Gary Drayton is a British metal detection expert, treasure hunter, and television personality who gained fame through his appearances on the History Channel’s The Curse of Oak Island. The Grimsby-born detectorist is recognized for his exceptional skills in locating historical artifacts and valuable treasures. He is also an author of multiple treasure hunting books and offers private metal detecting lessons in Florida.
Quick Wiki/Bio About Gary Drayton
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Gary T. Drayton |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | May 30, 1961 |
| Age | 64 years old (as of January 2026) |
| Place of birth | Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, UK |
| Current residence | Pompano Beach, Florida, United States |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 183 lbs (83 kg) |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Blue/Brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Jennifer Gail Sauve (m. December 17, 1996) |
| Children | Two daughters – Katya Drayton and Anya Drayton |
| Profession | Metal detection expert, treasure hunter, television personality, author |
| Net worth | Estimated $2.5 million (as of 2026) |
Who is Gary Drayton?
Gary Drayton is a professional metal detectorist who transformed his childhood hobby into a thriving career. He gained international recognition as the resident metal detection expert on the History Channel’s reality series The Curse of Oak Island, which premiered in 2014.
The treasure hunter describes himself as a “Metal Detecting Ninja” and an “International Man of History.” His expertise spans beach treasure hunting, shallow water detecting, and historical artifact recovery.
Over several decades, he has uncovered treasures ranging from Spanish shipwreck artifacts to contemporary diamond jewelry.
Gary’s approach to treasure hunting combines research, site reading skills, and metal detecting expertise. He emphasizes that successful treasure hunting requires more than just swinging a detector and hoping for luck.
How old is Gary Drayton? Age and birthday
Gary Drayton is 64 years old as of January 2026. He was born on May 30, 1961, in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, UK. His zodiac sign is Gemini.
Gary Drayton’s height and weight
Gary Drayton stands 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and weighs approximately 183 pounds (83 kg). He has brown hair and blue-brown eyes.
The treasure hunter maintains an active lifestyle through his metal detecting activities, spending hours walking beaches and searching for artifacts.
Career beginnings and early treasure hunting
Gary’s treasure hunting journey began in Grimsby, a Lincolnshire port town where the Humber tidal estuary meets the North Sea.
He spent many years as a bottle digger in the UK, exploring old Victorian trash pits and “mud hopping” along river banks in search of old bottles, clay pipes, doll heads, and marbles.
Some bottles he discovered dated back to the early 1600s, with clay pipes from the 1500s.
While searching for bottles, Gary stumbled across numerous coins, which inspired him to purchase his first metal detector.
This decision changed his life trajectory. He found his first Piece of Eight and became increasingly fascinated by the stories behind lost treasures.
Move to America and Florida treasure hunting
Gary relocated to the United States and settled in South Florida, specifically Pompano Beach. The move proved transformative for his treasure hunting career. Florida’s Treasure Coast, famous for the 1715 Spanish fleet shipwrecks, offered rich opportunities for discovering historical artifacts.
In South Florida, he refined his beach and shallow water hunting techniques. The warm climate and gold-sand beaches provided ideal conditions for year-round metal detecting.
Gary established himself as one of the top treasure hunters in the business through consistent finds and innovative search methods.
The Curse of Oak Island television career
Gary joined the cast of The Curse of Oak Island, which has become one of the most popular documentary shows on television. His role as metal detection expert brought his unique skills to a global audience.
The show follows brothers Rick and Marty Lagina and their team as they search for legendary treasure on Oak Island in Nova Scotia, Canada.
On the show, Gary is known for his popular catchphrases including “Holy Shamoly,” “That’s a Bobby Dazzler,” and “That’s a top pocket find.”
These expressions have become fan favorites and are frequently quoted by viewers. His enthusiastic personality and genuine excitement over discoveries have made him one of the most beloved cast members.
The television personality uses various Minelab metal detectors on the show. He is most often seen with the Minelab CTX 3030, though he also uses the Minelab Excalibur, a detector he has relied on since his early detecting days. Gary states that the Excalibur remains one of his favorite tools.
