- Businessperson Michael Ballard has a net worth of $12 million. Ballard is the owner of the Full Throttle Saloon, the world’s largest biker bar.
- Ballard made $4.72 million to date through his television show, as of 2024 according to Forbes.
Back in the 90s, Ballard launched a cell phone business and eventually sold it for $1.8 million. With the money, he snagged 36 acres of land and built a bar and entertainment spot, which eventually became the iconic “Full Throttle Saloon.”
Today, Full Throttle holds the title of the world’s largest biker bar, hosting over 18,000 people in a single night. The bar now pulls in around $19.1 million annually and makes $3.2 million in profits. Michael Ballard and his wife own 70% of the bar together.
Lawsuits
Ballard has been subject to many lawsuits over the years. Most notable one is the case filed by his ex-wife, suing him for better alimony and child support payments. She has ultimately won the case and Ballard ended up paying more than $600,000 as a lump sum cash.
There was another lawsuit filed against him in 2017, when one of this ex-employees alleged Ballard of sexual harrasment. But the case was squashed there after.
Full Throttle Saloon
Located in South Dakota, Ballard has achieved huge success through this biker bar. This place is particularly famous among bikers who are passing through the state.
Not many know that Ballard took a huge business loan during the early days of this business, as the overheads were unmanageable back then.
For the first few years, the business did not pick off but Ballard kept running it at a loss. Soon after, it broke even and his personal net worth started to improve.
A few years later Ballard approached Arnold Rifkin pitching the idea for a TV show on the Full Throttle Saloon. Later on, more investors came on board.
After top networks such as History TV and Nat Geo rejected the show’s pilot, Ballard and his team decided to go with regular Cable, which ultimately paid off.
During the show’s 3rd season, Ballard started taking a fixed salary along with a share in profits. As the seasons progressed, his salary kept rising.