Why did Brandi Passante step away from Storage Wars before making her return? Details explored

Storage Wars has had many cast changes over the years, but Brandi Passante has remained one of the most well-known faces on the show. ATV Insider article published in July 2025 looked back at the time she briefly left the show in 2014 and how she later came back.

Passante first appeared on the show with her longtime partner, Jarrod Schulz, in season 1.

In 2014, she stepped away for a short time to work on a different project, but she returned to Storage Wars after that.

The article explained that even during her short break, Passante was still seen as a main part of the show. Her time away was because of a spinoff series that only lasted one season. After that show ended, she came back to Storage Wars and stayed on as one of the regular buyers.

Later, after splitting from Schulz, Passante continued on the show by herself. She began appearing as a solo buyer in newer seasons, continuing her long-time role on the A&E series.

In addition to revisiting her exit, the report also offered an update on Passante’s personal life and her current dynamic with Schulz. Their separation, revealed during Season 13, and Schulz’s subsequent absence from the series following legal troubles, were also highlighted.

A short-lived spinoff and a temporary exit from Storage Wars

 

 

 

 

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Brandi Passante took a break from Storage Wars in 2014 to work on a spinoff show with Jarrod Schulz called Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job.

The series had eight episodes and showed their life at home, focusing on their daily routine with their children, Cameron and Payton.

Even though the spinoff only lasted one season, it caused a short gap in Passante’s regular time on the auction show.

Once the spinoff ended, both Passante and Schulz returned to Storage Wars. According to TV Insider, despite the short break, she was still considered a mainstay on the series.

Her involvement continued beyond season 13, while Schulz’s time on the show ended after that season.

Their return marked a shift in how they appeared on the show. In season 13, they no longer bid as a couple. Instead, each of them filmed separately as buyers. Passante later confirmed their breakup, saying,

“I’m not with Jarrod anymore.”

Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz had been together since 1999, but they were never legally married.

Even though their spinoff series ended after one season, it marked a turning point in how Passante was shown on Storage Wars. After the show, she continued on the series as a solo buyer, building her own place on the cast separate from Schulz.

Brandi and Jarrod's split and its impact on the show

By season 13 of Storage Wars, Brandi Passante confirmed she and Jarrod Schulz had split. While they were still together during the filming of season 12, which aired in 2018, she clarified that they weren't together anymore.

They continued filming season 13 separately, marking the final time Schulz appeared on the show.

In 2021, Jarrod Schulz was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence battery after an incident that reportedly involved Brandi Passante, according to TMZ.

A&E did not publicly explain why Schulz left the show, but many fans believed the arrest may have played a part in the decision.

In a 2020 interview with The Dad Diary, Passante said she considers herself a single mother, sharing,

“I have them all the time—twenty-four, seven, they’re here with me.”

She added,

“I did a lot of it on my own anyway, but it’s the scary dad voice in the background that we’re missing,” suggesting that Schulz is no longer involved in their daily lives.

While Passante continues as a cast member on Storage Wars, Schulz has not returned since his season 13 exit.

Stay tuned for more updates.