Mike Brewer is best known for his role on the hit, show, , but little is known about him away from the cameras.
The 60-year-old is committed to his small family and runs a business alongside his wife, Michelle. Despite his successful onscreen and off-screen career, he has also admitted to struggling with booze and his mental health and credits Michelle for keeping him grounded.
The couple, who married in 1992, share a passion for cars and run a dealership, One Automotive, in Warwick.
Michelle also frequently appears on Brewer’s , where she shows off her impressive knowledge about motors and while she doesn’t give much insight into their private life, fans can see how supportive the pair is of each other.
However, Mike once spoke candidly about the toll his career has taken on his personal life. During a special episode of the podcast, marking Wheeler Dealers’ 20th anniversary last year, he admitted the strain his work has placed on his marriage.
Mike and his wife Michelle share a passion for cars (Image: Instagram)
“I’ve literally dedicated my life—26 years actually—to this craft,” he said. “It’s given me an amazing life, but it’s also come at the cost of my marriage.
“[We’re still together], [she’s] never held me back once. But there comes a time when I look and think, maybe I should spend more time with my wife? She drives me mad, but I love being with her.”
Due to the challenges, the couple took a break in 2022 for a month-long, 3,000-mile road trip, which Mike described as “the best 32 days I’ve had in the last 26 years.”
Celebrating their 21st anniversary, he posted a snap of him and Michelle together on , writing, “How did I get so lucky? 34 years together and 21 happily married. Happy Anniversary to my amazing Michelle. I love you.”
The couple shares a daughter, Chloe, who they tend to keep out of the public eye, but he has posted a rare photo of her from her 2018 graduation, captioning it: “Proud dad alert! Congratulations Chloe Nicole Brewer on your graduation. Me and Michelle Brewer are so proud of you!”
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The couple with their one child, Chloe (Image: Instagram)
Brewer’s love for cars began in his teenage years, and Michelle’s shared passion has been a key part of their relationship. She not only supports him on the podcast, but also at car shows, and being his rock during his many struggles from the pressures that come with a public career.
Brewer recently opened up about the negative side of fame, including receiving death threats and facing online abuse.
Speaking to Car Dealer Magazine last year, he revealed the disturbing messages he’s received. “I’ve had death threats. People threaten to rape my wife and daughter and murder me. I’ve actually had people at my gate. I wake up every day to a tirade of abuse.”
Wheeler Dealers, which airs on Discovery, reaching over 200 million people worldwide means it has an unavoidable dark side. “When you’ve got a global show, a small percentage of people take umbrage at your success. They go to social media to tell me what they think, and the abuse does hurt. It affects my mental health.”
He also admitted that he struggles with the weight of the abuse and sometimes turns to alcohol to cope. “It’s a vicious circle. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in,” he said, while acknowledging the support of his strong family and team, who help him through it.
He has vowed to continue pushing forward, recently celebrating the show’s 21st season.