Overview

Jesco White, also known as the “Dancing Outlaw,” is an American folk dancer and entertainer who gained notoriety for his unique mountain dancing style and his appearances in several documentaries. Born in Bandytown, West Virginia, on July 30, 1956, Jesco White’s life has been marked by both fame and personal struggles. He is the son of Donald Ray White, a renowned mountain dancer himself. Jesco’s dance style is a mix of tap and clog dancing that is native to Appalachia. His father was profiled in the Smithsonian Folkways documentary Talking Feet: Solo Southern Dance: Buck, Flatfoot and Tap as one of the greatest mountain dancers in the United States. Jesco’s rise to fame began with the 1991 PBS documentary “Dancing Outlaw,” which chronicled his life, his dancing, and his battles with drug addiction and poverty. The documentary was followed by “Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood.” Jesco’s life and family were further explored in the 2009 documentary “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.”

What Is Jesco White’s Net Worth?

Jesco White, an American folk dancer, entertainer, and actor, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $100,000. This estimation is based on his earnings from various ventures, including film appearances, voice acting roles, and documentaries.

Jesco White’s Career Contributions

White’s career encompasses a variety of roles in the entertainment industry. Here’s a breakdown:

Film Appearances: Jesco White appeared in the 2017 film “Logan Lucky” and the 2009 movie “It Came from Trafalgar.” Unfortunately, specific salary details for these roles are not publicly available. Actor’s salaries can vary drastically depending on their role size, the film’s budget, and their negotiation power. Even a minor role in a major film like “Logan Lucky” could contribute several thousand dollars to his income.

Voice Acting: From 2010 to 2017, White lent his voice to the TV series “Squidbillies.” Voice acting rates differ considerably based on the project’s scope and the actor’s experience. For a recurring role in an animated series, White could have earned anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per episode. Over seven years, this could have added a significant sum to his net worth.

Television Appearances: He appeared in an episode of the television series “Roseanne.” Guest appearances on popular TV shows generally command a decent fee, though the precise amount is undisclosed. Assuming a standard guest star rate, this might have generated a few thousand dollars.

Music Video: White was featured in the music video “Loser” by Beck. While appearing in a music video might not provide a substantial income source, it adds to his overall visibility and potentially opens doors to other opportunities.

Documentaries: White has been featured in several documentaries, including “Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood” (1999), “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” (2009), and “Popcorn Sutton: A Hell of a Life” (2014). Documentaries often involve smaller budgets, and the compensation for participants can range widely. Depending on his role in each documentary, White’s earnings could have varied from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per project.

Other Notable Appearances: He appeared in an episode of the TV series documentary “Different Drummer” in 1991 and provided voice work for the video game “Grand Theft Auto V.” His role in “Grand Theft Auto V” is particularly noteworthy, as voice acting in video games, especially a major title like GTA V, can be financially rewarding. While specific figures are not available, voice actors in such projects can earn tens of thousands of dollars.

Estimating Jesco White’s Income and Assets Contributing to His Net Worth

Given the diversity of his roles, estimating Jesco White’s income requires looking at industry standards and potential earnings from each type of project:

Film and Television Earnings: While exact figures are unavailable, we can assume that White earned income from his acting roles in “Logan Lucky,” “It Came from Trafalgar,” and “Roseanne.” For these roles, he likely earned income in the low to mid-thousands of dollars from each project. This estimate is considering his type of role, which tended to be in support, not leading roles.

Voice Acting Earnings: His voice work for “Squidbillies” and “Grand Theft Auto V” were significant revenue streams. If we assume that he received about $1,000 to $3,000 per episode of “Squidbillies,” over seven years, he would have accumulated between $7,000 and $21,000 a year from the show. For “Grand Theft Auto V,” the pay is difficult to estimate as voice actors for the popular game may have secured a larger one-time fee, which could have placed him into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Documentary Earnings: The documentaries he appeared in were “Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood,” “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia,” and “Popcorn Sutton: A Hell of a Life.” Earnings may have varied from a few hundred dollars to low thousands for each.

Other Income Sources: It is possible that Jesco White also had income from personal appearances, fan meet-and-greets, and merchandising related to his “Dancing Outlaw” persona. However, there is no publicly available data to substantiate the income from these sources.

Overall, Jesco White’s accumulated net worth of $100,000 is a reflection of his diverse career, blending minor, supporting, and intermittent roles, rather than substantial, sustained income from leading roles or projects with major financial compensation.

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