Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jesse James’ Net Worth?
Jesse James, an American entrepreneur and reality television personality, has accumulated a significant net worth of $50 million. This financial standing is largely attributed to his success in the motorcycle customization business and his ventures into media and merchandising.
The Rise of West Coast Choppers and Jesse James’ Career
In 1992, James founded West Coast Choppers, a company that has become synonymous with custom motorcycle design. Beginning with James building bikes from scratch, the company expanded to over 50 employees working from an 18,000 square foot warehouse. West Coast Choppers are known for their high-end custom bikes that can sell for anywhere between $60,000 and $150,000. Custom cars from James’ shop command even higher prices, though specific sales figures for these are not publicly available. Celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal, Keanu Reeves, Kid Rock, and Tyson Beckford have all purchased bikes from James.
The company’s initial headquarters in Long Beach, California, closed in 2010. In 2013, James relocated the operation to Austin, Texas. In 2006, James opened a Cisco Burger restaurant, showcasing his entrepreneurial diversification. He was also part-owner of Austin Speed Shop until 2013. James’s foray into media included publishing “Garage” magazine and launching clothing lines, such as Jesse’s Girl and Jesse James Industrial Workwear, as well as Jesse James Firearms Unlimited.
James first gained broader public attention in 2000 when he was featured in the Discovery Channel documentary “Motorcycle Mania.” This exposure led to the creation of his own television show, “Monster Garage,” which premiered on June 23, 2002. The show ran for five seasons, comprising 80 episodes, and became one of the highest-rated shows on the Discovery Channel. In 2009, James starred in “Jesse James Is a Dead Man” on Spike TV, which led to a one-shot comic book adaptation by Marvel. In 2012, the Discovery Channel aired “Jesse James: Outlaw Garage,” further solidifying James’s presence in reality television.
James’ involvement in television extended to production roles. He served as a producer on “Monster Garage,” “Jesse James Is a Dead Man,” and “Jesse James: Outlaw Garage,” as well as the documentaries “Motorcycle Mania III” (2004), “Joe Kid on a Stingray” (2005), and “Jesse James: Blacksmith” (2011). He also made appearances in feature films, including “Torque” (2004) and “Machete Kills” (2013), and the short film “Two Scoops” (2013).
Legal Issues and Financial Setbacks
Despite his success, James has faced legal and financial challenges. In 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) fined him $271,250 for selling motorcycles between 1998 and 2005 that violated state clean-air laws. James claimed he was unaware of the regulatory changes affecting small-volume manufacturers.
In 2008, Michael Jones filed a breach of contract lawsuit against James for $422,680, alleging that he had paid $270,000 for a custom car in 2005 that was never completed. Jones claimed that James later revised the estimate to $600,000 – $700,000. In addition, James has been sued by his former lawyers for unpaid fees, including a $327,533 claim in 2008 and a $500,000 claim (including $100,000 in unpaid fees plus interest and damages) in 2014.
Jesse James’ Real Estate Holdings
In 2010, James acquired a mansion in Austin, Texas, for nearly $2 million. This property features nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a home gym, a private movie theater, “several swimming pools,” and a six-car garage. The exact address of this property is not publicly available.
James also owns a home in Sunset Beach, California. This residence is 3,626 square feet and includes four bedrooms and 4.25 bathrooms. The entrance hall has a stone floor that leads into an open-style living area. The living room features a large fireplace with a carved stone surround and built-in cabinetry. The dining room offers ocean views. The kitchen is equipped with maple cabinetry, lab granite countertops, a walk-in pantry, a wine fridge, and a crescent-shaped breakfast counter.
The master bedroom, accessible via a curving stone stairway, has hardwood flooring, a beamed ceiling, a fireplace, and a balcony with ocean views. The travertine bathroom includes double sinks, a steam shower, and a jacuzzi tub. The second floor also contains a guest bedroom with a walk-in closet, an office, and a large media/game room. The first-floor living areas open to an ocean-side glass-enclosed lanai, a stone patio, and a waterfall cascading into the swimming pool. The patio features a multi-level deck with built-in seating and ocean views.
Personal Life and Relationships
James has been married five times and has three children. He married his first wife, Karla, in 1991, and they had two children, Jesse Jr. and Chandler, before divorcing in 2002. His second marriage was to Janine Lindemulder on October 20, 2002, and they had a daughter named Sunny. James and Lindemulder divorced in 2004.
On July 16, 2005, James married actress Sandra Bullock, whom he met when she brought her godson to the set of “Monster Garage.” However, their marriage ended in 2010 after multiple women claimed to have had romantic relationships with James during their marriage. James issued a public apology in March 2010 and checked into a rehab center. Bullock filed for divorce in April, which was finalized in June 2010. They had begun the process of adopting a baby boy four years earlier, and Bullock proceeded with the adoption as a single parent.
James became engaged to tattoo artist Kat Von D in January 2011 but split up in September 2011, with Von D accusing James of infidelity. He married drag racer Alexis DeJoria on March 24, 2013, and they separated in March 2020. In June 2022, James married adult film star Bonnie Rotten.
