Jesse Ventura Net Worth

What is Jesse Ventura's Net Worth?

Jesse Ventura is an American actor, author, and politician who has a net worth of $7 million. During a 2014 court case where Jesse was suing the estate of the late Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, Jesse Ventura revealed that his income between 2002 and 2012 was $11 million. His peak income came in 2003 when he earned $3.8 million in salary from MSNBC. In 2011, the year before Kyle's book was released, Jesse earned $676,000 in total income. In 2012, he earned $190,000. As we detail in a moment, Jesse was ultimately victorious in his lawsuit and was awarded $1.8 million.

Jesse Ventura's career spans professional wrestling, film and television acting, political office, media commentary, and authorship. He first rose to national prominence in the 1970s and 1980s as a professional wrestler, performing under the name Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Known for his charisma, sharp wit, and outspoken persona, he became one of the era's most recognizable wrestling personalities, both as an in-ring performer and later as a color commentator. His success in wrestling laid the foundation for a broader entertainment career.

Ventura transitioned into film and television during the 1980s, appearing in action movies such as "Predator," alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, and "The Running Man." He also became a familiar television presence, including work as a wrestling announcer and later as a talk radio host. By the 1990s, Ventura had reinvented himself yet again, this time entering politics with little traditional backing.

In a stunning upset, Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 as a Reform Party candidate, defeating both Democratic and Republican nominees. Serving one term from 1999 to 2003, he governed as a political outsider, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, and independence from party politics. His election remains one of the most notable third-party victories in modern American political history.

After leaving office, Ventura returned to media, hosting television programs such as "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura" and "Off the Grid," where he leaned into his skeptical worldview and libertarian-leaning politics. He also became a prolific author, writing several bestselling books that blend autobiography, political commentary, and cultural criticism.

Chris Kyle Lawsuit

In 2012, former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle published his memoir, "American Sniper," which included an anecdote about a bar altercation involving a man Kyle identified only as "Scruff Face." According to the book, the unnamed individual made disparaging remarks about U.S. military actions and the Navy SEALs, prompting Kyle to punch him unconscious. While on a promotional book tour, Chris appeared on the "Opie and Anthony" radio show. During the interview, the hosts and co-host Jim Norton asked Chris about an alleged bar fight against Jesse in which Kyle knocked Ventura out. By re-telling the story, Kyle inadvertently indicated that Ventura was "Scruff Face."

Ventura maintained that the incident never occurred and argued that the story was defamatory and damaging to his reputation, particularly within the close-knit SEAL community. He filed suit against Chris Kyle in 2012, alleging defamation and unjust enrichment. Ventura testified that the allegations had direct financial consequences, including the cancellation of his TruTV series and a sharp decline in book sales and speaking opportunities. According to court filings, Ventura reported earning $676,000 in 2011, before the book's release, compared to just $190,000 in 2012.

The case took on added complexity after Kyle was killed in 2013, with the lawsuit continuing against his estate and widow, Taya Kyle. In July 2014, a Minnesota jury found that Ventura had been defamed and awarded him $500,000 for defamation and $1.3 million for unjust enrichment, for a total of $1.8 million. Ventura had initially sought between $5 million and $15 million in damages.

Although an appeals court later overturned the verdict on procedural grounds, the dispute did not end there. In 2017, Ventura reached a confidential settlement that effectively closed the case, bringing a years-long legal battle to a conclusion without a retrial.

Early Life

Jesse Ventura was born James George Janos on July 15, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, into a family with a strong military background shaped by World War II service. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1969 and served during the Vietnam War era as a member of the Underwater Demolition Teams, the predecessor to the modern Navy SEALs. He remained on active duty until 1975. Ventura has long claimed that health issues he later experienced, including blood clots that ended his wrestling career, were linked to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

After leaving the Navy, Ventura returned to civilian life and briefly worked as a bodyguard for The Rolling Stones during one of the band's U.S. tours. Around this time, he began pursuing professional wrestling, adopting the ring name "Jesse 'The Body' Ventura," a persona that emphasized bravado, physicality, and sharp-tongued charisma. The name would ultimately become inseparable from his public identity across entertainment and politics.

Professional Wrestling Career

Ventura wrestled professionally for more than a decade, becoming one of the most recognizable personalities of late-1970s and early-1980s wrestling. Known as much for his microphone work as his in-ring performances, he was a one-time American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Champion and later transitioned successfully into color commentary. Following his retirement from active competition, Ventura became outspoken about steroid use in wrestling, appearing in anti-steroid public education campaigns after publicly admitting his own past use.

Health problems eventually forced Ventura to retire from wrestling altogether. Despite stepping away from the ring, his wrestling persona remained central to his brand. In 2004, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as both a performer and commentator.

Acting and Television Career

Ventura parlayed his wrestling fame into acting during the 1980s and 1990s, often appearing in action-heavy roles that capitalized on his imposing physical presence. His most famous film role came in 1987, when he appeared opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Predator." The film became a genre classic and remains one of Ventura's most enduring screen credits. He followed that success with appearances in films such as "The Running Man," "Ricochet," "Demolition Man," "Batman & Robin," and the comedy "The Master of Disguise."

In addition to film work, Ventura appeared on television series including "Zorro" and later developed a career as a host and commentator. In the 2010s, he launched a political and cultural commentary program that eventually became known as "Jesse Ventura: Off the Grid," which aired on Ora TV beginning in 2014.

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Political Career

Ventura's most surprising career pivot came in politics. In 1990, he won election as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, serving from 1991 to 1995. His success at the local level encouraged a far more ambitious run. In 1998, Ventura ran for governor of Minnesota as the Reform Party candidate, campaigning as a political outsider opposed to entrenched party politics.

In one of the most notable third-party victories in modern American history, Ventura defeated both the Democratic and Republican nominees, including St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman. He served a single term as governor from 1999 to 2003, emphasizing fiscal independence, infrastructure spending, and social libertarian views. Ventura chose not to seek reelection and was succeeded by Tim Pawlenty.

Media, Books, and Public Controversies

After leaving office, Ventura returned to media and political commentary. He became a vocal supporter of third-party and libertarian-leaning candidates, publicly backing Ron Paul and later Gary Johnson during the 2012 presidential election. He also served as a spokesperson for online sportsbook BetUS, drawing criticism for blending political visibility with commercial endorsements.

Ventura gained renewed national attention through his TruTV series "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura," which ran for three seasons. The show focused on government secrecy, intelligence agencies, and controversial historical events, and it fueled Ventura's reputation as a prominent conspiracy-minded public figure. He expanded these themes through a series of books, including "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me," "American Conspiracies," and "63 Documents the Government Doesn't Want You to Read," several of which became bestsellers.

Personal Life

Jesse Ventura has been married to his wife, Terry Ventura, since 1975. The couple has two children together and has maintained a long-term partnership that predates Ventura's fame in wrestling, politics, and media. They split their time between Minnesota and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where Ventura has spent extended periods away from U.S. political life while continuing to write, comment, and make occasional media appearances.

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