Stein grew up in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and studied political science and history at Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg from 1989 to 1993. In 1986, Stein founded the Junge Freiheit as a reaction to the "dominance of the leftist '68 generation".
Stein's early life in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg led him to study political science and history at Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg from 1989 to 1993, and he founded Junge Freiheit in 1986 as a response to the influence of the leftist "68 generation".