TLC’s reality TV show I Am Shauna Rae gives viewers a look at the unique life of Shauna Rae, a 23-year-old woman from Ross Township, Pa. She developed a growth hormone deficiency after receiving chemotherapy for a brain tumor when she was just 6 months old.
As a result of the treatment, Shauna’s body stopped growing, and she is now 3 feet and 10 inches tall. People often say she looks like an 8-year-old. After watching her on TLC, many fans have become curious about Shauna’s net worth. Here’s what you need to know.
Her small size was caused by cancer
In the first episode of I Am Shauna Rae , Shauna Rae explains her medical condition and how she has been managing it. Her health issues began when she was just six months old. At that age, Rae’s parents noticed a tumor on the back of her head.
Worried about the potential risks, they spoke to doctors, and Rae was diagnosed with brain cancer. She underwent over two years of chemotherapy before she was declared cancer-free.
A few years later, Rae’s family saw that she was much smaller than other children her age, which raised their concerns again. Doctors then diagnosed her with a very underactive pituitary gland, meaning her body was not producing enough growth hormones.
She was given extra growth hormone treatments, but by the time she turned 16, doctors told her that she would not grow any taller. Her official diagnosis is pituitary dwarfism.
Rae shared with People that hearing she would stop growing during her teenage years had a major impact on her mental health. “It probably was the lowest time of my life, because I always imagined that I would be tall. And getting that news, it just kind of was like a hammer crashing into glass,” Rae said.
Shauna Rae (Credits: Getty Images)
She is close with her family
Shauna Rae has a warm and mostly supportive relationship with her family, but that doesn’t mean everything is without its challenges.
Her mother and stepfather are loving, but Rae feels they can be overprotective. They sometimes have a hard time accepting that Rae is no longer a child and that she wants to make her own choices. Despite this, Rae appreciates the love and support they have given her as she works to adjust to adult life.
Of all her siblings, Rae is closest to her younger sister, Rylee. “She’s like my best friend. She is my support system,” Rae said on her show. The two spend most of their time together since they both live in their parents’ house on Long Island.
Rae also has an older sister, Tara, whom she cares about, but their relationship is more complicated. Rae describes Tara carefully in the first episode.
“She’s lovely,” she says, adding, “She’s very independent. She’s just stubborn, and she’s very opinionated, and her opinions are strong.”
Their parents think Rae might feel jealous of Tara because Tara leads a more typical life without medical issues, but Rae denies this and explains that she doesn’t want to live Tara’s life. Despite their differences and some typical sister arguments, they get along fairly well.
She wants to use her show to raise awareness for people with disabilities
Shauna Rae’s viewers have been mostly accepting, and she is happy that sharing her story helped her connect with people she might not have met otherwise.
In an interview with Hollywood Life , Rae was asked about the feedback she has received from fans. She replied, “I’m actually really grateful to TLC because of this.
I didn’t know anyone with my form of dwarfism. I didn’t even know another cancer survivor besides immediate family … Because the show came out, people have reached out … I found other people who struggle just on an emotional level that I’ve met with, and it’s actually been a really positive experience.”
Rae has spoken openly about the challenges people with disabilities face, and she wants to use her platform to support those who are overlooked because of conditions they can’t control. She recently posted a video on TikTok where she explained her goals.
She said, “I’m hoping with the ‘I Am Shauna Rae’ show and anything else via social media that I can bring awareness to this because I am not the only person with pituitary dwarfism. I am not the only human being out there that feels like they didn’t have many people like them feeling similar, so I think it can help a lot of people.”
Shauna Rae (Credits: Getty Images)
Money has never been mentioned as one of Rae’s reasons for joining TLC, but her earnings from the show are significant. According to Distractify , Rae is said to earn between $10,000 and $15,000 per episode of I Am Shauna Rae . The article also mentions that her net worth is around $100,000 – $200,000.
While more than $10,000 per episode would be tempting for most people to share their lives on TV, Rae admitted in an interview on The Tamron Hall Show that she decided to do the series for the purpose of representation and to raise awareness about disabled people in the media.
Rae told Hall, “I wanted to do the show because growing up, I didn’t see anyone like me … I want to show anyone who feels different or feels like they were put in a category, to show them that they can bust out of that category despite what anyone thinks.
And no matter what, there’s always going to be someone out there that is supportive of you and wants you to do the best.”
