Trey Kulley Majors: Lee Majors’ Son’s Unexpected Path

Editorial TeamBiographyDecember 26, 2025

Trey Kulley Majors, born October 22, 1992, is the son of actor Lee Majors and model Karen Velez. After brief modeling work, he shifted to surfboard shaping at Rusty Surfboards in San Diego. He values privacy and has built an independent life despite his famous Hollywood lineage.

Who Is Trey Kulley Majors?

Trey Kulley Majors is the son of television icon Lee Majors, known for starring in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy. His mother, Karen Velez, was a successful Puerto Rican-American model and Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1985.

Now 32 years old as of December 2024, Trey has spent most of his adult life avoiding the Hollywood spotlight his father dominated for decades. While many expected him to follow his parents into entertainment, he took a different route. After a short modeling stint, Trey now works as a surfboard shaper at Rusty Surfboards in San Diego, embracing a coastal lifestyle far removed from red carpets and press tours.

Early Life and Family Background

Born on October 22, 1992, in Los Angeles, Trey entered the world alongside his twin brother, Dane Luke Majors. The twins were born during their parents’ marriage, which lasted from 1988 to 1994. Despite growing up in a household connected to Hollywood glamour and fashion runways, Trey’s parents made efforts to provide a relatively normal childhood.

Lee Majors was already a household name by the time Trey was born. His father’s roles in the 1970s and 1980s television made him one of the most recognizable actors of his generation. Karen Velez brought her own fame, having gained international attention through her modeling career. Together, they created a home that balanced celebrity status with attempts at privacy for their children.

Trey grew up in Los Angeles, exposed to the entertainment industry from birth but shielded from its most intrusive elements. His parents prioritized education and personal development over pushing their children into the spotlight. This grounding gave Trey space to form his own interests without the immediate pressure to perform or follow a predetermined path.

The Majors Family Dynamic

Trey shares an especially close bond with his twin brother, Dane Luke. The two have been described as inseparable, supporting each other through family changes and career decisions, which is a testament to Lee Majors’ legacy. While Trey moved toward modeling and eventually surfing, Dane briefly pursued acting before opening a listening bar and record shop called In Sheep’s Clothing in New York City in the fall of 2023.

Trey also has two half-siblings from his father’s previous relationships. Lee Majors II, born in 1962 from Lee’s first marriage to Kathy Robinson, followed his father into acting and appeared in several projects alongside him, including The Fall Guy and The Six Million Dollar Man reunion films. Nikki Majors, Trey’s older sister from Lee and Karen’s marriage, appeared in minor roles before stepping away from entertainment. She now lives in Pacific Palisades, California, with her husband, Adam McFarlan, and their four children.

The family experienced a significant loss in 2023 when Karen Velez passed away at age 62. Her death deeply affected her children, particularly the twins. Dane referenced this loss when opening his New York business, writing about navigating family grief while building something new, honoring Lee Majors’ legacy. The siblings remain close, often spending time together and supporting each other’s ventures despite living in different cities and pursuing different careers.

Education and Early Interests

Trey attended the University of Southern California, where he initially pursued a business degree. The choice reflected a practical approach to his future rather than immediately chasing entertainment industry dreams, similar to the path of rising stars. During his time at USC, however, something shifted.

He became involved in campus fashion shows and modeling competitions. These experiences exposed him to the creative side of fashion and sparked a genuine interest. What started as participation in university events gradually revealed a path he hadn’t originally planned. His business studies gave him valuable knowledge about industry operations, but the hands-on fashion experiences showed him where his actual interests lay.

This period at USC became a turning point. Trey realized his passion didn’t align with boardrooms and business plans. Instead, he gravitated toward the artistic and visual elements of fashion. The exposure helped him understand both the creative and commercial sides of the industry, preparation that would serve him when modeling opportunities emerged.

Brief Modeling Career

Trey’s entry into professional modeling happened somewhat by chance. A fashion photographer noticed him at a local event and saw potential in his appearance and natural confidence. Standing at 6 feet tall with striking features that reflected both his parents’ genetics, Trey caught attention without actively seeking it.

He signed with Brand Model and Talent Agency and began working in the industry. His modeling work included runway appearances and some campaign work, though the extent of his portfolio remains modest compared to what some sources claim. Many articles suggest he appeared on the covers of Vogue, GQ, and Elle, or worked with major brands like Gucci and Prada, contributing to his estimated net worth. These claims lack verifiable evidence.

