Craig Tester is a well-known mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and television personality best recognized for his role on The Curse of Oak Island. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation through his work in engineering, energy businesses, and treasure-hunting projects alongside Marty Lagina. Fans admire him not only for his technical knowledge but also for his calm and thoughtful presence on screen. Beyond television, Craig has also drawn attention for his family life, business success, and personal journey. Many readers search for details about Craig Tester’s age, wife, children, and finances, making him an interesting public figure whose life story blends professional achievement, reality TV fame, and personal resilience.
Early Life and Background
Craig Tester was born in the United States and later built a career that blended engineering, energy business, and television. He is widely known for being a long-time business partner and former college roommate of Marty Lagina. That friendship eventually became one of the key foundations behind the Oak Island journey.
Unlike many reality TV personalities, Craig did not become famous through entertainment first. His reputation was built through technical skill, business leadership, and practical problem-solving. That is one reason why he stands out from many other television personalities. He has always come across as more of a serious professional than a typical reality TV celebrity.
His public image has remained steady for years: calm, analytical, intelligent, and highly experienced in the engineering side of operations.
Education and Career Foundation
One of the strongest parts of Craig Tester’s background is his education. He studied at Michigan Technological University, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. That academic background helped shape the rest of his professional life.
His engineering training eventually led him into the energy and drilling industry, where he built a respected business career. He later became associated with ventures involving oil, gas, technical operations, and energy-related projects. This is also what made him such a natural fit for the Oak Island team.
On The Curse of Oak Island, Craig is known less for dramatic reactions and more for his technical value. He helps with drilling strategy, planning, and resistivity-based thinking — all of which are important in a place like Oak Island, where excavation and underground analysis play a major role. The History Channel describes him as Marty Lagina’s former college roommate and energy-business partner, and credits him with being instrumental in researching, locating, and planning new dig operations.
What Does He Do for a Living?
The short answer is: he is a mechanical engineer, businessman, and TV personality.
However, that simple answer only tells part of the story. Craig’s professional life is broader than television. His real-world career includes:
- Mechanical engineering
- Technical drilling and planning
- Energy-related business operations
- Long-term project management
- Television production and appearances
So while millions of people know him from The Curse of Oak Island, his professional identity was already established long before the show became popular.
That is also why many fans consider him one of the most “real” professionals on the series. He is not there only for TV — he is there because his knowledge actually matters to the project.
Age
Craig Tester is widely reported to have been born on February 16, 1961, which would make him 65 years old in 2026. While some entertainment websites have circulated age estimates in the past, this date has become the most commonly cited and aligns with his long education and business timeline.
So if someone asks:
- How old is Craig Tester? → 65 years old (as of 2026)
- How old is Craig Tester from Oak Island? → 65 years old
This age makes sense given his decades-long engineering and business career, as well as his role as one of the more senior and experienced members of the Oak Island team.
Personal Life and Family
Craig Tester has always been known as a relatively private and family-centered person. Even though he became more publicly recognized because of television, he has never presented himself as someone chasing celebrity attention.
That is one reason many fans respect him. He appears to value family, loyalty, and work more than publicity.
His family story became more visible over time because of his connection to The Curse of Oak Island and because some members of his family were also linked to the show. Fans gradually became curious about his wife, children, and family relationships — especially after personal tragedy became part of his public story.
Wife
Craig Tester is widely associated with Becky (Rebecca) Tester, and her name often appears in entertainment and fan coverage tied to the Oak Island circle. She has mostly remained out of the spotlight, which is consistent with how private Craig has remained throughout his public life.
Unlike some TV-related families who become highly visible online, the Tester family has largely kept a lower profile. That has helped maintain a sense of dignity and privacy around their personal life.
Even though Becky is not a major public figure, fans often search for her because of Craig’s role on television and because of the emotional events that affected the family.
Children and Family Connections
Craig Tester is also known as a father, and this part of his life is especially meaningful to long-time Oak Island viewers.
He is associated with the following children/family connections:
- Drake Tester
- Grace Tester
- Jack Begley (commonly connected through the family circle)
A lot of fans search whether Jack Begley is related to Craig Tester, and the answer is that Jack is commonly understood to be part of Craig’s extended or step-family relationship. This is why both names are frequently linked in fan discussions surrounding The Curse of Oak Island.
That family overlap is part of what made the show feel more personal to viewers. Oak Island was never just about treasure for many of the cast members — it also became a multi-generational family journey.
What Happened to His Son?
One of the saddest and most emotional parts of Craig Tester’s public story involves his son, Drake Tester.
Drake appeared in earlier years of The Curse of Oak Island and became familiar to many viewers. Sadly, he passed away in 2017 at the age of 16 due to complications related to a seizure disorder, according to widely reported coverage tied to the show and entertainment reporting.
So if someone asks:
- What happened to Craig Tester’s son?
→ His son Drake Tester passed away in 2017 due to complications from a seizure disorder.
This loss had a deep emotional impact on Craig and his family. Many viewers remember this period as one of the most heartbreaking moments associated with the Oak Island cast.
It also changed how many fans viewed Craig. He was no longer seen only as a technical expert or business figure — he was also seen as a father dealing with an unimaginable loss.
Television Career and Oak Island Role
Craig Tester became widely recognized because of his involvement in The Curse of Oak Island, one of the most successful mystery and treasure-hunting shows on television.
The series follows the long-running search for hidden treasure and historical secrets on Oak Island in Nova Scotia, and Craig has been part of that mission for years. The show continues to list him among its key cast figures, and the History Channel still includes him in cast and show pages.
