Fans of the History Channel’s American Pickers were flummoxed when long-time co-host Frank Fritz started to disappear from the show in Season 21 (he was recovering from extensive back surgery). They were rocked when he was fired prior to Season 22, with speculation that a fallout with co-host Mike Wolfe was the reason, then again when Fritz suffered a stroke in July 2022. But the news that Fritz passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60, was devastating. That should have been the end of his story, if only for the shocking contestation of Fritz’s will by his father, William “Bill” Fritz.
‘American Pickers’ Starts off Strong, but Lost What Made It Special Without Fritz
American Pickers started off strong, with 3.1 million viewers tuning in to catch the January 18, 2010, premiere. At the time, this made it the most-watched series premiere for the network, besting 2007’s launch of Ice Road Truckers. The success of the series has kept it on the air ever since, with Wolfe confirming a 27th season. The narration that leads off each episode of the show sums up the premise in a nutshell:
[W]e’re pickers. We travel the back roads of America looking to buy rusty gold.
We’re looking for amazing things buried in people’s garages and barns. What most people see as junk, we see as dollar signs. We’ll buy anything we think we can make a buck on. Each item we pick has a history all its own. And the people we meet? Well, they’re a breed all their own.
We make a living telling the history of America… one piece at a time.
The Drama Around ‘American Pickers’ Frank Fritz’s Will
This brings us back to Frank Fritz’s will, with $6 million at stake. The story of the will begins with that July 2022 stroke, which necessitated emergency guardianship in August 2022, deemed “necessary to avoid immediate harm.” That guardianship was granted by a judge, who cited a letter from Fritz’s doctor “indicating he is unable to make decisions for himself.” That wording and its timing are important. At the time of his stroke, Fritz did not have a living will. However, a will listed in his guardian’s final report was executed in 2023, eight months after the guardianship was instituted, so Bill’s argument is that the will should be set aside, or invalidated.
Now, it’s a battle between Bill Fritz and Frank’s friends and caretakers. Bill claims the will is fake, saying, “He did not have a will. He did not sign it. I am his only loved one. None of them are related to him.” He claims he and Frank were close up until Frank’s guardians prevented him from having any contact, and the estate should be his. On the other hand, the defendants claim that Bill, who moved away when Frank was young, had very little to do with Frank, visiting him only once after the stroke, and refused involvement in the guardianship when offered. They add that Frank was in his right mind when finishing the will, and argue that the will being accepted by the courts proves its validity.
How This Latest Development Affects ‘American Pickers’ Frank Fritz’s Legacy
So, who’s right? The timing of Bill’s actions is certainly suspect, and if claims about his lack of involvement are true, it’s clearly a selfish act by a man looking to profit off the death of his son. But if Frank was deemed to be unable to make decisions for himself, then the burden of proof that he was in a clear state of mind when he made decisions about his will lay with his friends and caretakers. Then there are the legalities around overturning the initial decision made by the court to accept Frank’s will. The most likely outcome is that the will is declared invalid, leaving the estate, unfortunately, in the hands of a man who couldn’t be bothered to visit his ailing son more than once.
The question is what all of this does, or has done to the legacy of Frank Fritz. There’s little doubt that the lawsuit tarnishes that legacy, but only peripherally. The legalities and accusations stand removed from Frank himself, whose only part is the fact he died. Should he have had a will drawn up beforehand? Yes. So should the majority of Americans who don’t have one either. This only reinforces the relatability that is key to his legacy, one that can be seen throughout American Pickers’ long run.
