What was Jessi Combs' Net Worth?
Jessi Combs was an American metal fabricator, race car driver, and reality television personality who had a net worth of $1 million at the time of her death in 2019. On October 9, 2013, she broke the women's land speed record in the Alvord Desert, Oregon, reaching 404.709 mph in a North American Eagle (NaE) Supersonic Speed Challenger. Tragically, Jessi died on August 27, 2019, in an accident while attempting to set the female land speed record, which stood at 512 MPH, set by Kitty O'Neil in 1972. She was 36 years old.
Early Life
Jessi Combs was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 27, 1983. After high school, she chose to stay near home, rather than accept a scholarship to a renowned interior design program. She enrolled in the Collision and Refinishing Core Program at WyoTech, graduating at the top of her class in 2004.
TV Career
Combs' charisma and automotive knowledge led her to a television career. She first gained recognition as a co-host on "Xtreme 4x4," a part of Spike TV's 'Powerblock,' where she worked for four years building and racing trucks. After a car accident in 2007, she departed from "Xtreme 4x4" and went on to host other car-themed shows, including "Overhaulin'," "Truck U," and "2 Guys Garage."
Her most notable television role was as a co-host on Discovery Channel's "MythBusters," where she filled in for Kari Byron during her maternity leave. Combs' appearances on "MythBusters" showcased not only her technical skills but also her natural on-camera presence.
Professional Racing Career
Beyond television, Jessi Combs established herself as a formidable competitor in the racing world. She competed in numerous racing events, including the Baja 1000, the King of the Hammers, and the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, an all-women rally in Morocco. She was the first woman to place at the Ultra4's King of the Hammers. In 2013, she won the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger, setting a record with an official run of 398.954 mph.
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Death and Legacy
Tragically, Jessi Combs died on August 27, 2019, while attempting to break her own land-speed record in a 52,000-horsepower jet-powered car in Oregon's Alvord Desert. She was posthumously awarded the title of "the fastest woman on four wheels" by the Guinness World Records in June 2020, with a recorded speed of 522.783 mph.
Combs was a passionate advocate for women in the automotive and racing industries. She was involved in initiatives aimed at encouraging women to explore careers in these fields and even started her own line of women's welding gear.
