Jesse Ventura Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Height, Net Worth, Movies, WWE, Instagram

Jesse Ventura, Full name is James George Janos, is a multifaceted American figure known for his diverse career as a Navy SEAL, professional wrestler, actor, politician, author, and media personality.

Rising to fame as Jesse “The Body” Ventura in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), he became a household name through his charismatic heel persona and commentary.

Profile

• Full Name: James George Janos
• Stage Name: Jesse Ventura, Jesse “The Body” Ventura
• Born: July 15, 1951
• Age: 74 years old
• Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Former Navy SEAL, Retired Professional Wrestler, Actor, Politician, Political Commentator, Author, Media Personality
• Height: 6 feet 2 inches
• Parents: George William Janos, Bernice Martha Lenz
• Siblings: Jan Janos
• Spouse: Theresa “Terry” Larson Masters (m. 1975)
• Children: Tyrel Ventura, And Jade Ventura
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $6 million to $7 million USD

Early Life and Education

Jesse Ventura was born on July 15, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to George William Janos, and Bernice Martha Lenz, a nurse and chief anesthetist of German descent.

Both parents were World War II veterans.

Raised in a working-class family on Minneapolis’s South Side near the Lake Street bridge, Ventura grew up with his older brother, Jan, a Vietnam War veteran and fellow Navy SEAL (UDT, BUD/S Class 49).

Ventura attended Cooper Elementary School, Sanford Junior High School, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1969, where he was inducted into its first Hall of Fame in 2014.

A gifted athlete, he attempted to earn a swimming scholarship to the University of Northern Illinois but was unsuccessful.

Career

Ventura’s career spans multiple fields, beginning with his Navy service (1969–1975) as a UDT member during the Vietnam War.

After his discharge, he briefly rode with the Mongols Motorcycle Club in San Diego, becoming third-in-command and adopting the nickname “Superman,” before returning to Minnesota in 1974.

He entered professional wrestling in 1975, adopting the name Jesse “The Body” Ventura, inspired by a California map and his beach bodybuilder persona.

As a heel, he wrestled in regional promotions like Central States Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW), and the American Wrestling Association (AWA), winning titles such as the AWA World Tag Team Championship with Adrian Adonis (1980) and multiple PNW titles.

Joining the WWF in 1981, he teamed with Adonis as the “East-West Connection” and challenged for the WWF Heavyweight Championship.

Health issues, including pulmonary embolisms in 1984 (attributed to Agent Orange exposure), ended his in-ring career, leading to a role as a WWF color commentator (1985–1990), where he was praised for his wit, earning Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Best Color Commentator (1987–1990).

Ventura’s acting career began with Predator (1987) as Blain, delivering the iconic line, “I ain’t got time to bleed.”

Other films include The Running Man (1987), Demolition Man (1993), and Batman & Robin (1997).

He entered politics in 1990, winning the mayoral election in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (1991–1995), as an independent.

In 1998, he ran for governor as a Reform Party candidate, winning with 37% of the vote in a historic upset, becoming the first third-party candidate to win statewide office in modern U.S. history.

As governor (1999–2003), he implemented property tax reforms, a sales tax rebate, and the METRO Blue Line light rail, while maintaining a fiscally conservative, socially moderate stance.

He left the Reform Party in 2000 for the Independence Party of Minnesota, citing internal dysfunction, and did not seek re-election in 2002, prioritizing family privacy.

Post-governorship, Ventura became a political commentator, hosting Jesse Ventura’s America (2003, MSNBC, canceled), Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (2009–2012, truTV), and The World According to Jesse (2017–2022, RT America).

He authored books like I Ain’t Got Time to Bleed (1999), Don’t Start the Revolution Without Me! (2008), American Conspiracies (2010), and Jesse Ventura’s Marijuana Manifesto (2016).

He taught at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2003 and has explored third-party presidential runs, notably expressing interest in the Green Party in 2020 but ultimately not running.

In 2024, he endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the Democratic ticket and returned to WWE as a commentator and ambassador.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jesse_ventura_official
• Facebook Handle: Jesse Ventura
• Twitter Handle: @GovJVentura

Personal Life

Jesse Ventura, now 74, has been married to Theresa “Terry” Larson Masters since July 18, 1975.

They have two children: Tyrel Ventura, a film and television director, and Jade Ventura.

The family splits time between White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and a solar-powered retreat in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Standing at approximately 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 4 inches and weighing around 245 lbs (111 kg) during his wrestling peak, Ventura has maintained a distinctive presence with his unique voice and cunning wit.

Raised Lutheran, he has made controversial remarks about religion, calling it a “crutch” for the weak in a 1999 Playboy interview, which sparked backlash.

Filmography:

• Predator (1987) – Blain ($98 million box office)
• The Running Man (1987) – Captain Freedom ($38 million)
• No Holds Barred (1989) – Commentator
• Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe (1991) – Abraxas
• Zorro (1990, TV Series) – Guest Role
• The X-Files (1996, TV Series) – Man in Black #1
• Demolition Man (1993) – CryoCon ($158 million)
• Major League II (1994) – Commentator
• Batman & Robin (1997) – Arkham Asylum Guard ($238 million)
• 20/20 Vision (1999, Short) – Buddy “One-Arm” Sanchez
• Arli$$ (1999, TV Series) – Himself
• WWE Sunday Night Heat (1999, TV Series) – Commentator
• The Ringer (2005) – Motivational Speaker (voice)
• Stuck on You (2003) – Himself (uncredited)
• Borders (2008, Short) – Conrad
• Woodshop (2010) – Mr. Madson
• The Drunk (2014) – Governor Littleton
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014, TV Series) – The Finger (voice)
• Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (2009–2012, TV Series) – Host/Producer (23 episodes)
• The World According to Jesse (2017–2022, TV Series) – Host
• WWE Raw (1999–2024, TV Series) – Commentator (8 episodes)
• WWE SmackDown (2024, TV Series) – Commentator (1 episode)
• Almanac (2025, TV Series) – Himself

Net Worth

Jesse Ventura’s estimated net worth is $6 million to $7 million USD. His wealth comes from wrestling (WWF commentary, Hall of Fame pensions), acting (Predator, Demolition Man), political salaries (Governor of Minnesota, $120,000 annually), book royalties (I Ain’t Got Time to Bleed, Marijuana Manifesto), and media ventures (Conspiracy Theory, The World According to Jesse).