Following the emergence of allegations that he cheated on wife Sandra Bullock, Jesse James – who often appeared quite reserved next to his Academy Award-winning wife – has been thrust into the spotlight. AccessHollywood.com takes a look at the man who’s married to America’s big screen sweetheart.
Jesse Gregory James, 40, is best known as the CEO of West Coast Choppers, which builds custom bikes. He also hosts Spike TV’s “Jesse James is a Dead Man,” which shows Jesse performing death-defying stunts. He formerly hosted Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage.”
Jesse launched West Coast Choppers in 1992, from his mother’s garage. The shop, now located in Long Beach, Calif., makes around 15 custom built bikes a year, which sell for approximately $150,000 each. Some of Jesse’s celebrity clients include Kid Rock, Keanu Reeves, Shaquille O’Neal, wrestling star Goldberg and model/actor Tyson Beckford.
Non-gearhead reality show fans will also recognize him from NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice 2,” where he came in third behind professional poker player Annie Duke and show winner, TV personality Joan Rivers. During his time on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” Jesse raised $20,000 for the Long Beach Education Foundation.
But before Jesse made the rounds on reality TV and walked red carpets with Sandra, he was a bodyguard for heavy metal bands such as Danzig, Slayer and alternative rock band Soundgarden.
He married Sandra on July 16, 2005 after they met when the actress arranged for her godson to take a tour of “Monster Garage.”
Jesse has three children, a son and a daughter with his first wife, Karla James, and a second daughter with former adult film star Janine Lindemulder. Lindemulder lost her bid to gain more visitations with their 5-year-old daughter, Sunny, in December 2009. Lindemulder’s visitation rights with their daughter are currently limited to daytime hours.
Jesse also made headlines in February when he was reunited with his dog, Cinnabun, who was missing for three weeks.
“In addition to a slew of traffic violations over the years – speeding, not displaying front license plate, driving an without registration – Jesse has a history of misdemeanors, including the unlawful disposing of waste into state waters and two misdemeanors for the improper storage, labeling and permitting of hazardous waste containers.”
On March 17, Jesse grabbed his biggest headlines ever when Michelle “Bombshell” McGee, claimed to In Touch magazine that she had an 11-month affair with Jesse, including while Sandra was shooting “The Blind Side.”
Jesse called “the vast majority” of the infidelity claims that surfaced last week “untrue and unfounded” in a statement to Access Hollywood.
“I will not dignify these private matters with any further public comment. There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me.” Jesse said in the statement responding to the infidelity allegations. “It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me.”
Just before news of the alleged affair broke, Sandra reportedly left the home she shares with Jesse and pulled out of the London premiere of “The Blind Side.”
Following the allegations, Jesse was seen dropping his kids off at school and he returned to work at West Coast Choppers on Saturday – sporting his wedding ring the whole time. Sandra though, has not been seen since news of the alleged affair with Michelle “Bombshell” McGee surfaced.
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