Mr. Markoff is a native of Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Los Angeles City College in 1964 with an Associate Arts degree. His many affiliations include: the precious metals and numismatic business for 50 years (1954-2005); Chairman and CEO of A-Mark Financial Corporation, a Santa Monica-based financial services company he founded in 1965 (originally named A-Mark Coin Company, that purchased the Wilkison Gold Pattern Collection and Redfield Silver Dollar hoard); the A-Mark Foundation, a private foundation he founded in 1997 which became the parent of free searchable databases covering interesting and important social issues and history.

In 2004 he helped found A-Mark Entertainment a company he co-chairs; and that year he also founded ProCon.org, a public charity promoting critical thinking.

Mr. Markoff also has interests in Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, acquired in 2011, and in Two Bunch Palms, acquired in 2012.