Cristy Lee Wiki, Bio, Age, Net Worth, Career, Health Struggles, Marriage and Husband.

Cristy Lee has spent her career at the intersection of horsepower and headlines, becoming one of television’s most recognizable automotive personalities. From turning wrenches on All Girls Garage to surprising car lovers on Garage Squad and Celebrity IOU: Joyride, she’s proven that technical expertise and on-camera charisma can share the same lane. But behind the polished builds and revving engines is a story that’s as much about grit and resilience as it is about cars.

Raised just outside Daytona Beach, Florida, Cristy grew up in a world powered by creativity and machinery—riding on the gas tank of her father’s dirt bike, exploring the family’s greenhouse, and watching him restore a classic BMW 2002. That early immersion in engines and tools laid the foundation for her automotive career. Yet, life off-camera has brought challenges that no blueprint could prepare her for.

In early 2023, while traveling in Arizona, Cristy faced a health scare that would shift her world. What began as an ordinary day quickly turned into a whirlwind of hospital visits, difficult decisions, and a fight to protect her well-being. She’s hinted at the long months of treatment, major surgeries, and the physical and mental hurdles that followed—details she now shares openly to inspire and connect with others facing their own battles. As she’s put it, finding her “new norm” hasn’t been easy, but resilience is just another kind of horsepower.

Even as lingering effects and high-functioning ADHD make juggling her many projects more challenging, Cristy continues to manage each day with the same structured approach she applies to every build.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Description
Full name	Cristy Lee
Date of birth	October 21, 1977
Age	47 years old
Place of birth	Daytona, Florida, U. S.
Zodiac sign	Cancer
Height	5′ 2″ (1.57 m)
Weight	54 kg or 119 pound
Hair color	Blonde
Eye color	Gray
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Gender	Female
Sexuality	Straight
Relationship status	Single
Occupation	TV personality, automotive enthusiast, motorcyclist, brand ambassador, entrepreneur
TV shows	All Girls Garage, Garage Squad, MotorTrend Live, Barrett-Jackson Live, Celebrity IOU: Joyride, Best of Top Gear
Executive producer of	Steal This House (2022)
Networks	MotorTrend, Discovery, ESPN, CMT, SPEED, ABC, FOX
Radio station	WRIF FM Radio in Detroit
Hobbies	Riding motorcycles, autocross events, performance driving schools, traveling, hiking, yoga
Website	cristylee.tv
Net worth	$1.2–$2.5 million

Early Life

Cristy Lee was born on October 21, 1977, in Daytona Beach, Florida, and grew up in nearby DeLeon Springs. Her father, a skilled mechanic and owner of a local import auto shop, played a pivotal role in shaping her love for anything with an engine. From lawnmower rides in her toddler years to afternoons spent in the family garage, Cristy developed an early fascination with tools, mechanics, and motorsports.

An active and athletic child, Cristy participated in sports such as volleyball and soccer during her high school years, all while continuing to learn from her father’s mechanical expertise. She also trained in dance from a young age, performing on school and community teams through middle school, high school, and college.

Career

Cristy moved from the Daytona Beach area to Detroit, Michigan in 2005, seeking opportunities beyond her small hometown and aiming to invest in real estate. She began flipping houses during the market boom, a venture that proved profitable until the 2008 economic downturn. To maintain her financial stability and allow flexibility for other pursuits, she worked as a bartender and waitress.

Her lifelong background in dance opened new doors when she auditioned for and joined the Detroit Pistons Dance Team “Automotion” in 2006, performing during an exciting season that saw the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals. She later expanded her performance career with the MISL Dance Team, setting the stage for her eventual transition into broadcasting and the automotive television industry.

In 2008, she was named the Riff Rock Girl, which opened the door to on‑air work at 101.1 WRIF FM Radio as a traffic reporter and DJ (2008–2012). At the same time, she emceed live shows at MotorCity Casino (2007–2015) and narrated for Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep on the auto‑show circuit (2010–2011).

By 2009, Lee added in‑arena hosting for the Detroit Red Wings, a role she balanced with radio through 2012. Around then, she stepped into her first on‑camera assignment covering AMA Pro Racing’s Superbike Series as a pit reporter on YouTube, which led to national TV work. She reported Arenacross for SPEED (before its rebrand) and continued across networks including FOX/FS1, NBCSN, ESPN/ABC, and CMT.

