Bam Margera is an American former professional skateboarder, stunt performer, television personality and filmmaker.
He rose to prominence in the early 2000s as one of the stars of the MTV reality stunt show Jackass and subsequent spin-off shows.
Margera has struggled with alcoholism and legal troubles in recent years.
In 2020, he was fired from the production of Jackass Forever due to his drug and alcohol issues.
However, in early 2024, Margera claimed to have over 120 days of sobriety, which was celebrated by his friend Steve-O in a YouTube video.
He was recently involved in a physical altercation with a stranger in Los Angeles, which he claimed was an act of self-defense after the stranger threatened him and his entourage.
Net worth | $1 million |
Date of birth | September 28, 1979 |
Profession | Former professional skateboarder, stunt performer, television personality, filmmaker |
Nationality | American |
Background
Margera was born Brandon Cole Margera on September 28, 1979 in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
He was given the nickname “Bam” by his grandfather at age 3 due to his habit of running into walls.
Margera is of Italian, German, English, and Welsh descent.
In high school, he appeared in articles in Jeff Tremaine’s Big Brother magazine and made videos with his older brother Jess and friends Chris Raab, Ryan Dunn and Brandon DiCamillo.
He only attended high school because his friend Chris Raab went, and he dropped out after Raab got suspended for an incident.
Margera rose to fame in the early 2000s as a star of the MTV reality stunt show Jackass and its subsequent spin-off shows like Viva La Bam, which featured his family and CKY crew members.
He has also worked as a professional skateboarder, stunt performer, television personality and filmmaker.
Net worth
Margera’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million.
His primary source of wealth comes from his involvement in the Jackass franchise.
Margera rose to fame as one of the main cast members of the MTV reality stunt show Jackass, which ran from 2000 to 2003.
Outside of the Jackass franchise, Margera has earned income from other entertainment projects, such as co-writing and directing the films Haggard and Minghags.
He has also done voice acting work for video games like the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.
Prior to his TV and film career, Margera was a professional skateboarder and had sponsorship deals with brands like Element Skateboards, Speed Metal Bearings and Adio Footwear.
Financial issues
Margera has faced significant financial issues in recent years.
His net worth, estimated at around $45 million in 2014, has declined due to his struggles with substance abuse and legal troubles
After the death of his friend Ryan Dunn, Margera had to spend around $100,000 on rehab, adding to his financial challenges.
Ongoing legal issues, including a restraining order filed against him by Jackass director Jeff Tremaine, have likely incurred additional legal fees and costs.
Margera’s reliance on sponsorships, such as his deal with Element Skateboards that was reportedly earning him $2 million per year at the peak of his career, may have also been impacted, further affecting his financial situation.
Endorsement deals
Margera has endorsed a number of major skateboarding and lifestyle brands including brands like Toy Machine Skateboards, Speed Metal Bearings, Adio Footwear, Electric Sunglasses, Volcom, Landspeed Wheels, Destroyer Trucks, Destructo Trucks and Fairman’s Skateshop.
In 2001, ge joined Team Element, the demonstration team for Element Skateboards, and remained affiliated with them for the duration of his professional skateboarding career.
Reports indicate that at the peak of his fame, Margera was earning approximately $2 million per year from his sponsorship deal with Element Skateboards.
Real estate
Margera’s primary residence is his gothic-style mansion in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, which he purchased in 2002 for around $1.19 million.
The mansion, known as Castle Bam, was built in 1985 and sits on nearly 14 acres of land.
It has 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and features amenities like a pool, barn, detached garage, indoor skatepark and band practice space.
The house was prominently featured on Margera’s MTV shows like Viva La Bam and Bam’s Unholy Union.
In 2018, Margera’s mother April began renovating the house to list it on Airbnb as a rental property.
Skateboarding career
Margera started skateboarding at a very young age, around 7 years old.
By the time he entered high school, skateboarding had become a full-time hobby for him.
Margera’s brother Jess described his skateboarding abilities as a “natural talent” and said their parents were very supportive of his decision to pursue skateboarding.
Margera got his first sponsorship from Fairman’s Skate Shop in 1992 and began appearing in skate videos.
In 1994, at the age of 15, he dropped out of high school to pursue a full-time skateboarding career.
Early in his professional career, Margera was sponsored by several major skateboarding brands, including Toy Machine Skateboards, Speed Metal Bearings, Adio Footwear, Electric Sunglasses, Volcom, Landspeed Wheels, Destroyer Trucks, Destructo Trucks and Fairman’s Skateshop.
In 2001, he became a member of Team Element, the demonstration team for Element Skateboards, which he remained affiliated with for the rest of his professional career.
However, Margera’s skateboarding career was impacted by his struggles with alcoholism and bone spurs, leading him to take a five-year hiatus from 2012 to 2017.
During this time, he returned to skateboarding casually and partnered with Element Skateboards to re-release a series of his most memorable deck designs in 2017.
Film and TV career
Margera rose to prominence in the early 2000s as one of the stars of the MTV reality stunt show Jackass, which ran from 2000 to 2002.
He then went on to appear in several Jackass spin-off shows, including Viva La Bam, Bam’s Unholy Union, Bam’s World Domination and Bam’s Bad Ass Game Show.
Margera also appeared in the Jackass movies, including Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 3D and Jackass Forever.
Outside of the Jackass franchise, Margera co-wrote and directed the films Haggard and Minghags.
He also had a “prominent, non-sex role” in the pornographic film The Fantasstic Whores 4 in 2008.
In 2003, Margera played a version of himself in the film Grind, which featured numerous cameos from Jackass members and other celebrities.
He has also done voice acting work for several Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video games, including Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, 4, Underground, Underground 2, American Wasteland, Project 8 and Proving Ground.
More recently, in 2016, Margera and his mother April appeared on the VH1 reality show Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn to address his self-destructive behavior.
Personal life
Margera has been married twice. His first marriage was to Jenn Rivell from 1998 to 2005.
Their relationship ended in 2005, and Margera filed for a “protection from abuse” order against Rivell in 2006.
His second marriage was to Melissa “Missy” Rothstein from 2006 to 2012.
They divorced in November 2012 after living in separate cities and Margera having other girlfriends.
Margera is currently married to Nicole Boyd since 2013. They got married in Reykjavík, Iceland in October 2013.
Their son, Phoenix Wolf Margera, was born in December 2017.
However, in September 2021, Boyd filed for child custody, and in February 2023, she filed for legal separation and spousal support due to Margera’s inappropriate behavior around their son.
Margera’s relationships have been tumultuous, leading to divorces and custody disputes.