Derek Bieri is an American automotive YouTuber, car restorer, and Motor Trend television personality born on May 16, 1984, in Minot, North Dakota. Standing approximately 6’1″ tall, and Derek Bieri Net Worth is an estimated of $3–$5 million, he’s built a remarkable career around rescuing forgotten vehicles. Married to Jessica Bieri since 2008, he’s a proud father of three sons and a U.S. Air Force veteran whose discipline quietly shapes everything he does.
From a North Dakota farm kid to a classic car restoration icon with over 650 million YouTube views — Derek Bieri’s story isn’t just about cars. It’s about grit, family, and betting everything on your passion.
His Vice Grip Garage channel, hit TV show Roadworthy Rescues, thriving Tennessee property, and tight-knit family life make Derek Bieri one of the most compelling figures in automotive entertainment today — a man worth knowing far beyond the garage.
Who Is Derek Bieri?
Derek Bieri is an American automotive YouTuber, car restorer, and television personality. He’s best known for creating Vice Grip Garage — a YouTube channel where he rescues abandoned, decades-old vehicles and brings them back to life using basic tools and sheer determination.
What sets him apart from other automotive content creators isn’t a fancy workshop or a million-dollar budget. It’s his authenticity. He’ll pull a crusty 1970 Dodge Challenger out of a field, crack a joke about it, and have it running by the end of the video. That combination of mechanical skill, humour, and humility built one of the most loyal fan bases in the automotive entertainment industry.
His career didn’t stop at YouTube, either. In September 2022, he launched Roadworthy Rescues on MotorTrend — cementing his place as a legitimate automotive television personality.
Derek Bieri Biography: Early Life & North Dakota Roots
Born on May 16, 1984, in Minot, North Dakota, Derek Bieri didn’t grow up in a city garage. He grew up on a farm — and that’s where his mechanical instincts were forged.
He never attended a formal automotive school. Instead, he learned by watching his father and grandfather fix things with whatever was lying around. The philosophy was simple: make it work with what you have, don’t buy new parts unless you absolutely must. That mindset didn’t just stick — it became the entire identity of Vice Grip Garage.
Beyond family mentorship, Derek sharpened his skills working alongside Roger Zweifel, a restoration specialist who focused on hot rods and classic cars from the 1940s through the 1960s. That hands-on apprenticeship gave him a foundation no classroom could replicate.
Here’s what’s interesting, though. Before Vice Grip Garage ever existed, Derek Bieri wasn’t in a garage at all. He was in an office. He worked in the corporate world, reportedly in high-level executive roles. Successful, sure — but deeply unfulfilling. In 2018, he made the leap most people dream about: he quit his desk job and went all-in on his passion for classic car restoration.
That decision changed everything.
Derek Bieri Age: How Old Is He in 2026?
Derek Bieri was born on May 16, 1984, which makes him 41 years old as of 2025 and turning 42 in May 2026.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 16, 1984 |
| Age (2025) | 41 |
| Age (2026) | 42 |
| Star Sign | Taurus |
| Birthplace | Minot, North Dakota, USA |
Don’t let the age fool you — he’s still crawling under cars, yanking seized bolts, and driving machines that haven’t moved in 30 years. For a Taurus, the stubbornness makes perfect sense.
Derek Bieri Height and Physical Profile
Derek Bieri stands approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall (185 cm), with a solid, practical build that suits his line of work perfectly. He’s the kind of guy who looks like he belongs under a car — not on a red carpet.
| Physical Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | ~6’1″ (185 cm) |
| Weight | ~72 kg (159 lbs) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Build | Solid, athletic |
His appearance is refreshingly on-brand. Work boots, practical clothing, mechanic-ready attire. No designer gear, no staged lighting. What you see in his videos is exactly what you’d see if you ran into him at a car show.
Derek Bieri’s Career: From Corporate Burnout to 650 Million Views
The Birth of Vice Grip Garage
Derek launched Vice Grip Garage in 2018, and the concept was deceptively simple: find old, forgotten vehicles — the kind other people would scrap — and get them running again. Document the whole process, unfiltered.
His focus on budget-conscious, real-time troubleshooting separated him from the crowd immediately. Most automotive channels show you expensive builds with pristine workshop setups. Derek showed you what actually happens when you try to start a car that’s been sitting in a ditch since 1987. Spoiler: it doesn’t go smoothly. And that’s the point.
By 2026, Vice Grip Garage surpassed 2.5 million subscribers and over 650 million views — remarkable numbers for a channel rooted in such an unpolished, authentic approach.
One milestone worth noting: a 2022 video where Derek restores a car that hadn’t been driven in over 20 years pulled in more than 3.5 million views. His 2021 restoration of a 1968 Buick LeSabre became another fan favourite. These aren’t just viral car videos — they’re legitimately compelling storytelling.
Roadworthy Rescues on MotorTrend
The logical next step after YouTube domination? Television. Roadworthy Rescues premiered on MotorTrend in September 2022, taking Derek’s concept to a broader audience.
