“Deadliest Catch” fans became overwhelmed with a wave of sympathy and sadness when in late 2023, captain Wild Bill announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in the 19th season’s finale. It depicted Bill receiving the dreadful news from his doctor, who recommended a straight path of treatment combining radiation with hormonal therapy. The revelation thoroughly shook the “Deadliest Catch” community, who had come to admire Bill’s bravery and dauntlessness through the dangers of the Bering Sea. Many took to social media to share their concerns and offer thoughts and prayers to Bill and his family.
Bill chose to keep working and filming “Deadliest Catch” in spite of the diagnosis, balancing his time between treatment and fishing, which resonated strongly with his fans. They hailed the captain’s determination not to let his illness define him or reduce his passion of braving the waves. Bill kept the fans up to date on social media, reporting on the current events regarding his medical treatment. He noted at one point that his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels had dropped to almost zero, which meant that the treatment was working, and had the fans celebrating all over the world.
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Who really is Captain Wild Bill?
Born Bill Wichrowski under the sign of Gemini on 24 May 1957, in Irwin, Pennsylvania, USA, Wild Bill was easily drawn to adventure and the sea at an early age, which appears to dictate his life even today. He was raised by his steelworker father and homemaker mother, who provided him the freedom to pursue his passions and develop his personality. Young Bill took to sailing in no time, even as a mere teenager.
He took a giant leap into the blue and following his high school matriculation, joined the US Navy, which would truly kick-start his life-long affair with the sea. The Navy ultimately groomed him for a thick-skinned, practical life on the ocean, blending perfectly with his dream of becoming a master of the waves. Following his time in service to the country, Bill went on to seek a new experience in the untamed depths surrounding Alaska, where he began sailing as a commercial fisherman.
From whelp on a crab boat, to becoming one of the best sea hunters in Alaska, Bill passed every test of the Bering Sea in his veteran career, managing to thrive throughout his unforgiving lifestyle. His tenacity and conscientious approach to leadership soon gave him the reputation of one of the hardest, most capable men on the water. Unsurprisingly, Bill caught his big break upon becoming the captain of fishing vessel (F/V) Kodiak. His captaining saw a good deal of success through adversity, that garnered him invaluable respect and recognition among the Alaskan tough-as-nails fishing crews.
A tumultuous spotlight
He arrived onto the world stage by becoming part of the cast of “Deadliest Catch” in its sixth season, in 2010. He’s since been seen in over 160 episodes spanning 14 seasons, and continues to grace the camera even in present-day’s 20th installment. The series introduced its massive audience to Bill’s rough charm and no-nonsense image, which captivated them in droves, leading many to start following him across social media. His frank attitude paired with a relentless persistence to do a perfect job every time, combining into a unique personality that the fans simply couldn’t get enough of. Over the course of his career, Bill has captained F/V Kodiak, F/V Cape Caution, and most currently F/V Summer Bay.
While most of the events surrounding Bill’s presence in the show are awe-inspiring, there have also been instances in which things went south, ultimately adding to the overall dramatic value of having a character like him in the show. A perfect example would be Nick McGlashan’s cancer scare in season 13, while he was still in Bill’s employ atop F/V Kodiak. Fearing the high white blood cell count discovered by the doctors, Nick informed Bill that he might be dealing with cancer. However, the tests later came back negative, and the fans were happy to see stress slip off the crew’s shoulders.
That wasn’t the end of it, though, because Bill discovered a stash of narcotics among McGlashan’s belongings on the ship. This prompted him to fire the deckhand, which left Nick penniless and struggling with addiction. The tale came to a tragic end several years later, when the former star was found dead in a motel room in Nashville, Tennessee on 28 December 2018, having overdosed on a deadly combination of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. Some were quick to blame Bill for inadvertently causing this outcome, but most of the fans took his side in the matter.
A true family man
Regarding his more private matters, Bill is also recognized for having a diverse and dynamic family life. For a start, he’s the father of three children: Zack Larson, Jake Wichrowski, and Delia Wichrowski. Being Bill’s eldest son from a previous marriage, Zack took his mother’s last name instead, leading many newcomers to “Deadliest Catch” to miss the fact that they’re related. Jake and Delia are from his marriage to Karen Gillis, whom he stayed with for many years, until 2018.
Bill’s relationship with Zack has been particularly noteworthy and complex, full of ups and downs for the world to see. The fisherman was largely absent during his son’s early years, which ultimately led to a strained relationship. However, they reconnected when Zack joined the crew of F/V Cape Caution in the sixth season in 2010. This professional collaboration ultimately helped mend their relationship, allowing the pair to grow closer over time, gradually easing mutual tensions. Even so, Zack eventually left his father’s boat to work on F/V Brenna A under Captain Sean Dwyer, and later even became the captain of his own vessel, F/V Elinore J.
After divorcing Karen, Bill began dating a certain Mellisa Marie Taylor, with whom he frequently shared moments on social media until their relationship also ended in late 2019. Since then, the “Deadliest Catch” star has been linked with another partner, though her identity remains concealed even in 2024. When ashore, Bill spends his time in San Carlos, Mexico, where he indulges in his hobbies of traveling, horseback riding, and sports fishing, focusing on building even closer relationships with his grandchildren – Zack’s offspring.
In it for the long haul
Bill’s struggle with cancer has undoubtedly been an emotional rollercoaster for both his family and fans, seeing him go through a number of treatments over the years, including chemotherapy – a process that took a brutal toll on his body. Even so, the captain remained unbreakable, regardless of the physical and emotional drain. He continues sailing as the captain of his ship, maintaining a competitive edge against other stars of the show through relentless commitment.
While it’s still too early to state whether Bill’s fully out of the woods, the fans remain hopeful that the captain will get through it, overloading his social media with positive comments and praising every moment he’s shown on the TV screen. It’s certain that the man himself doesn’t mean to be held back by anything, including his diagnosis, and thus he continues to perform his duties as one of the best-known veterans of the Bering’s unforgiving currents.
What is his net worth?
Some of the most reputable sources to date have estimated Wild Bill’s current wealth at more than $3 million. He owes this fortune to a number of factors, not least being the captain of one of the most prolific vessels in the Bering Sea, hauling in massive loads after most outings. His earnings from the show are also substantial, combining for an enviable $300,000 per annum.
On top of that, Bill has a personal website on which he sells several types of merchandise, including t-shirts, fishing clothes, hoodies, hats, and various accessories, such as face buffs, drinkware, and even branded stickers.
