Jesse James is an American reality TV star; he rose to fame as a result of his insane skills in customizing motorcycles which fetched him several reality TV shows. James’ celebrity profile was further boosted by his marriage to popular actress, Sandra Bullock. Their fairy-tale union was however truncated by a cheating scandal. Find out more about the motorcycle builder here including the details of his relationship with Bullock, his siblings, net worth, and other things you should know about the man.
Jesse James’ Early Life
Jesse Gregory James was born on the 19th of April 1969 in Lynwood, California. His parents divorced when he was just four and he subsequently grew up with his dad. For his education, James attended La Sierra High School, Riverside, California. While there, he was an excellent football player and even earned a scholarship to Riverside Community College.
The reality TV star played two years of college football before his NFL ambitions were scuttled by a serious injury. James subsequently dropped out of college and undertook intensive physical training. With his bulked-up physique, he was able to land a job as a bodyguard for different rock bands. He spent some years in this position until another serious injury forced him to quit.
Career
Jesse James first gained interest in bikes thanks to a motorcycle parts shop located near his dad’s store. His passion was further cemented when he witnessed a popular MC gang (Hell’s Angels) zooming past his father’s car. The young James thus became fascinated with all things bike and his dad gifted him a small one for his seventh birthday. He spent most of his childhood riding it and started manufacturing bike parts in earnest. When James sustained the injury that ended his bodyguard career, he found himself thinking about what to do with his life. It was at this juncture that he decided to explore his first love which was motorcycles.
Jesse James then honed his dormant skills under famed custom motorcycle builder – Ron Simms. Thereafter, he set up his own business, West Coast Choppers. Initially, the company experienced several challenges but James persevered. His doggedness paid off in the year 2001 when his shop was featured in a Discovery Channel documentary titled Motorcycle Mania. The documentary boosted the popularity of his shop and he landed many new customers including celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal, Keanu Reeves, and Tyson Beckford.
Net Worth
Jesse James has a net worth of $110 million. His wealth stems from his company as well as other ventures. The California-native has starred in various reality TV series including Sons of Guns, Street Customs, and Celebrity Apprentices. He has also hosted his own reality TV series known as Monster Garage. The show features five teams of mechanical experts as they attempt to modify an ordinary vehicle into a monster machine. For example, it can be a police car that doubles as a donut shop or it could be turning a school bus into a boat. The successful team is then rewarded with an expensive tool kit. Monster Garage ran from 2002 to 2006 on the Discovery Channel. It also had a UK version in 2004.
Meet His Wife/Spouse
Jesse James has been married on four occasions. His first marriage was to a lady named Karla James, in 1991. Their union lasted up until 2002 and produced two kids – Chandler and Eli. The reality TV star did not waste time after his divorce and got married to adult film actress, Janine Lindemulder, in 2002. This union lasted for two years and produced a daughter named Sunny. James braved the marriage institution again in 2005, this time with actress Sandra Bullock.
Their marriage propelled James to celebrity status as he often accompanied her to various public ceremonies. The union, unfortunately, crashed in 2010 after several women came forward to claim that he had affairs with them. James apologized and even checked into rehab to deal with his issues, but this was not enough to save the marriage. Bullock filed for divorce in 2010 and it was finalized in 2012. Jesse James is now enjoying marital bliss with Alexis DeJoria. DeJoria is a former drag racer and they tied the knot in 2013.
Jesse James’ Siblings
When it comes to James’ family background, his father’s name is Larry while his mother’s name is Carol. The reality TV star also has a sister named Julie. James has claimed that he is related to late Jesse James, the American outlaw still regarded as America’s most popular criminal. However, he has not presented any evidence to back up his claim.
His Height and Other Body Stats
Jesse James is 6 feet 2 inches (1.87 m) tall and weighs 85 kg. His biceps size is 16 inches, chest size – 42 inches, waist size – 32 inches, and hips size – 37 inches. He also has blue eyes and brown hair. James sports the appearance of a typical biker with his elaborate tattoos, goatee, and signature black shirts.
Is The Customizer Dead of Alive?
Jesse James is still very much alive. However, he previously hosted a show known as Jesse James is a Dead Man. The show involved him doing death-defying stunts and it debuted on Spike TV in May 2009. Some of his stunts include an attempt to catch a rattlesnake alive, outracing six police cars and a helicopter, and racing WWII planes. In one episode of the show, James’ vehicle caught fire and he had to escape before it exploded.