FILTHY RICHES

On the new series FILTHY RICHES, we travel across the country to find industrious and ingenious Americans who prove they're not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands DIRTY to make a living.  Dealing in the diverse, exotic and, even occasionally, cringe-worthy underground economy of crud.  One thing remains the same amongst these mavericks – they’re all cashing in big in the process!  

On the unpredictable Delaware River, Ray Turner has built an eel weir where he catches EELS migrating to the ocean.  Ray has been working on the river for over 30 years.  Every day, Ray battles the unforgiving river current to protect his weir from falling apart.  After harvesting the eels, he takes his bounty back to his self-constructed smokehouse where he processes, smokes, and sells them.  

In the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, Billy Taylor and his sons hunt the prized root GINSENG.  From September 1st through the first frost, the Taylors search the forest while trying to avoid encounters with the animals that live in the mountains.

On the vast mudflats created by Maine’s receding tides, Jim and Andy dig their way across the mud to find valuable BLOODWORMS.  Each worm is money in their pockets, but they can only dig for so long.  Time’s up when the tide returns.  

The unwieldy tree growths know as BURLS were once the bane of the logging industry, but for Greg and Albert, they are a blessing.  But despite the wood’s high value, bringing them to market requires Greg and Albert put their livelihood on the line everyday, while never knowing the wood’s true worth until it’s cracked open.

Fueled by a steady demand from the restaurant industry, Chris and Levena scour the forests looking for wild MUSHROOMS.   Traveling across the country and searching in unfamiliar forests, the pair must put their reputation, and lives, on the line to deliver the best mushrooms to their discerning clients.

Without any rulebook to follow, or bosses to report to, this group must rely on their own strength and determination to make some FILTHY RICHES.