The show follows Derek — often joined by his wife Jessica and their three sons — travelling coast to coast and sometimes into Canada, digging vehicles out of weeds and barns with nothing but standard tools, creativity, and whatever bungee cords happen to be nearby. It’s available on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, and Fubo, as well as the MotorTrend network.
Before Roadworthy Rescues, Derek had already dipped his toes in television through Hooptie World Championship and Holiday Hooptie Challenge III, both of which saw him collaborate with David Freiburger of Roadkill fame. Derek has described Freiburger’s talent as “mind-blowing” on a level that’s rare in the automotive space.
Vice Grip Lodge — The Secondary Channel
Beyond the main channel, Derek runs Vice Grip Lodge — a secondary YouTube channel that documents life at his Tennessee property. It bridges his personal and professional worlds, giving fans a glimpse into the family dynamics behind the brand.
Derek Bieri Military Service: What’s Actually Confirmed?
This is one of the most searched questions about him — and it deserves a straight, honest answer rather than vague speculation.
Derek Bieri is a U.S. Air Force veteran. He served in the United States Air Force, though the specific duration of his service and any deployed assignments have not been made public. He occasionally references his Air Force background in interviews, often framing it as a formative experience that shaped his disciplined, problem-solving approach to mechanical challenges.
What’s not confirmed:
- His exact military rank has never been publicly disclosed
- The length of his service is not on record
- He has not made military service a focal point of his public persona or media interviews
Bottom line for fans: He served. He’s a veteran. The finer details are his to share if and when he chooses.
Derek Bieri Military Rank
No official military rank has been confirmed by Derek Bieri or any verified source. While he served in the U.S. Air Force, he kept those details private.
Derek Bieri’s Wife: Who Is Jessica Bieri?
Behind every great garage is a great partner — and Derek’s is Jessica Bieri.
Derek and Jessica have been together for over 25 years, married since 2008, and celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary in July 2025. Their’s isn’t a typical celebrity marriage where one partner stays invisible. Jessica is deeply embedded in Vice Grip Garage as a business operation.
She handles logistics, organisation, and even hands-on mechanical tasks during events. When the family was still based in Minnesota, it was Jessica who first articulated the toll the setup was taking — Derek was driving over an hour between workshops, accumulating roughly 30 lost days of travel per year.
She occasionally appears in YouTube videos but, by choice, keeps a lower public profile than Derek. Her influence on the brand, however, is undeniable. As one source put it: “Vice Grip Garage is not a production company — it’s a family.”
Derek Bieri Sons: His Three Boys
Derek and Jessica are parents to three sons. Their names, as reported across multiple fan-facing sources, are Bentley, Bradley, and Bailey — though Derek has not officially confirmed the names publicly, keeping his kids’ personal lives appropriately private.
What he has shared freely:
- Bentley, the eldest, runs his own YouTube channel called Little Grip Garage, focused on go-karts and dirt bikes under Derek’s guidance
- All three boys frequently travel with their parents on Roadworthy Rescues shoots
- The kids have appeared at major automotive events, including the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals
One of the stated reasons for the family’s move to Tennessee was giving the boys a country upbringing — the same kind of outdoor, farm-adjacent childhood that Derek and Jessica both had growing up.
“We were both raised kind of in a country or farm setting, and we always wanted that for our children — just running outside and playing with no worry, being able to jump on your 4-wheeler or dirt bike.” — Jessica Bieri
The Tennessee Move: ViceGrip Lodge, Rusty Acres & the Big Picture
In 2021, the Bieri family made a significant move from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lewisburg, Tennessee — and it was one of the smartest business decisions Derek’s ever made.
Why They Left Minnesota
The reasons were layered but practical:
- Cost of living — Derek described the difference between Minnesota and Tennessee as “night and day”
- No state income tax in Tennessee — a game-changer for someone running a multi-revenue-stream media business
- Travel time — Derek used to drive over an hour between shops, burning roughly 30 days a year just commuting
- Event access — Florida automotive events that once required a 3-day drive now take just one day from Tennessee
- Family time — the grind was pulling Derek away from his wife and sons. Moving consolidated everything
What They Built in Tennessee
The Tennessee operation is substantial:
| Property | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ViceGrip Lodge | 22-acre main property in Lewisburg; primary filming base |
| Rusty Acres | Storage property for project and non-running vehicles |
| Acquired Building | Future workspace or potential museum for iconic project cars |
| Expanded Lot | Roughly half a city block cleared for event parking |
The Tennessee property isn’t just a filming location — it’s the physical infrastructure of a media brand.
Derek Bieri Net Worth: How Much Is He Worth in 2025–2026?
Based on publicly available performance data and industry estimates, Derek Bieri’s net worth sits between $3 million and $5 million as of 2025–2026. He has not confirmed an exact figure himself, but the numbers are well-supported by the revenue streams behind the brand.
