Dave Hester attended his first storage auction in 1986, and in the 1990s, he worked as a bid catcher. In 1992, he became a licensed and bonded auctioneer. Dave’s father used to have a sizable train collection. He sold the collection in less than five years and used the proceeds to launch a new business. Hester opened two thrift stores in Costa Mesa, California: Newport Consignment Gallery and Rags to Riches. He began his business by hiring 15 people to market the valuable items he purchased at auctions. The artwork ‘The Golden Pool’ by California impressionist Jack Wilkinson Smith was one of the most valued objects. He paid $750 for the picture, which he later sold for $155,000.
After appearing in the hit television series Storage Wars in 2010, Dave shot to fame. The exhibition was all about antiques, and it was primarily aimed at people who buy the contents of unused storage containers. The show’s second season was one of the most watched shows in the A&E Network’s history.