What is confirmed: Trey worked as a professional model for several years after college. He participated in fashion shows and shoots, building a presence in the industry, much like his father, the American actor known for “The Six Million Dollar Man.” His work earned him enough recognition to establish himself independently, but he never became the major fashion figure some articles describe. His career was legitimate but limited in scope compared to the exaggerated versions online.

By 2020, Trey had largely stepped away from modeling. The decision wasn’t about failure or lack of opportunity. Instead, it reflected his evolving interests and desire for a different lifestyle. The fashion industry’s demands, constant travel, and public attention didn’t align with his long-term goals or values.

The 2020 Career Shift

In 2020, Trey made a significant change. He left modeling and moved to San Diego, where he began working as a surfboard shaper at Rusty Surfboards. This shift surprised those who expected him to maintain or expand his entertainment industry presence.

Surfing had become a serious passion for Trey. What started as a hobby evolved into something deeper. The craft of shaping surfboards combines artistry with technical skill, requiring patience, precision, and hands-on work far removed from photo shoots and runways. The lifestyle that comes with surfing culture offered something modeling never did: connection to nature, physical challenge, and a community built around genuine shared interest rather than image.

Working at Rusty Surfboards, a respected name in surf equipment, Trey found a career that aligned with his actual interests, stepping away from the expectations of being Lee Majors’ son. The job requires technical knowledge, craftsmanship, and understanding of how design affects performance. It’s skilled work, but it doesn’t come with public scrutiny or expectations tied to his father’s fame.

This career choice reflects Trey’s broader approach to life. He had opportunities to pursue acting, continue modeling, or trade on the Majors’ name in entertainment. Instead, he chose work that satisfies him personally, even if it surprises people expecting him to chase Hollywood success.

Physical Attributes and Personal Style

Trey stands approximately 6 feet tall (183 cm) and maintains an athletic build of around 180 pounds. His appearance combines his father’s strong jawline and commanding presence with his mother’s refined features and natural grace. These genetics served him well during his modeling career, but they don’t define his identity or current path.

His style has shifted along with his lifestyle. Where modeling required polished appearances and trend awareness, his current life in San Diego’s surf community favors function and comfort. He dresses for beach environments, board shaping work, and outdoor activities rather than photo opportunities or industry events.

Current Life and Values

Trey maintains a relatively private life in San Diego. Unlike many people with famous parents who leverage that connection for social media followings or public profiles, he keeps his online presence minimal. When he does share content, it focuses on surfing, family time, and his actual life rather than manufactured celebrity moments.

He remains close with his family, particularly his twin brother, Dane, and sister Nikki, as they navigate Trey’s life together. Photos occasionally surface showing Trey with Nikki’s four children, demonstrating his role as an involved uncle. These family connections matter more to him than industry relationships or maintaining a public image.

His values center on authenticity and independence. Rather than accepting opportunities simply because his last name opens doors, he pursues what genuinely interests him. This approach means turning down easier paths in favor of building something on his own terms. The choice to work in San Diego’s surf industry instead of Los Angeles’ entertainment world speaks to his priorities.

Net Worth and Financial Independence

Estimates place Trey’s net worth between $1 million and $1.5 million. This wealth comes primarily from his modeling career earnings, though his current work contributes as well. While modest compared to major celebrities, it represents financial independence and smart management of opportunities that came his way.

His financial situation allows him to live comfortably in San Diego while pursuing work he enjoys rather than work that maximizes income. The modeling years provided enough financial foundation to make choices based on interest rather than necessity, allowing him to embrace Trey’s life fully. This independence matters because it means his current path reflects genuine preference, not financial pressure forcing him into one career or another.

Lessons from Trey’s Journey

Trey Kulley Majors’ story offers a different narrative than typical celebrity offspring tales. He had advantages many people don’t get—connections, opportunities, and a name that opens doors. Rather than maximizing these advantages for fame or wealth, he used them selectively and then moved on to something else entirely.

His path shows that having opportunities doesn’t obligate you to take them all. Coming from a famous family doesn’t mean you must stay in that world. Sometimes the smartest choice is stepping away from what’s expected toward what actually fits your life, much like the journey of rising stars.

The most striking element of Trey’s story is his comfort with being relatively unknown despite having every tool to be famous. In an era where many people desperately seek attention and build brands around their names, he’s chosen the opposite. That choice requires confidence that most people never develop. It suggests he understood early on that his father’s success didn’t need to become his blueprint.

Trey Kulley Majors continues living in San Diego, shaping surfboards and maintaining the private, authentic life he’s built away from Hollywood’s glare. His journey reminds us that success looks different for everyone, and sometimes the bravest choice is defining it for yourself.