Her dating life is complicated
Dating in your mid-twenties is hard enough for people without disabilities, but Shauna Rae says that dating with her medical condition makes things even more challenging. In the first episode of I Am Shauna Rae , she talks about her struggles by saying, “I attract creeps, a-holes, and idiots.”
Even though romantic relationships have been difficult for Rae, she has developed a very mature view on the matter. She told an interviewer from Hollywood Life , “When it comes to dating, my perception is it’ll happen when it happens.
I am very focused on me and getting my life together You kind of should be your own individual person first. So I’m really working on that and if someone comes along, I won’t pass them up.”
Rae was briefly romantically involved with British-Welsh travel blogger Dan Swygart, but they never made it official, and they both agreed to stay friends. They had a good emotional connection, and Swygart even appeared in a few episodes of the show.
However, some fans who couldn’t understand why Swygart was attracted to Rae because of her youthful appearance criticized him. He defended their relationship on Instagram, saying, “How dare you take away her right, her human right, to have a connection, a friendship, a relationship with someone else?” Despite the criticism, Rae and Swygart are still very good friends.
Shauna Rae (Credits: Getty Images)
She wants to be independent
The idea of independence, and Shauna Rae’s ability (or inability) to achieve it, is a common theme in I Am Shauna Rae , especially when she talks about her relationship with her mother and stepfather. Rae understands that her parents’ concern comes from love and worry for her safety, but the conflict between them is a constant source of stress throughout the show.
Rae is a free spirit, but it’s hard for her to be independent because of both her appearance and financial struggles. As mentioned before, Rae makes thousands of dollars per episode of the show, but it’s still not enough for her to cover all the costs that would come with living on her own.
When it comes to finances and career choices, she often thinks about her options but finds it difficult to commit to one because of her medical condition. Rae has thought about moving to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, but she confessed in an interview with People , “The city is just a place right now that causes me huge anxiety … when you’re in a place that’s going to point out your difference every day, maybe multiple times a day, it’s just hard to put yourself in that kind of mindset.”
[Updated: 04/01/2025]
Many of you may know that Juan Ibarra has become very popular for being one of the top mechanics in the Beets crew on Gold Rush . Before this, he worked with the Hoffmans for three seasons of gold mining.
He later joined Gold Rush in Season 9. To be specific, Juan Ibarra has appeared on Gold Rush: Dave Turin’s Lost Mine , Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue , and Gold Rush: Winter’s Fortune . Before becoming well-known, he worked as a plumber and construction worker.
Apart from his work on Gold Rush , his fans are eager to learn about his earnings. It is believed that he has made a lot of money from the show.
Who is Juan Ibarra?
Born on April 2, 1983, in Reno, Nevada, Juan Ibarra is well-known among Gold Rush fans. Before becoming famous on TV, Juan worked as a plumber and in construction, skills that later helped him gain attention in the gold mining business.
Juan Ibarra Net Worth
Juan Ibarra’s net worth is estimated at $7 – $9 million, which reflects his achievements on Gold Rush and his business ventures outside the show.
Why is Juan Ibarra So Famous?
Juan became famous for his role as a key mechanic on the Beets crew of Gold Rush . His skill in fixing and maintaining heavy mining equipment, even under difficult conditions, has earned him respect from both viewers and colleagues.
Juan Ibarra (Credits: Getty Images)
Early Life & Career
Juan Ibarra was born on April 2, 1983, in Reno, Nevada, United States. He has a mixed background, with Mexican and Native American roots, and comes from a family of plumbers who ran the Ibarra Drain Services in Nevada. He learned the plumbing trade from his parents and graduated from Hug High School in 2001.
Ibarra started his career as a mechanic at a local shop in Reno, where he built a reputation for his skills and dependability. In 2004, he opened his own business, Ibarra Industrial, which offers mobile mechanic and welding services.
He specializes in repairing heavy equipment and machinery for industries like mining, construction, and agriculture. Ibarra has worked at a mine in Central Alaska and has appeared on reality TV shows like Gold Rush and Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue .
Joining the Gold Rush
Ibarra’s path to Gold Rush was unexpected and came about by chance. His brother-in-law, Aaron Pena, was a big fan of the show and had an eye for opportunities. When he saw a post on Facebook looking for a mechanic for the 2015 season, he immediately thought of Ibarra, who was working at a mine in Alaska at the time. Pena urged Ibarra to apply for the role, saying, “You’ve got to apply for this.”