Derek Bieri Income Sources
| Revenue Stream | Details |
|---|---|
| YouTube Ad Revenue | Millions of views across Vice Grip Garage drive consistent AdSense income |
| MotorTrend TV | Appearance and production fees from Roadworthy Rescues |
| Merchandise | Personalised video shoutouts for fans |
| Sponsorships | O’Reilly Auto Parts (“Revival Essentials” curator), Valvoline VR1 Motor Oil, Berryman, TruFuel |
| Vehicle Flips | Buys, restores, and resells classic vehicles for profit |
| Mecum Auctions | Offered five curated vehicles through Mecum Auctions in 2025 |
| Cameo | Personalized video shoutouts for fans |
The O’Reilly Auto Parts partnership is particularly notable — Derek curates “Revival Essentials” product lists for the brand, tying his authentic mechanic credibility directly to a commercial relationship that feels organic rather than forced.
A quick breakdown of why Vice Grip Garage scales financially:
- Low production costs — no expensive studio setup, no large crew
- High engagement — loyal audience means strong CPM (cost per thousand views) rates
- Multiple revenue layers — YouTube alone isn’t the business; it’s one pillar of many
- Brand authenticity — sponsorships land because viewers trust Derek’s recommendations
Derek Bieri’s Accident: What Happened?
Fans noticed Derek’s absence from the upload schedule in early 2023 and began speculating. Here’s the verified story.
In February 2023, Derek suffered a serious dirt bike accident. The injury was significant enough to raise concerns among his audience. However, he recovered quickly — and in a very Derek Bieri fashion- returned to competitive driving at Sick Week 2023, where he achieved a personal best in his 1970 Dodge Challenger.
Derek Bieri Quick Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Derek Bieri |
| Date of Birth | May 16, 1984 |
| Age (2026) | 42 |
| Birthplace | Minot, North Dakota, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | ~6’1″ (185 cm) |
| Weight | ~72 kg (159 lbs) |
| Star Sign | Taurus |
| Wife | Jessica Bieri (married 2008) |
| Sons | 3 (Bentley, Bradley, Bailey) |
| Military Branch | U.S. Air Force (veteran) |
| Military Rank | Not publicly confirmed |
| YouTube Channel | Vice Grip Garage |
| Secondary Channel | Vice Grip Lodge |
| TV Show | Roadworthy Rescues, MotorTrend |
| Current Location | Lewisburg, Tennessee |
| Net Worth (est.) | $3M – $5M |
| @vicegripgarage |
The Bigger Picture: Why Derek Bieri Resonates
Numbers alone don’t explain Derek Bieri’s popularity. Plenty of automotive channels have bigger subscriber counts and bigger budgets. What Derek has is something harder to manufacture: realness.
His fans have approached him at events with tears in their eyes. Not because of a particular car. Because his videos helped them through grief, depression, or isolation — especially during the pandemic. He didn’t plan any of that. He just showed up in a garage and did what he loved.
“Our goal is: always put a smile on your faces, entertain you, where you can sit down with your family or your kids and just enjoy some stuff and hopefully get you motivated and get you out to the shop and garage.” — Derek Bieri
That’s the mission. And by every measurable metric, it’s working.
Whether it’s the classic car restoration videos, the family dynamics, the Tennessee property, or the Air Force backstory — Derek Bieri is more than a garage-based YouTuber. He’s proof that trading a corporate desk for a set of socket wrenches can, against all odds, pay off most greatly.
Conclusion
Derek Bieri’s age, height, net worth, wife, military service, and sons tell a story bigger than YouTube fame. He’s a 42-year-old Air Force veteran standing 6’1″, worth an estimated $3–$5 million, raising three sons alongside his devoted wife Jessica. None of it came easy. Derek Bieri’s net worth
From a North Dakota farm to a 22-acre Tennessee property, Derek Bieri’s age, height, net worth, wife, military service, and sons reflect a life built on hard work and real values. He didn’t chase fame — fame found a man who simply loved fixing cars and never quit. Derek Bieri’s net worth
FAQs
How old is Derek Bieri in 2026?
Derek Bieri was born on May 16, 1984. He is currently 42 years old in 2026. Derek Bieri’s net worth
How tall is Derek Bieri?
Derek Bieri stands approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall (185 cm) with a solid, work-ready build. Derek Bieri’s net worth
What is Derek Bieri’s net worth in 2026?
Derek Bieri’s net worth is estimated between $3 million and $5 million, earned through YouTube, MotorTrend TV, sponsorships, and merchandise. Derek Bieri’s net worth
Who is Derek Bieri’s wife, and how many sons does he have?
Derek has been married to Jessica Bieri since 2008. Together they have three sons — Bentley, Bradley, and Bailey. Derek Bieri’s net worth
Did Derek Bieri serve in the military?
Yes. Derek Bieri is a U.S. Air Force veteran. His exact rank and service duration have not been publicly confirmed. Derek Bieri’s net worth
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