Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jesse James’ Net Worth?
Jesse James, an American entrepreneur and reality television personality, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $50 million. This financial success is primarily attributed to his bike customization business, West Coast Choppers, which he established in 1992. Over the years, the company has evolved into a multifaceted merchandising and lifestyle brand, encompassing clothing lines, television programs, a magazine, and ventures into the fast-food industry.
West Coast Choppers and Business Ventures
West Coast Choppers, founded in 1992, serves as the foundation of Jesse James’s empire. Initially, James personally constructed each motorcycle. Today, the company employs over 50 individuals and operates from an 18,000-square-foot warehouse. The price range for a West Coast Chopper bike varies from $60,000 to $150,000, with custom cars fetching even higher prices. Noteworthy clients who have purchased bikes from James include celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal, Keanu Reeves, Kid Rock, and Tyson Beckford.
In 2006, James expanded his business portfolio by launching the Cisco Burger restaurant. He also held a part-ownership stake in Austin Speed Shop until 2013. Additionally, he ventured into publishing with “Garage” magazine and introduced the Jesse’s Girl and Jesse James Industrial Workwear clothing lines, as well as Jesse James Firearms Unlimited.
Television Career and Media Appearances
James gained significant recognition through his television career, particularly with the Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage,” which premiered on June 23, 2002, and ran for five seasons, comprising 80 episodes. The show achieved high ratings for the network. In 2009, he starred in Spike TV’s “Jesse James Is a Dead Man,” which led to a one-shot comic book adaptation by Marvel. Additionally, James produced and appeared in documentaries such as “Jesse James: Blacksmith” (2011), “Jesse James Presents: Off Road Racing Around the World,” “Jesse James Presents: Austin Speed Shop – Headers,” and “Jesse James Presents: Austin Speed Shop – Bomber Seats.” In 2012, the Discovery Channel aired the series “Jesse James: Outlaw Garage.” In January 2021, “Monster Garage” was revived with new episodes on the Discovery+ streaming service.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jesse James was born on April 19, 1969, in Long Beach, California, named Jesse Gregory James. Following his parents’ divorce, he resided with his father, whose antiques business shared a warehouse with a Harley-Davidson aftermarket parts manufacturer. James received his first mini-bike at the age of seven and crafted a motorcycle exhaust system in his mother’s garage during his freshman year of high school. He attended La Sierra High School and the University of California in Riverside, where he played as an outside linebacker on the school’s football team until a knee injury disrupted his athletic aspirations.
At the age of 19, James worked as a bouncer and bodyguard for bands such as Slayer, Soundgarden, and Danzig. Following an injury sustained at a concert, he decided to pursue his passion for creating custom motorcycles, leading to the establishment of West Coast Choppers in 1992.
Marital History and Personal Life
James has been married five times and has three children. He first married Karla in 1991, and they had a son, Jesse Jr., and a daughter, Chandler, before divorcing in 2002. On October 20, 2002, he married Janine Lindemulder, with whom he had a daughter, Sunny. After divorcing Janine in 2004, James married actress Sandra Bullock on July 16, 2005. Their marriage ended in divorce in June 2010 after James admitted to infidelity. He was then engaged to tattoo artist Kat Von D in January 2011, but they separated in September 2011. James married drag racer Alexis DeJoria on March 24, 2013, and they separated in March 2020. In June 2022, he married adult film star Bonnie Rotten.
Legal Issues and Controversies
In 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) fined James $271,250 for selling motorcycles between 1998 and 2005 that violated the state’s clean-air laws. James claimed he was unaware of the rule change that subjected small-volume manufacturers to CARB regulations.
In 2008, James faced a $422,680 breach of contract lawsuit from a customer who had commissioned him to build a custom car in 2005. The customer alleged that he had paid $270,000 for the car, which remained unfinished when the lawsuit was filed, and that James provided a new estimate of $600,000 – $700,000 two years into the project.
Additionally, James has been sued by his former lawyers on multiple occasions, including for $327,533 in unpaid fees in 2008 and for $500,000 (comprising $100,000 in unpaid fees plus interest and damages) in 2014.
Real Estate Holdings
In 2010, James acquired a mansion in Austin, Texas, for nearly $2 million. The residence features nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a home gym, a private movie theater, several swimming pools, and a six-car garage. James also retains ownership of a home in Sunset Beach, California. This home is 3,626 square feet and has 4 bedrooms, and 4.25 bathrooms. Inside, the entrance hall has a stone floor that steps up into the open style home. The living room has a large fireplace with carved stone surround, built in cabinetry, and the dining room faces out to the ocean view. The kitchen has maple cabinetry, lab granite counter tops, a walk-in pantry, a wine fridge, and a crescent shaped breakfast counter. The curving stone stairway leads to the master bedroom, which has hardwood flooring, beam ceiling, fireplace, and a balcony with ocean views. The Travertine bathroom has double sinks, steam shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. The second floor has a guest bedroom with walk-in closet, an office, and a large media/game room. The first floor open space living areas open to an ocean side glass-enclosed lanai, a stone patio, and a waterfall cascading into the swimming pool. The patio has a multi-level deck with built in seating and ocean views.
