Paul Teutul Jr.
He transformed custom motorcycle building into must-see television, bringing intricate metal fabrication and family drama into living rooms worldwide.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American motorcycle designer and builder·Birthday: October 2·Generation X
Biography
Paul Teutul Jr. entered the public eye not through a quiet workshop, but through the roaring, high-stakes drama of reality TV. As the calm, artistic counterpoint to his fiery father on 'American Chopper,' Paul Jr. showcased that custom bikes were as much about visionary design as raw metalwork. His role as the show's chief designer and fabricator highlighted a meticulous, creative process, turning each commissioned motorcycle into a rolling sculpture themed around clients like the New York Yankees or the US Army. The television fame was a double-edged sword, amplifying both his talent and a very public family rift. After the original series, he forged his own path by founding Paul Jr. Designs, building sought-after custom bikes and a lifestyle brand. His legacy is that of an artisan who helped demystify a subculture, making the sparks and sweat of fabrication a mainstream spectacle and inspiring a new wave of builders.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Paul was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paul Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Paul's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-starred in the hit Discovery Channel reality series 'American Chopper,' which popularized custom motorcycle building for a global audience.
- Founded his own successful custom motorcycle and apparel company, Paul Jr. Designs, after leaving the family business.
- As chief designer for Orange County Choppers, created iconic theme bikes for major corporations and organizations.
Did You Know?
He was head of the rail shop at his family's ironworks business, Orange County Ironworks, before focusing on motorcycles.
He is a licensed pilot.
His distinctive goatee and calm demeanor became his signature traits in contrast to his father's outbursts on their show.
“A motorcycle should be a rolling sculpture.”
