Known to fans simply as “Tickle,” Steven Ray Tickle rose to fame through the hit Discovery Channel docudrama Moonshiners, but his life story runs much deeper than what viewers see on screen.
Born on November 30, 1976, in Virginia, Tickle is now 48 years old. While he became a household name in 2013 when Moonshiners launched him into the public spotlight, carpentry was his first love. Tickle is a skilled tradesman credited with helping construct Clyde’s Restaurant, a well-known establishment in the Washington metropolitan area near the Verizon Center.
On Moonshiners, Tickle played the role of Tim Smith’s loyal partner in the illicit craft of backwoods distilling. The show’s success led to a spin-off titled Tickle, which also aired on Discovery and centered around his life. However, the fame also came with its challenges.
In 2015, buoyed by his rising popularity, Tickle briefly flirted with a political career, expressing interest in running for U.S. Congress against Rep. Robert Hurt in Southern Virginia. The campaign never materialized, and legal troubles may have played a part.
Tickle has had several run-ins with the law. In 2013, he was arrested for public intoxication after allegedly drinking from an open container in a parking lot. Two years later, he was again arrested, this time for illegal firearm possession. Although he initially received a suspended three-year sentence, he later served five months in prison for violating probation.
At one point, rumors falsely circulated online that Tickle had died in an accident—though these were quickly debunked.
Despite the controversies, Tickle has managed to build a solid career in reality TV and beyond. Reports estimate his earnings from Moonshiners alone at over $1 million, with a salary of around $175,000 per year. Combined with his carpentry work, Tickle’s net worth is believed to be over $500,000 as of mid-2020.
Little is known about his personal life. Tickle is the son of Louise Eileen Tickle and currently resides in rural Pittsylvania County, Virginia, while working in Gretna. The identity of his father remains unclear, though some reports suggest that his father’s illness deeply affected Tickle in his youth, leading to struggles with substance use—a chapter he has since moved past.
Romantic relationships remain a mystery. Although Tickle has never publicly confirmed a partner, he does have a daughter named Daisy, now 17, who has spoken warmly about their close bond. The identity of her mother is not publicly known.
Steven Ray Tickle continues to be a compelling figure—equal parts craftsman, television personality, and enigmatic public figure. Whether building restaurants or making moonshine, his story is far from ordinary.
