and experience, Laura became Dan’s business partner and eventually co-owner of the company. Today, she serves as the company’s manager.
American Auctioneers and Storage Auctions
American Auctioneers specializes in various types of auctions, including estate sales, business inventory liquidations, legal foreclosures, and storage unit auctions. Laura Dotson personally oversees an average of two auctions per day, six days a week.
She also founded StorageAuctions.net, a platform that provides self-storage auction listings across the United States and Canada. Through her company, Dotson is involved in handling over 3,000 auctions and appraisals annually, contributing significantly to her financial success.
Rise to Fame on Storage Wars
In 2010, Laura and Dan Dotson joined Storage Wars, a reality TV series that follows professional buyers bidding on storage units that have gone into default. Over the years, the show became widely popular as buyers discovered valuable and sometimes surprising items inside these units. Laura appeared in more than 100 episodes of the series before its initial cancellation in 2015 due to a decline in ratings. However, Storage Wars has remained a significant part of her public recognition.
Television Appearances and Other Ventures
Before Storage Wars, Laura Dotson had already made appearances on television. In 1984, she was featured on the family game show The Price is Right. Over the years, she has also appeared on programs such as Early Edition, Let’s Make a Deal, Happening Now, Fox & Friends, Anderson Live, Hot in Cleveland, and Home & Family.
In 2012, she worked as a consultant for Storage Wars, and in 2016, she served as an executive producer for the thriller movie Fragmented. These endeavors have further contributed to her professional success and financial growth.
Personal Life
Laura Dotson has been married to Dan Dotson for over 20 years. The couple resides in San Bernardino, California, where they continue to manage and grow their auction business.
With a strong presence in the auction industry and a legacy in reality television, Laura Dotson remains a prominent figure in the world of auctioneering and entertainment.