Her national TV profile grew in 2011 when she joined All Girls Garage, co‑hosting for eight years on projects ranging from resto‑mods and turbo builds to motorcycles, slingshots, and big‑rigs. She later co‑hosted Garage Squad, helping restore classic vehicles for owners. During this period, she also competed in Roadkill Nights celebrity drag races on Woodward Avenue, often in a Dodge Hellcat.

Across motorsports, Lee has covered the X Games, MotoGP, World Superbike, MotoAmerica, American Flat Track, Arenacross, Nitro Rallycross, Off‑Road Truck Racing, Monster Jam, Supercross, and Motocross—appearing on SPEED/FS1, NBCSN, ESPN/ABC, and CMT. She also became a familiar face on Barrett‑Jackson Collector Car Auction LIVE broadcasts for MotorTrend and Discovery.

Her television work expanded into home and lifestyle programming as host of HGTV’s Steal This House (2022), interior designer and automotive specialist on Discovery+’s Celebrity IOU Joyride (2021), and Exterior Designer on Food Network’s Grill of Victory (2021). In 2024, she guest‑hosted HGTV’s Battle on the Mountain and hosted MotorTrend’s coverage of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show.

That same year, Lee launched Motor City Built, bringing together her automotive, motorcycle, motorsports, renovation, and real‑estate projects under one banner. In a January 2024 interview, she outlined shop projects—the restoration of a 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix, upgrades to her Dodge Hellcat, refinements to her 1972 Chevy C10, and prep for competitive track racing after earning her SCCA race license. As of mid‑2025, she has continued to feature these builds in her workshop and content.

A highly active motorcyclist with more than 18 years of riding experience, Lee regularly spends time at track days and on personal builds (including a Ninja 400 track bike) alongside her media work.

Net Worth

Cristy Lee’s earnings come from a combination of television hosting, motorsports reporting, live‑event appearances, and brand partnerships, along with income from her Motor City Built business and real‑estate projects. With more than a decade of on‑air work across MotorTrend, Discovery, HGTV, and Food Network—plus recurring roles covering Barrett‑Jackson auctions and OEM events—her career has built a solid financial foundation. While exact figures are not public, analysis of similar television and event hosting careers suggests her net worth is likely in the $1.2–$2.5 million range as of 2025.

Cristy Lee Married? Who is her husband?

Cristy Lee is married to John Hawkins, and the couple tied the knot on November 18, 2023. Their wedding took place at the historic Packard Proving Grounds in Michigan, a venue that reflected their shared passion for automobiles. The celebration featured creative car‑themed touches, from vintage toolboxes used in the décor to John’s classic pickup truck on display.

Cristy and John opted for a short and personal ceremony, focusing on spending the day with their family and friends. Cristy’s mother contributed to the floral arrangements, adding a meaningful personal touch. Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner and an assortment of cupcakes in place of a traditional cake.

John proposed in late 2022 during a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Despite facing health challenges in the months leading up to the wedding, Cristy embraced the planning process and was determined to enjoy her special day. The couple has hinted at plans for a honeymoon in a tropical destination.

Health Issues

Cristy Lee’s battle with Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease (TED) began abruptly in January 2023 while she was in Arizona. What started as what she thought was a severe migraine quickly escalated to intense swelling and pain around her eyes. After urgent care visits and home remedies failed, she went to the ER, where a physician assistant suspected Graves’ disease and TED on the spot. This early diagnosis proved critical, leading her to an endocrinologist and an ophthalmologist within days.

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, affecting nearly every system in the body. TED, while related, is distinct—it targets the tissues behind the eyes, causing inflammation, swelling, and, in severe cases, vision loss. Only about 20% of Graves’ patients develop TED, and just 5% experience the severe form Cristy did.

Her TED progressed rapidly, to the point where doctors warned she risked permanent vision loss. Determined to act aggressively, Cristy underwent a total thyroidectomy in late May 2023. Post-surgery pathology revealed she had also developed thyroid cancer, prompting further testing, including lymphatic ultrasounds and genetic screenings. A week later, she had her first orbital decompression surgery, followed by the second on her other eye just one week after that.

