'American Pickers' Star Frank Fritz's Estate Battle Heads to Trial: Mediation Fails in $6 Million Dispute, Iowa Jury Trial Set for November
The fight over the roughly $6 million estate of Frank Fritz, the late star of the reality series American Pickers, is heading to a jury trial in Iowa in November after mediation ended without a resolution, Page Six reported exclusively on October 20. Fritz's father, Bill Fritz, and three of the collector's friends remain on opposite sides of the case. "Mediation happened and there was no resolution," a source told Page Six of the sealed case. "Bill Fritz wants everything."
Fritz died on September 30, 2024, at age 60, from complications of a stroke he suffered in July 2022 that left him partially paralyzed. In October 2023 he filed a "will prior to death," which an Iowa judge approved weeks after his death. His biological father, Bill Fritz, contested the will in February 2025, calling it "fake" and arguing that his son's decision-making capacity was so impaired after the stroke that he could not make or communicate financial decisions. Bill's lawyer, Cory F. Gourley, previously told Fox News Digital that the family believes the evidence will show the will is invalid. The court file is sealed from public view.
Annette Oberlander Willows, a friend who was by Fritz's side when he died, is among those defending the will. "I have always done right by Frank. I was loyal to him throughout our entire friendship. Frank did not wish for his dad to have anything of his," she told Page Six, adding that she never expected to receive anything for the friendship and is confident the trial will honor Fritz's wishes. Bill Fritz and his lawyer did not respond to Page Six's request for comment.
A Davenport native, Fritz co-hosted American Pickers with Mike Wolfe from 2010 on the History Channel, crisscrossing small-town America to buy antiques and collectibles in one of the network's longest-running hit series. His burial has remained on hold while the will contest plays out.
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Photo: 图：《美国寻宝人》主角团队的古董店品牌 Antique Archaeology 店外陈列的古董车（资料图）。Nbastian210 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: an antique car bearing the Antique Archaeology logo, the store brand from American Pickers (file photo), by Nbastian210, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
