Have you ever been channel-surfing on a lazy Saturday, stumbled upon a car auction, and thought, “Who is that guy with the perfect hair and the gavel?” That’s Craig Jackson, the face of Barrett-Jackson. He’s the man who makes selling a 1969 Camaro feel as exciting as a fourth-quarter touchdown. And if you’re like most of us, you’ve probably wondered: how old is he, really?
It’s a fair question. We all do mental math with people on TV. You know, like when you see a friend’s dad who still mows the lawn in his 70s, or that one neighbor who looks 40 but admits he’s actually 58. Craig Jackson falls into that fascinating category of people whose age is just a bonus to their energy.
Here’s the short answer: Craig Jackson was born on August 9, 1956. That makes him 67 years old as of 2024. But here’s the thing—numbers are boring without context. Let’s talk about what that really means in the wild world of cars and life.
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Think about the 1960s for a second
When Craig was a little kid in the mid-1960s, the muscle car era was just revving up. Can you imagine being a child and watching your dad sell a car that would later be worth a million bucks? His father, Russ Jackson, didn’t just sell cars—he lived them. Craig grew up surrounded by gasoline, chrome, and the smell of burnt rubber at the family’s auto auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
When you’re 67, you’ve seen a lot. You’ve lived through the oil crisis of the 1970s, the rise of Japanese imports, and the insanity of modern collector prices. Craig Jackson absolutely has. He took over Barrett-Jackson in the 1990s and turned it into a television powerhouse. That’s not just age—that’s experience you can’t buy.
Why does his age even matter to you?
Because it’s a story about persistence. Most of us, at 67, are thinking about retirement, gardening, or maybe a slow RV trip to the Grand Canyon. Craig Jackson is still standing on a stage, sweating under television lights, auctioning off $10 million cars while cracking jokes. That’s like your uncle who runs marathons—except his marathon involves a microphone and a 1967 Shelby Mustang.
Here’s a little comparison: Remember that time you spent four hours trying to sell an old couch on Facebook Marketplace? Imagine doing that for 50 years—except the couch is a Ferrari 250 GTO. That’s the energy Craig brings. His age tells you he’s been through the ups and downs of the car market, from booms to busts, and he’s still smiling.
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And guess what? He doesn’t look 67. He’s got that Hollywood glow that makes you wonder if he’s made a deal with the devil or just uses really good sunscreen. The truth is, he stays busy. Busy people age differently. You’ve seen it: the retired teacher who still volunteers at the library? She’s 73 but acts 55. Same deal here.
Let’s talk about the numbers in a fun way
Craig Jackson was born the same year as Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson. So if you’ve watched “Forrest Gump” and thought, “This guy is timeless”, you’re feeling the same vibe with Craig. He’s been on TV since 1996, which means he’s been in your living room for nearly three decades. That’s longer than most sitcoms.
His age also explains a little about his calm demeanor. When you’ve been auctioning cars since the 1980s, you’ve seen it all. Fender benders? Check. Bidding wars that turn into shouting matches? Check. A car that was “barn find” but actually had raccoons living in it? Probably. At 67, you just know how to handle chaos—like a grandparent who stays chill while the turkey catches fire on Thanksgiving.
Here’s a relatable moment: Have you ever tried to explain to a young person what a “muscle car” is? They look at you like you’re speaking Latin. Craig Jackson has been explaining this his whole life. He’s a bridge between the generation that remembers tail fins and the one that thinks a “classic” is a 2010 Honda Civic.
Why you should care (without being a car nerd)
You might not care about cars at all. Maybe you just like watching the auction because of the drama. People crying when they buy a Corvette. Hugs. High-fives. That’s human emotion, and Craig Jackson is the steady hand guiding it all. His age means he’s seen more human moments than a therapist.
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Think about the last time you went to a flea market or a garage sale. Did you haggle? Did you feel that little rush when you got a deal? Now multiply that by a million. That’s what Craig does every weekend. He’s the ultimate haggler, and at 67, he hasn’t lost his touch.
Also, here’s a fun fact: His birthday, August 9th, is the same day as National Book Lovers Day. Coincidence? I think not. Because if you love cars, you love stories. Every car has a story, and Craig Jackson is the librarian of those dusty, gasoline-scented tales.
So, is 67 old?
Yes and no. He’s old enough to have gray in his hair (though he hides it well). He’s old enough to remember when a gallon of gas cost 30 cents. But he’s also young enough to spot a fake Ferrari from a mile away and still get excited about a 1970 Plymouth Superbird.
If you ask me, 67 is just a number. It’s like the odometer on a well-maintained classic car. You don’t care about the mileage because the engine purrs like a kitten. Craig Jackson’s engine still purrs. He’s talked about stepping back, but he keeps showing up. That’s the mark of a person who found their passion early and never let go.
So next time you watch Barrett-Jackson and see that familiar face, just smile. You’re watching a 67-year-old man having the time of his life—and he’s probably having more fun than you are on a Saturday afternoon. And that’s worth celebrating, even if you don’t know a carburetor from a coffee maker.