Les Gold is an American pawnbroker, reality TV star, author, and media personality. He is best known for his role on the truTV series Hardcore Pawn, which features his family and their pawn shop business in Detroit. Recently, rumors have been circulating on social media that Les Gold has passed away, causing shock and sadness among his fans and followers. However, these rumors are completely false and have no basis in reality. Les Gold is alive and well, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.
In this article, we will explore the life and career of Les Gold, the false death rumors surrounding him, and the truth about his current status.
The Life and Career of Les Gold
Early life
Les Gold was born on June 20, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, into a Jewish family of pawnbrokers. He is the grandson of Sam Gold, who owned a pawn shop called Sam’s Loans on Michigan Avenue in Detroit. Les made his first sale at the age of 7, selling a pair of earrings to a customer at his grandfather’s shop. He started his own business at the age of 12, buying pizzas and reselling them by the slice to his fellow students at Hebrew School.
Business success in pawn-broking industry
In 1978, Les opened his own pawn shop, American Jewelry and Loan, at the Green Eight Shopping Center on 8 Mile Road in Oak Park. He later moved it to a larger location on Greenfield Road in Detroit, which was formerly a bowling alley. The shop now occupies a 50,000 square foot building and employs up to 200 people. Les expanded his business to other locations, including Pontiac and Hazel Park in Michigan. He also bought some unusual items, such as the infamous Volkswagen Minibus of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also known as Dr. Death, for $20,000.
Starring role on “Hardcore Pawn”
Les Gold became a reality TV star when he and his family were featured on the truTV series Hardcore Pawn, which premiered in 2010. The show follows the daily operations and interactions of American Jewelry and Loan, as well as the conflicts and drama among Les, his son Seth, his daughter Ashley, and their employees and customers. The show attracted millions of viewers and became one of the most-watched programs on truTV. It ran for nine seasons and 162 episodes, until 2014.
Published works
Les Gold is also an author, who published his autobiography, For What It’s Worth: Business Wisdom from a Pawnbroker, in 2013. The book shares his personal and professional experiences, as well as his insights and advice on how to succeed in any field by thinking like a pawnbroker. The book ranked #4 on The New York Times Best Seller list in the Advice, How-to, and Miscellaneous category, and #8 in the Hardcover Business Books category.
Social media presence
Les Gold has a strong social media presence, with accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. He regularly posts updates on his life, business, family, and fans. He also interacts with his followers and responds to their comments and questions. He has over 300,000 followers on Facebook, over 100,000 followers on Twitter, over 50,000 followers on Instagram, and over 10,000 followers on TikTok.
False Death Rumors Surrounding Les Gold
History of death hoaxes
Les Gold is not the first celebrity to be the victim of a death hoax. There have been many cases of fake news and rumors spreading online, claiming that famous people have died, when in fact they are still alive. Some of the reasons for these hoaxes are to generate clicks, views, or attention, to prank or troll people, or to cause harm or distress to the celebrities or their fans. Some of the celebrities who have been targeted by death hoaxes include Adam Sandler, Denzel Washington, Addison Rae, Donald Trump, and Jon Bon Jovi.
“Les Gold dead” trending on social media
On April 9, 2023, a TikTok video posted by a user named @thecomelis claimed that Les Gold had died, with the caption “R.I.P Les Gold 1950-2023”. The video showed pictures of Les Gold, along with sad music. The video went viral and received over 200,000 views and thousands of comments. Many people expressed their condolences and grief, while others questioned the validity of the claim. A similar post was also seen on Twitter, with a link to a fake CBS News story, which has since been taken down.
Debunking the rumors on TikTok
However, the rumors were soon put to rest when Les Gold and his son Seth Gold posted a video on their verified TikTok accounts, addressing the hoax. The video was captioned “THE RUMORS ARE FALSE!” and showed Les Gold standing with his son, saying “As you can see, I’m not dead. But I do appreciate all the comments being made of how concerned they were that I did die.” The video received over 300,000 views and thousands of comments, with many people expressing their relief and happiness that Les Gold is alive, and others criticizing the hoaxers for spreading false information.
The Truth: Les Gold is Still Alive and Well
Confirmation from Gold and his son
Les Gold and his son Seth Gold have confirmed that Les Gold is still alive and well, and that the rumors of his death are false. They have also thanked their fans and followers for their support and concern, and have asked them to ignore the hoaxers and their lies. They have also posted other videos and photos on their social media accounts, showing that they are enjoying their life and family.
Retired but still active in business
Les Gold has retired from his role as the president of American Jewelry and Loan, and has passed on the leadership to his son Seth Gold, who is now the CEO. However, Les Gold is still involved in the business, and often visits the shop and helps out with the operations. He is also still passionate about pawn-broking, and loves to share his knowledge and wisdom with others. He is also active in his community, and supports various causes and charities, such as The Heat And Warmth Fund (THAW Fund), which helps families pay for their heat and electricity bills.
Conclusion
Les Gold is an American pawnbroker, reality TV star, author, and media personality, who is best known for his role on the truTV series Hardcore Pawn. He is also the founder of American Jewelry and Loan, one of the largest and most successful pawn shops in the country. He has a loyal fan base and a strong social media presence. Recently, he was the target of a death hoax, which claimed that he had died. However, these rumors were debunked by Les Gold and his son Seth Gold, who confirmed that Les Gold is still alive and well. Les Gold is retired but still active in his business and community, and enjoys his life and family. He is an inspiration and a legend in the pawn-broking industry, and a beloved figure in the entertainment world.
