If you’ve ever watched a rusted-out classic car turn into a showpiece on TV, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Dave Kindig at work. He’s the man behind Bitchin’ Rides and the custom car shop Kindig-It Design in Salt Lake City. A lot of fans search for Dave Kindig net worth after watching his builds, wondering just how much money a career like his can bring in. In this article, we’ll walk through what public sources say about his estimated net worth in 2026, how he built his business, and where the numbers actually come from — including why they don’t all agree.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dave Kindig |
| Known For | Owner of Kindig-It Design; star of Bitchin’ Rides |
| Born | Salt Lake City, Utah (public sources disagree on the exact year) |
| Business | Kindig-It Design, founded 1999 |
| TV Shows | Bitchin’ Rides, Beyond Bitchin’ Rides, Overhaulin’, Rides |
| Spouse | Charity Kindig (VP and co-owner of Kindig-It Design) |
| Children | Drew and Baylee |
| Estimated Net Worth (2026) | Reported figures vary widely, roughly $2 million to $20 million, depending on the source |
Dave Kindig Net Worth 2026: The Honest Answer
Here’s the thing about Dave Kindig’s net worth — it’s genuinely hard to pin down. Unlike public company executives or athletes with published contracts, custom car builders don’t report their earnings anywhere official. So every number floating around online is really just an outside estimate, and in Kindig’s case, those estimates are all over the place.
Some celebrity-net-worth sites put his fortune as low as $2 million to $5 million, based mainly on his TV salary and the size of his shop. Others, especially more recent write-ups, estimate it closer to $10 million to $20 million once you factor in Kindig-It Design’s revenue, his merchandise line, and two decades of high-end custom builds for wealthy clients. Because these figures come from unverified, third-party sources rather than anything Kindig has confirmed himself, the most honest way to describe his 2026 net worth is a wide estimated range, with $10 million as roughly the midpoint most commonly repeated across recent sources.
Kindig hasn’t shared a specific number publicly, and there’s no financial filing to check, since Kindig-It Design is a private company. So treat any figure you see — including the ones in this article — as an educated guess, not a confirmed fact.
Who Is Dave Kindig? A Quick Biography
Dave Kindig grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and cars were part of his life from a young age. In interviews, he’s talked about building imaginary cars out of Legos and Hot Wheels parts as a kid, then spending hours at the local library flipping through Hot Rod Magazine and Motor Trend. That early obsession with drawing and designing cars became the foundation for his entire career.
He started out doing hands-on auto body and fabrication work, learning the trade before starting his own shop. That grounding in real mechanical skill — not just design — is part of what separates Kindig from a lot of other TV car personalities. He can actually build what he sketches.
Kindig-It Design: The Business Behind the Fame
In 1999, Kindig founded Kindig-It Design in Salt Lake City. What began as a small custom shop grew into one of the most recognized names in the hot rod and custom car world. The shop takes on full builds — stripping old or damaged vehicles down and rebuilding them with modern engineering wrapped in a classic look.
This is really the core of Kindig’s net worth story. Custom builds at his shop’s level can run into six figures per project, and clients often wait months, sometimes years, for a finished car. Kindig-It Design also sells branded apparel, parts, and instructional content through “Kindig Design University,” which adds another revenue stream beyond the shop floor itself.
Bitchin’ Rides and Kindig’s TV Career
Kindig’s business was already respected in car circles before Bitchin’ Rides premiered on the Velocity network (now MotorTrend) in 2014. The show followed Kindig and his team as they transformed classic and often neglected vehicles into custom masterpieces, and it quickly became one of the network’s top-rated series, reportedly reaching more than 20 million viewers by its third season.
The show’s popularity turned Kindig into a recognizable face well beyond the custom car world, which almost certainly helped grow demand for his shop’s work. Beyond Bitchin’ Rides, Kindig has also appeared on Beyond Bitchin’ Rides, Overhaulin’, and Rides, adding to his television income over the years.
Family and Life Outside the Shop
Kindig’s wife, Charity Kindig, isn’t just a supporting figure — she’s the vice president and co-owner of Kindig-It Design, and she’s been part of the business for years. The couple has two children, Drew and Baylee, who have also been connected to the family business in various ways. Having his family involved in day-to-day operations is part of what Kindig has described as the culture of his shop.
A Recent Legal Challenge
It’s worth noting that Kindig-It Design has faced a fraud lawsuit tied to a 1974 Dodge Charger build, with a group of clients alleging they paid roughly $230,000 for work that was never completed as promised. As of recent reporting, the case was still in discovery, with a trial possibly heading toward early 2026 if it isn’t settled first. A situation like this is a reminder that even successful, well-known businesses can face setbacks that affect both reputation and finances — something worth keeping in mind when looking at any net worth estimate for Kindig going forward.
How This Was Researched
I researched this profile by comparing several celebrity net worth write-ups, checking coverage of Kindig-It Design and Bitchin’ Rides from entertainment and automotive press, and reviewing recent news about the shop’s ongoing legal case. Because the net worth figures I found ranged so widely, from around $2 million to $20 million, I chose to present that full range rather than pick one number and present it as fact. Where sources disagreed, I leaned toward the estimate repeated most often across the write-ups I checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dave Kindig’s net worth in 2026?
Estimates vary widely across sources, generally ranging from about $2 million to $20 million as of 2026. There’s no confirmed, official figure, so this should be treated as a rough estimate rather than a verified number.
How did Dave Kindig make his money?
Mainly through Kindig-It Design, the custom car shop he founded in 1999, plus his TV income from Bitchin’ Rides and related shows, and revenue from merchandise and instructional content.
Who owns Kindig-It Design?
Dave Kindig founded and owns the company, with his wife, Charity Kindig, serving as vice president and co-owner.
Is Bitchin’ Rides still on TV?
The show has aired multiple seasons on Velocity and MotorTrend since 2014, with more recent seasons airing in 2025. Check current listings for the latest schedule, since reality TV lineups change often.
Where is Kindig-It Design located? Salt Lake City, Utah.
Disclaimer
The net worth figures in this article are estimates only and have not been confirmed by Dave Kindig or Kindig-It Design. Different sources report very different numbers, and any of them could be inaccurate or outdated. A person’s wealth can also change over time due to business performance, legal costs, or other factors. This article reflects publicly available information as of 2026 and should not be treated as financial or legal advice.
Written and researched by Hassan, editor at Her Net Worth Journey.
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Stephen D. Schmitt is the founder and lead writer at Her Net Worth Journey. He created the site to make personal finance easier to understand and easier to act on, without the jargon that makes most money advice hard to follow. Stephen focuses on practical, number-driven guidance — the kind of advice a reader can apply the same day they read it. He writes about budgeting, investing, saving, and debt from a simple starting point: track the number, then make decisions that move it in the right direction. Stephen lives in Maitland, Florida, and manages Her Net Worth Journey directly, from the content to the free tools on the site.