Wiki Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Steve Grad, a well-known expert on the television show ‘Pawn Stars,’ has turned his childhood hobby into a dream career.
- Born and raised in Chicago, Steve’s journey from radio to becoming a world-renowned autograph authenticator is a fascinating one. His Greek heritage and strong family connections have played a significant role in shaping his life and values.
Early Life :
- Steve grew up in Chicago, where he maintained a strong connection to his Greek heritage. His Greek roots trace back to Patras on his mother’s side, while his dad is of Russian Czech descent.
- During his early years, Steve attended Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Olympia Fields. Later, after his family moved to Orland Park, they attended SS Constantine & Helen Church in nearby Palos Hills.
- Grad has fond memories of his time at these churches and shared a strong bond with Father Nicholas Jonas, who played a significant role in his life.
- Steve holds Greek traditions close to his heart, with Pascha (Easter) remaining his favorite holiday.
- For his education, Grad ttended the Koraes Elementary School. He also articipated in Greek school and Sunday school in Palos Hills.
Married Life and Family :
- Steve is married to his wife Claire since 1996. The couple shares the joy of raising two daughters, aged 22 and 15 (ages as of 2023).
- Despite the absence of a Greek church in their immediate vicinity, Steve makes it a point to expose his family to the richness of Greek culture and religion.
Career, Salary and Net Worth :
- In the 1990s, Steve ventured into a career in radio. He worked as Shadow Traffic on WLUP-FM from 1993-1996 and became known as “Psycho Steve the Voice of Sports” on “Mancow’s Morning Madhouse” from 1994-1996. He continued working in syndicated radio until 1999 but eventually decided to move on due to the challenging hours and limited financial growth.
- Steve’s passion for autographs had begun at the young age of 8. Inspired by his grandmother’s own collecting interests, Steve too had developed a keen eye for authentic autographs. This hobby stayed with him, and he honed his authentication skills over time.
- In 2002, Steve moved to California and further enhance his autograph authentication skills. He became a professional sports authenticator in 2004. The road to becoming an authenticator wasn’t through traditional education; it involved gaining knowledge on the job. Steve also took handwriting courses to increase his expertise in the field.
- In 2004, Steve joined Collectors Universe, a third-party authentication and grading service for high-value collectibles, as a Professional Sports Authenticator. During his time there, he became a world-renowned autograph expert.
- In 2012, Steve’s expertise as an authenticator caught the attention of the producers of ‘Pawn Stars,’ a popular show on The History Channel set in a Las Vegas pawn shop. The producers were searching for a highly skilled authenticator, and they reached out to Steve through his boss at Collectors Universe. Steve embraced this unique and exciting opportunity and filmed his first episode in January 2013. Since then, he has been featured in well over 100 episodes of the show. His appearances on ‘Pawn Stars’ have made him a household figure, with viewers referring to him as “the guy from Pawn Stars.”
- In 2016, Steve left Collectors Universe to establish a new authentication company for Beckett, a company known for magazine card grading. This new firm, Beckett Authentication Services, led by Steve and fellow autograph expert Brian Sobrero, authenticates some of the rarest and most valuable items in the industry.
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