During Season 12 in 2025, Gary’s daughter Katya Drayton joined the Oak Island team at Smith’s Cove. Katya, who has been metal detecting with her father since age seven, made her debut appearance in January 2025.
She has been assisting with metal detecting searches and has already made some finds on the island.
Gary Drayton’s most valuable finds
Gary’s most celebrated discovery is a 300-year-old emerald ring worth approximately $500,000. Crafted from 22.5-carat Inca gold and set with nine flawless emeralds, the ring was being transported to Spain from the New World when the galleon was lost in a hurricane off the coast of Florida.
He found the magnificent piece near Florida’s Treasure Coast in 2005, and it remains his “ultimate Bobby Dazzler.”
Other valuable finds include:
- An 18-karat gold coin ring embedded with 40 diamonds
- Over $50,000 worth of platinum and gold diamond rings
- Hundreds of Spanish coins from the 1715 fleet
- Rare historical artifacts including war relics, bronze ship spikes, and semi-precious gems
- Contemporary jewelry including Rolex watches
- A 14th-century Lead Cross discovered on Oak Island
Gary has found at least $40,000 worth of scrap gold since moving to Florida. His finds span from the Age of Discovery (15th to 18th centuries) to modern times.
Books and publications
Gary is a prolific author who has written ten books on treasure hunting and metal detecting. His publications share his unique beach and water hunting methods and search techniques. His books include:
- How to Read the Beach and Water
- Hardcore Beach Hunting
- The CTX 3030 Beach and Water Hunter’s Guide
- Minelab Excalibur Pro User Guide
- The Shallow Water Hunter’s Guide to South Florida
- Metal Detecting for Spanish Treasure
- The Ultimate Sovereign Beach Hunter’s Guide
- Water Hunting guides
- How to Find Old Coins and Artifacts at the Beach
- Various specialized detecting guides
His books are popular among detectorists worldwide and provide detailed information on equipment selection, search techniques, and site reading skills. The guides cover both beginner and advanced detecting methods.
What is Gary Drayton’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Gary Drayton’s net worth is estimated at $2.5 million. Some sources place his wealth between $2 million and $3 million. He built this fortune through multiple income streams.
His primary sources of income include:
Television appearances: Starring in The Curse of Oak Island, one of the most popular documentary shows on television, provides a substantial income.
While his exact per-episode salary is not publicly disclosed, cast members on reality shows of this caliber typically earn significant compensation.
Book sales: Gary has authored ten books on treasure hunting and metal detecting. These publications generate ongoing royalty income.
Treasure finds: At least half a million dollars of his net worth comes from discovered treasures, particularly the $500,000 emerald ring. Additional finds of gold jewelry, Spanish coins, and other valuables contribute to his wealth.
Private lessons: Gary offers one-on-one beach treasure hunting lessons in Florida. He provides personalized instruction and can customize lessons to suit individual needs. These private teaching sessions command premium rates.
Merchandise sales: Through his website garydrayton.com, he sells treasure hunting guides, merchandise, and offers Cameo video greetings to fans.
Gary’s net worth has grown steadily. Records show his wealth increased from approximately $1.5 million in 2020 to $2.5 million by 2023, reflecting continued success in his various ventures.
Is Gary Drayton married? Wife and children
Gary Drayton is married to Jennifer Gail Sauve. The couple tied the knot on December 17, 1996, in Clark County, Nevada. They have been together for nearly 30 years and maintain a strong marriage.
Jennifer Drayton (née Sauve) is 57 years old as of 2026, born in September 1968. The couple resides together in Pompano Beach, Florida, where they have lived since February 1999.
Gary Drayton’s children
Gary and Jennifer are proud parents of two daughters: Katya Drayton and Anya Drayton.
Katya Drayton is the older daughter who recently followed in her father’s footsteps. In January 2025, she made her television debut on The Curse of Oak Island, joining the team at Smith’s Cove.
Katya has been metal detecting with Gary since she was seven years old, giving her years of experience in treasure hunting.
During her Oak Island appearances, she has been observed using a Minelab X-Terra Elite metal detector. Her involvement in the show represents a second generation of Drayton detectorists on television.
Anya Drayton is Gary’s younger daughter. While less public than her sister, Anya is also part of the close-knit Drayton family.
