Paul John Teutul Sr. Founder of Orange County Ironworks and Orange County Choppers Country: USA

Biography of Paul John Teutul Sr.

Paul John Teutul Sr., the founder of Orange County Ironworks and Orange County Choppers, is a well-known businessman. He gained fame after appearing on the reality show "American Chopper."

Teutul was born and raised in Yonkers, New York. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marine during the Vietnam War. In several episodes of "American Chopper," Teutul mentioned his past struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. He admitted to heavily using drugs, especially marijuana, and alcohol. His alcoholism had a significant impact on his life and his relationships with his children. In one episode, Teutul revealed that some of his best memories were the rare moments of sobriety, as he had missed out on much of his children's childhood due to his substance abuse.

In the book "The Tale of Teutuls," written by the Teutuls, Paul revealed that he didn't know his middle name until he was around thirty-five years old. It turned out that his father's name was John, making it more logical to call him "Jr."; however, "Sr." had already become so ingrained that they didn't change it.

Teutul started his journey with the creation of Orange County Ironworks, a metal fabrication shop currently managed by his son Daniel. He began building custom motorcycles and bicycles after noticing their popularity among people. In 1999, Teutul Sr. established Orange County Choppers, where he focused specifically on building motorcycles.

After the success of "American Chopper," Teutul became known as a stubborn and volatile businessman. He was often seen arguing with service representatives on the phone, discussing the need for increased sales. Teutul was involved in every aspect of his business, and if something didn't meet his satisfaction, he would express his disapproval to the responsible employee in straightforward terms, without any remorse.

Another characteristic of Teutul was his obsession with cleanliness. In the early episodes of the show, he frequently yelled at others for mess and dirt in the workshop or hotel rooms. His son Michael even dubbed him "Martha Stewart on a motorcycle." However, his desire for cleanliness was overshadowed by his tendency to break doors or tear down wall panels in fits of anger. This trait was also inherited by his son Paul Jr., who often found himself at odds with his father. The impulsiveness of the Teutuls sometimes affected their products as well, with motorcycles and golf carts occasionally meeting their demise against a nearby wall. It was through the sale of these recorded battles that the Teutuls gained their reputation.

Teutul Sr. went beyond the realm of reality TV. He appeared in the music video for Nickelback's song "Rockstar" and the television program "Long Way Round" with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman. He also had a small role in the 2007 film "Wild Hogs," alongside his son Paul Jr. Additionally, they participated in the filming of an episode for the motorcycle-themed TV show "My Name is Earl."

Apart from his well-known children, Paul and Michael, Teutul Sr. also has a son named Daniel, who currently manages his shop, and a daughter named Christina. He divorced his first wife, Paula, and remarried Beth Dillon in July 2007. While their constant arguments became a hallmark of the show, their overall family relationships were relatively decent.