At first, Ibarra was happy with his job and turned down the offer. However, he allowed Pena to apply on his behalf. Pena worked with Ibarra’s wife, Andrea Ibarra, and submitted the application. To their surprise, Ibarra was selected to join the show for its sixth season.
“It all just kind of fell into place after that. It was a weird way that it came to be, just a way lucky thing. It was a good fit from the start. The crew is a great crew to work with. It was really a great experience,” Ibarra recalled about his unexpected journey.
Juan Ibarra (Credits: Getty Images)
Working with Hoffman
Ibarra joined Gold Rush in its sixth season as a member of the Hoffman crew. His job was very important: he had to make sure the heavy equipment, like excavators, dozers, trucks, and the wash plant, were all running well.
The wash plant, called “Monster Red,” was the main part of the mining operation, and it was Ibarra’s responsibility to keep it working.
Ibarra liked his work, but he had a hard time with one thing: the cameras. He shared with a local news outlet,
“Absolutely, the hardest part of the whole job is dealing with the cameras there. They told me early on that we’ve got to get the job done as quickly as we can, but we’ve also got to make sure everything is documented, make sure they get their shot.
They are making a TV show, and we have to balance that with the fact that we are mining and we are trying to be successful at that.”
Beets Crew
After working with the Hoffmans for three seasons, Ibarra joined the Beets crew in season nine. Tony Beets, who owns multiple mining claims and runs a big mining operation, hired Ibarra to help with mechanical issues and to move a new trommel to his mining site.
After working with the Beets crew, Ibarra has openly talked about his experience. He mentioned that he learned a lot from working with Beets and enjoyed the challenge of fixing and taking care of heavy equipment. He also said that he had a good relationship with Beets and his family, who treated him well.
Gold Rush Departure
The exact reasons for Juan Ibarra’s departure from Gold Rush have not been fully explained to the public. Some people believe it might have been because of his political views shared on social media, while others think it could have been a friendly parting. There has been no official confirmation about why he left before Season 11.
Juan Ibarra’s career has been defined by his mechanical skills and achievements in gold mining. After moving on from his construction and plumbing career, he entered the gold mining business, which eventually led to his role on Gold Rush .
Despite the uncertainty about his exit from the show, Ibarra remains an important figure in the mining industry through his business, Ibarra Industries. He is still respected in the field. His career combines hands-on mechanical work, television appearances, and managing a business, making him successful in ways that go beyond the TV screen.
Juan Ibarra (Credits: Getty Images)
Ibarra is a dedicated family man and entrepreneur
Juan Ibarra shared details about his childhood and what he does when he’s not looking for gold on the Discovery Channel. Ibarra grew up in a big family and worked alongside his father as a plumber.
“…I come from a family of five. I’m the only boy of five. I have four older sisters. So growing up, I had my mom, but then really, I had four other moms, and to this day, I still do. My sisters always loved to tell me how to do things and what to do. I started my career off early on as a plumber with my dad.”
In 2004, Ibarra started a business called Ibarra Plumbing, which later became Ibarra Industries around 2010. This name change reflected the wider variety of projects that Ibarra and his growing team were now willing to take on. The business has expanded a lot over the years, with Ibarra commenting,
“I started out as a one-man band with a little, tiny service truck that I put together. Now I look back at what we started with to what we have now. It’s been a huge transformation, and honestly, it’s been a good transformation. I’m very humbled to be able to have what I have and do what we do…”
It’s clear that Ibarra’s personality on Gold Rush is not just for the cameras—he truly enjoys working, maintaining, and helping others solve problems. He also makes a conscious effort to spend quality time with his wife and four children, despite his busy schedule with Gold Rush and his business.
For example, when he’s with his family, Ibarra sleeps in later to make sure he can spend more time with them in the evening. There’s no wonder why Juan Ibarra is a fan favorite; his commitment to his work and family plays a big part in that.
[Updated: 04/01/2025]
Sauce on Page 2
The show chronicles various family-run mining crews who stake everything to dig for placer gold in harsh wilderness—beginning in Alaska, but mostly in Yukon’s Klondike. The teams face equipment failures, unpredictable weather, financial pressure, and tough competition, all while chasing the ultimate payoff: striking it rich.