His role on the show is different from some of the more camera-heavy personalities. Craig is often associated with:
- Technical excavation planning
- Engineering support
- Drilling-related decisions
- Strategic project thinking
- Practical analysis of operations
That is why his presence matters even when he is not always the most visible person in every episode.
Is He Still on Oak Island?
Yes — Craig Tester remains connected to The Curse of Oak Island. While he has sometimes appeared less frequently on-screen than other cast members, there is no strong indication that he has fully stepped away from the project. The History Channel still lists him as part of the cast, and current show materials continue to identify him as a key member of the team.
So if you are wondering:
- Is Craig Tester still on Oak Island? → Yes
- Did Craig Tester leave Oak Island? → No confirmed permanent departure
In short, less screen time does not mean he is gone.
Height and Physical Appearance
Fans also search for celebrity-style details like height and appearance.
Craig Tester is commonly estimated to stand around 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall. He appears to have a slim build, brown eyes, and gray/light brown hair.
Although this is not the most important part of his biography, it remains a common search topic because viewers often compare cast members visually on television.
He generally has a modest, low-key on-screen presence, which fits his personality well. He does not come across as flashy or performative — and that has actually helped him stand out in a more authentic way.
Net Worth
One of the biggest fan questions is: What is Craig Tester’s net worth?
As of 2026, Craig Tester’s estimated net worth is commonly placed in the range of $3 million to $5 million. This estimate is based on his long career in engineering, business, energy ventures, and his involvement with The Curse of Oak Island. Entertainment reporting has repeatedly described him as a multimillionaire with income streams extending far beyond television alone.
That estimate makes sense because Craig’s wealth is not built from reality TV alone. His financial profile is believed to come from a mix of professional and business sources, including:
- Engineering and technical leadership
- Energy and drilling-related business work
- Renewable energy ventures
- TV appearances and production-related involvement
This is why many viewers are surprised by how financially established he appears to be. Unlike some TV personalities, Craig already had a serious professional background before becoming publicly known.
Salary and Income Sources
There is no official public salary breakdown, but his likely income sources include multiple professional streams rather than one single paycheck.
His earnings are generally linked to:
- Business ownership and executive work
- Engineering and technical consulting
- Energy-sector ventures
- Television and production involvement
A reasonable broad estimate places his monthly income somewhere around $25,000 to $45,000, while his annual income could fall around $300,000 to $540,000, depending on active projects, media involvement, and business operations.
This range makes sense because Craig’s career has always looked more diversified than that of a standard TV cast member.
Quick Bio Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Craig Tester |
| Real Name | Craig Tester |
| Nick Name | Craig |
| Profession | Mechanical Engineer, Entrepreneur, TV Personality |
| Famous For | Appearing on The Curse of Oak Island |
| Date of Birth | February 16, 1961 |
| Age (2026) | 65 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Glendale, California, United States |
| Born Place | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian (widely associated in public bios) |
| Education | Michigan Technological University |
| Degree | BS in Mechanical Engineering |
| Profession Category | Engineering, Energy Business, Television |
| TV Show | The Curse of Oak Island |
| Height | Approx. 5 ft 8 in |
| Weight | Approx. 68–75 kg |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Gray / Light Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Shoe Size | Not widely known |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife Name | Becky / Rebecca Tester |
| Husband Name | Not Applicable |
| Children | Drake Tester, Grace Tester |
| Son | Drake Tester (late) |
| Daughter | Grace Tester |
| Father Name | Not widely available |
| Mother Name | Not widely available |
| Brother Name | Not widely available |
| Sister Name | Not widely available |
| Siblings | Private |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated $3 Million – $5 Million |
| Monthly Income | Estimated $25,000 – $45,000 |
| Annual Income | Estimated $300,000 – $540,000 |
| Primary Income Source | Engineering, Business Ventures, TV |
| Other Income Source | Production / Media Appearances |
| Current Status | Alive |
| Residence | United States |
Final Thoughts
Craig Tester may not be the loudest personality on television, but he is easily one of the most important people connected to The Curse of Oak Island. His engineering knowledge, technical mindset, and business background have made him a valuable force behind the scenes for years.
At the same time, his personal story has made him more than just a TV figure. Fans have followed not only his role in the Oak Island mystery, but also the emotional chapters of his family life. That combination of intelligence, loyalty, resilience, and professionalism is a big reason why viewers continue to search for him.
Whether someone wants to know his age, wife, family, son, net worth, career, or role on Oak Island, one thing is clear: Craig Tester is much more than a reality TV cast member. He is an engineer, entrepreneur, and one of the quiet pillars behind one of television’s most famous treasure hunts.
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FAQs
How did Craig Tester make his money?
Craig Tester made his money through engineering, energy businesses, drilling projects, and TV work, especially with Terra Energy, Heritage Sustainable Energy, and The Curse of Oak Island.
What happened to Craig Tester’s son from Oak Island?
Craig Tester’s son, Drake Tester, sadly passed away in 2017 due to complications from a seizure disorder.
What is Craig Tester’s net worth?
Craig Tester’s estimated net worth is around $3 million to $5 million, though exact figures are not officially confirmed.
Who is Craig Tester from Oak Island?
Craig Tester is a mechanical engineer, businessman, and TV personality who helps lead drilling and technical operations on The Curse of Oak Island.
Who is the richest person on Curse of Oak Island?
The richest person commonly associated with the show is usually considered to be Marty Lagina, thanks to his successful energy and business ventures outside television.