Gary frequently shares family moments on social media, and the treasure hunter values time with his wife and daughters when not searching for treasures or filming.
Equipment and detecting methods
Gary utilizes a range of Minelab metal detectors for different environments and conditions. His primary detector is the Minelab CTX 3030, which he frequently uses on The Curse of Oak Island. The CTX 3030 is waterproof to 10 feet and offers advanced target identification features.
He also uses the Minelab Excalibur, which was his first Minelab detector and remains a favorite for water hunting. The Excalibur is waterproof to 200 feet, making it ideal for scuba diving applications.
Gary has written specialized guides for both the CTX 3030 and Excalibur detectors, sharing his settings, techniques, and tips for maximizing their performance in beach and water environments.
His detecting philosophy emphasizes that metal detectors are tools complementing broader treasure hunting skills. He advocates for research, historical knowledge, and site reading abilities as foundations for successful detecting.
Social media presence
As of January 2026, Gary maintains an active social media presence to connect with fans and share his treasure hunting adventures.
Instagram: Gary posts regularly on Instagram under the handle @gary.drayton, sharing finds, beach scenes, wildlife encounters, and behind-the-scenes content from his detecting adventures.
His posts often feature his signature hashtags including #Internationalmanofhistory, #bobbydazzlerhunter, and #toppocketfind.
Facebook: He maintains a Facebook page @metaldetectingninja where he shares detecting tips, treasure finds, and engages with the metal detecting community.
YouTube: Gary has a YouTube channel where he provides metal detecting tips and techniques, though he is more active on other platforms.
Website: His official website garydrayton.com offers treasure hunting guides, merchandise, lesson bookings, and Cameo greetings.
Gary uses social media to promote metal detecting education, share his passion for treasure hunting, and maintain connections with fans of The Curse of Oak Island.
Fast facts about Gary Drayton
- Gary’s nickname is “Metal Detecting Ninja,” a title he embraces proudly.
- He discovered his most valuable find, the $500,000 emerald ring, in 2005 on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
- Gary has a special fascination for the Age of Discovery, spanning from the 15th to the 18th centuries.
- His famous catchphrases “Bobby Dazzler” and “top pocket find” have become merchandise slogans.
- He wrote his first metal detecting book to share knowledge with other enthusiasts.
- Gary offers private treasure hunting lessons in Florida, teaching research, site reading, and detecting skills.
- His daughter Katya joined The Curse of Oak Island cast in 2025, making the Draytons a two-generation detecting family on television.
- He has been metal detecting for over 40 years, starting as a bottle digger in England.
- Gary moved from Grimsby, England to South Florida, trading cold North Sea shores for warm Treasure Coast beaches.
- He has authored ten books on metal detecting and treasure hunting, establishing himself as an authority in the field.
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Wrapping up
Gary Drayton transformed a childhood hobby into a remarkable career as one of the world’s most recognized treasure hunters.
From bottle digging in Grimsby to discovering a $500,000 emerald ring in Florida, his journey showcases dedication, expertise, and passion.
As of 2026, he continues making finds, teaching others, and appearing on The Curse of Oak Island alongside his daughter Katya.
With an estimated net worth of $2.5 million and decades of experience, Gary remains an influential figure in the metal detecting community and a beloved television personality.
References
- IMDb. “Gary Drayton – Biography”.
- Sky HISTORY. “4 fascinating facts about Curse of Oak Island’s Gary Drayton”.
- Sky HISTORY. “Who is Gary Drayton? The detectorist striking gold on Oak Island”.
- The Cinema Holic. “Is Gary Drayton From The Curse of Oak Island Married?”.
- High Plains Prospectors. “What Metal Detectors Do They Use on The Curse of Oak Island?”.
- MN2S. “Gary Drayton – Booking Agent – Talent Roster”.
- IMDb. “Gary Drayton’s Daughter, Katya, Joins ‘Oak Island’ Team”.
- Gary Drayton Official Website. “Gary Drayton – Bobby Dazzler, Curse of Oak Island”.
- Monsters and Critics. “The Curse Of Oak Island: Gary Drayton’s daughter, Katya, joins the team at Smith’s Cove”.
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