A popular saying by Walt Disney has it that, “whatever you do, do it well.” Meaning that you should do it so well that people will want to come back and watch you do it again. This timeless adage simply urges us to excel whether in our high or low position, and one person who exemplifies these wise words is Aaron Goodwin.
It is not every day that you find a camera operator to be a notable personality. When it comes to the entertainment industry, the technicians behind the production of the shows are not the ones often celebrated. However, the story is different in the case of Aaron Goodwin, who is one of the few who has broken out of the limitations of his chosen profession as a camera operator.
Aaron Goodwin’s status as a notable technician and cameraman comes from the fact that he is also a cast member on the popular show, Ghost Adventures. The show, which has been on since 2008, features five men, including Goodwin, going in search of the supernatural. Whether they find it is debatable, but one thing that is for sure is that the show has done wonders for the bottom-line of its cast members.
How Aaron Began His Career As a Production Assistant and Cameraman
Aaron Goodwin is a native of Portland, Oregon, and was born on the 1st of April, 1976. Details regarding his background, such as his parents and potential siblings, are currently unknown, same as his education. His background is a mystery that fits into the show he is most prominently known for.
Whatever Aaron Goodwin may have studied in school, it led him to his first job as a behind the scenes crew member in 2004. He was an assistant camera operator for the film, Malevolence. His next credit came from Transamerican Killer, where he served as a production assistant. Before joining Ghost Adventures, the Portland native worked as a camera operator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was also contracted to cover film premieres in Las Vegas.
The Birth of Ghost Adventures
While growing up, Aaron Goodwin did not believe in ghosts and supernatural activity. He continued with this mindset well into his 30s, but all that changed after he met future collaborators, Zak Bagans and Nick Groff. The duo has had some personal encounters with the supernatural and wanted to spend time investigating it. They hoped to make a documentary out of their work and tapped Goodwin to film the whole operation.
Their work eventually resulted in a documentary film, Ghost Adventures, which was aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2007. The film did marvelously well with audiences and the three amigos were contracted to expand their work into a series for the Travel Channel. The series debuted in 2008 and has been on since then.
His Glory Days on the Travel Channel Show
Ghost Adventures sees Aaron Goodwin and the crew (also comprising of Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley) scouting haunted places in various parts of the world and setting up camera equipment to get the evidence. As a member of the investigative team, Goodwin is usually seen playing the part of the bait and is often left alone in secluded areas, considered to be ghost hotspots to draw out the presence of the spirits.
All these have resulted in some hilarious and breathtaking moments for the Portland native. He has also had some close brushes with the supernatural. In one episode, the famed cameraman and his crew were investigating paranormal activity at Preston Castle when he noticed three scratches on his leg. He couldn’t explain the scratches, but they were quite painful.
Yet on another occasion, Goodwin accompanied his team to two different places for investigations. While at the first location, he was inhabited by a spirit that followed him back to the second location before eventually leaving him alone. Goodwin’s family has also not been spared. In March 2020, he and his crew were called in to investigate his father’s home after the old man experienced the apparition of a little girl without eyes and mouth.
Aaron Goodwin’s Net Worth
Camera operators and technicians are not exactly the highest-paid people in the film or television show making process. However, having worked in the industry for over 15 years, Aaron Goodwin has been able to accrue a significant net worth of $1.5 million.
The primary source of his fortune is his work on Ghost Adventures, which has been on since 2008. It is not known how much Goodwin is paid, but the star man, Zak Bagans, earns about $20,000 per episode. It, therefore, means that Goodwin will be earning about $10-$15,000 per episode for a total of about 225 episodes so far.
Apart from his work on Ghost Adventures, Goodwin has also worked on other shows and films such as My Hometown with Aaron Goodwin, Ghost Fit, Deadly Possessions, Space Detective, and Crimps. His popularity has equally led him to appear in a couple of talk shows such as Today, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and ABC News Nightline, and all these translate into significant fees for him.
Finally, Aaron is also an entrepreneur. He is the owner of the clothing line, ‘Big Steppin,’ featuring t-shirts, hoodies, and hats with his likeness, and this is also a contributor to his decent net worth.
See Also: All The Ways Dan Harmon Makes Money and Facts About His Divorce & Girlfriend
The Havoc That Spirits Wrecked On His Marriage
Aaron Goodwin was once married to a lady named Sheena Goodwin, and he claims to have divorced her while he was under the influence of evil spirits. It is not known exactly how long this marriage lasted. Some sources say that it was for a short time while some others say that it lasted as much as 11 years. Whichever is the case, the couple has gone their separate ways and have done so amicably. While most people are not often in good terms with their exes, Aaron has remained in good terms with Sheena. He posted pictures of them together sometime in October 2012.
Meanwhile, the Ghost Adventures star has found love and happiness with a new lady. The lady’s identity is not known, but we do know that the two lovebirds are presently engaged to be married, thanks to a post that Aaron shared on his Instagram page on the 30th of October 2019, proudly declaring that his girlfriend said yes to his proposal. From the background of the picture, it seems that the TV personality popped the question during a trip to Disneyland. His lovely post garnered warm comments, with many congratulating them on the good news.
