Jake Steinfeld Net Worth

What is Jake Steinfeld's Net Worth?

Jake Steinfeld is an American fitness personality, entrepreneur, actor, producer, author, and sports executive who has a net worth of $20 million.

Jake Steinfeld is best known as the founder of the "Body by Jake" fitness brand. One of the earliest celebrity personal trainers to turn exercise into a mainstream entertainment business, Steinfeld built a career that moved from Hollywood gyms to television, infomercials, books, sports leagues, philanthropy, and film production. His high-energy "Don't Quit!" philosophy became his signature, helping him stand out in the crowded fitness world long before social media turned trainers into personal brands. In addition to creating "Body by Jake," he founded FitTV, launched ExerciseTV, and helped create Major League Lacrosse, the first professional outdoor lacrosse league in the United States. Steinfeld also worked as an actor, appearing in films such as "Coming to America," "The Money Pit," and "Ratatouille," and later became involved in producing inspirational sports stories, including "The Grizzlies."

Jake's brother Peter, who is also a fitness trainer, is the father of actress/singer Hailee Steinfeld. So Jake is Hailee's uncle.

Early Life

Jake Steinfeld was born on February 21, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Baldwin, Long Island. As a child, he struggled with his weight and had a stutter, two challenges that later became part of his personal story as a motivational figure. Fitness became a way for him to build confidence, strength, and identity.

After a brief stint in college, Steinfeld decided to leave school and move to Los Angeles to pursue bodybuilding and entertainment. In 1977, he finished second in the Mr. Southern California bodybuilding contest, a result he later described as especially meaningful because he claimed he was the only competitor in the event not using steroids.

Discovery and Celebrity Training

Steinfeld's entry into paid personal training came almost by accident. In the early 1980s, he was working as a bouncer when an actress approached him at a pool after noticing his physique. She asked if she could pay him to train her for an upcoming commercial that required her to appear in a bikini. That moment became the origin story of his fitness business.

Word spread quickly in Hollywood. Steinfeld became known as a trainer who could get actors into shape for specific roles, and his client list eventually included Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Eddie Murphy, and other major names. His work with Murphy helped him land a small role in the 1988 comedy "Coming to America," one of several film and television appearances that turned him into a recognizable personality beyond the gym.

Body by Jake

Steinfeld's fitness brand took off under the name "Body by Jake." At a time when personal training was not yet a massive mainstream industry, he packaged his high-energy personality, motivational style, and Hollywood experience into a brand that could work on television, in books, in home workout videos, and through exercise equipment.

His approach was less intimidating than traditional bodybuilding culture. He sold fitness as something practical, motivating, and confidence-building. His "Don't Quit!" slogan became a personal mantra and a business philosophy, helping him connect with people who wanted encouragement as much as instruction.

Steinfeld also wrote several fitness and motivational books, including "Body by Jake," "Don't Quit! Get Strong!," and "I've Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked and They've Got Nothing on You!" His titles reflected the same mix of humor, confidence, and accessibility that made him stand out from other trainers.

Television, Acting, and Media Career

Steinfeld built a parallel career as a television and film personality. In addition to "Coming to America," his acting credits included "The Money Pit," "Into the Night," "Americathon," "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie," and the animated film "Ratatouille," in which he voiced Git.

His big television break came when Ted Turner, who was building out programming for his growing media empire, signed Steinfeld to produce and star in a daytime fitness show called "Fitness Freak by Jake." That opportunity helped move Steinfeld from celebrity trainer to full-fledged media entrepreneur.

He later starred in the family sitcom "Big Brother Jake," which aired in the early 1990s. Although acting was only one part of his career, it helped make him a familiar face and supported the larger "Body by Jake" brand.

FitTV, ExerciseTV, and Digital Fitness

In 1993, Steinfeld helped launch FitTV, one of the first 24-hour fitness television networks. His early programming included "Big Brother Jake," but the network's biggest brand connection remained "Body by Jake." FitTV was an early example of what later became a massive industry: fitness content delivered directly into people's homes.

In 1997, FitTV's parent company, International Family Entertainment, was acquired by Fox Entertainment and Saban Entertainment. Steinfeld reportedly earned a fortune from the sale, helping establish him not just as a fitness personality, but as a successful media entrepreneur.

He later created ExerciseTV, the first on-demand fitness television platform, with partners including Comcast, New Balance, and Time Warner. He also launched FitOrbit, an online platform that connected users with real personal trainers, anticipating the digital coaching model that would become widespread years later.

Steinfeld also expanded the brand into music through Body by Jake Music, a fitness-oriented label created in partnership with Universal Music Group. The label featured workout-friendly tracks from popular artists, producers, DJs, and remixers.

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Major League Lacrosse

One of Steinfeld's most notable ventures outside fitness was professional lacrosse. In 1999, he co-founded Major League Lacrosse, the first professional outdoor lacrosse league in the United States. The league gave elite players a professional platform and helped raise the sport's national profile.

The league's championship trophy was named the Steinfeld Trophy in his honor. Major League Lacrosse operated until 2020, when it merged with the Premier Lacrosse League.

In 2012, Steinfeld wrote "Take a Shot: A Remarkable Story of Perseverance, Friendship, and a Really Crazy Adventure," a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book about the creation of Major League Lacrosse. The book reflected many of the themes that shaped his career: risk-taking, persistence, salesmanship, and refusing to quit when a new idea seems unlikely.

Philanthropy and Public Service

Steinfeld has spent much of his later career focused on youth fitness. He served as chairman of the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown, with the goal of helping make California a national leader in physical fitness.

He later became chairman of the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils. Through that organization, Steinfeld helped bring "Don't Quit!" fitness centers to schools around the United States, giving students access to exercise equipment and encouraging healthier habits.

Personal Life

Jake and his wife, Tracy, have four children.

He has served as Chairman of the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Governors Schwarzenegger and Brown, with the mission of establishing California as the nation's first "Fitness State." He is now Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils.

Pacific Palisades Mansion

In 1994, Jake paid $2 million for a 6,700-square-foot mansion in LA's Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Jake has served as the Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, California. Tragically, Jake lost his mansion in the 2025 Palisades Fire. Before the fire, the property was worth $9-10 million.

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