Before these surgeries, steroid treatments failed to halt the disease’s progression, leading her to four months of Tepezza infusions—treatments she described as “chemotherapy for your eyes.” These caused severe fatigue, muscle pain, hair loss, and days where she could barely get out of bed. TED’s physical toll included proptosis (eye bulging), swelling, light sensitivity that required sunglasses around the clock, facial changes, and five months of being unable to drive.

The mental impact was equally severe. As Cristy explained, “I’ve always been a strong person, but this broke me… the state of my mental health was not good for a while.” The disease affected her both personally and professionally, forcing her to navigate visible changes in her appearance while continuing to work in front of a camera.

By August 2023, after seeing nearly 20 doctors, enduring three major surgeries in one month, and countless appointments, she began publicly documenting her journey. In March 2025, during Autoimmune Awareness Month, she reflected on her progress, saying she was “almost to a point where I can comfortably say my medication is dialed in and accepting to my new norm.” While she acknowledges she will live with both Graves’ disease and TED for life, she is moving toward remission and the inactive phase of the disease.

In August 2025, Cristy also shared that ongoing health challenges had affected her ability to focus on projects, noting that her “normal high-functioning ADHD” and the lingering effects of illness had made it difficult to finish tasks. Yet, she continues to stay active in her automotive work, demonstrating the same resilience that has defined her fight against these conditions.

Lesser-Known Facts About Cristy Lee

1. Motorcycles in the House – At one point she had five motorcycles inside her home; by January 2022, she had “cut back” to two.
2. Florida Roots – Grew up in DeLeon Springs, Florida, a small town outside Daytona Beach, before moving to Daytona during her college years.
3. Avoided Bike Week as a Teen – As a local, she and her friends often avoided Daytona’s Bike Week and Race Week crowds — until she started bartending/waitressing and realized the events were a money-making opportunity.
4. Riding Since Early 20s – Started riding as a passenger before getting her own motorcycle license in her early 20s and has been riding for nearly two decades.
5. Dad’s Automotive Influence – Her father owned an import repair shop, and she grew up around cars, helping in the shop and riding on the gas tank of his dirt bike as a toddler.
6. Moved to Michigan for Real Estate – Relocated from Florida to Detroit in 2005 specifically to invest in and flip houses — well before house-flipping became a reality-TV trend.
7. Former NBA Dancer – Was on the Detroit Pistons Dance Team in 2006, shortly after the team’s championship era.
8. First Broadcasting Gig from a Radio Contest – Won a 2008 contest at Detroit rock station 101 WRIF to be the station’s on-air “Rock Girl” doing traffic, sports, and weather updates.
9. Auto Show Presenter Before TV – Worked as a professional narrator on the auto show circuit, presenting vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee — often the only “real car girl” among models.
10. TV Break Came Unexpectedly – Discovered at the Providence Auto Show by an executive producer from Brenton Productions, which led to her audition for All Girls Garage.
11. Hosted a Live Motorcycle Stunt Gone Wrong – Co-hosted CMT’s Tunnel of Fire at Sturgis, where stunt rider Clint Ewing was engulfed in flames during a Guinness World Record attempt.
12. Cruisin’ the Coast Regular – Frequently attends the massive Mississippi Gulf Coast car event and once joked online about getting a “couples massage” there with fellow show staff — though she didn’t actually take the offer.
13. Dodge Commercial with Bill Goldberg – Played a modern, edgy “Mrs. Claus” in Dodge’s Christmas ad campaign alongside WWE star Bill Goldberg as Santa.
14. Saudi Arabia Appearance – Traveled to Riyadh for a major automotive event; noted that locals were surprisingly welcoming and the experience defied many Western stereotypes.
15. Connected to Jesse Combs – Crossed paths with the late racer and fabricator at industry events like SEMA and X Games, recalling her as a passionate, fearless presence in motorsports.
16. Major Health Battle in 2023 – Diagnosed with Graves’ disease and severe thyroid eye disease in January 2023.
17. Three Surgeries in One Month – Underwent total thyroid removal and two orbital decompression surgeries in May–June 2023.
18. Aggressive Treatment Approach – Completed months of Toza therapy, describing it as “chemotherapy for your eyes.”
19. Facial Changes from Illness – Dealt with swelling, eye bulging, and appearance changes that affected both personal confidence and on-camera work.
20. Married in Late 2023 – Went ahead with wedding plans despite ongoing health challenges.
21. First Motorcycle Ride in 1.5 Years – Finally put on a helmet again in December 2023 after recovery.