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. She was 36 years old. The record she had been attempting to break was 512 MPH, set by Kitty O'Neil in 1972.
Early Life
Jessi Combs was born in Rapid City, South Dakota on July 27, 1983. After high school, she chose to remain near home, rather than accept a scholarship to a major interior design program. She enrolled in the Collision and Refinishing Core Program at Wyo Tech. She graduated at the top of her class in 2004.
TV Career
Combs' charisma and knowledge of automobiles led her to a career in television. She first gained recognition as a co-host on "Xtreme 4×4," a part of Spike TV's 'Powerblock.' She worked on the show for four years, building and racing trucks. After a car accident in 2007, she made a departure from "Xtreme 4×4" and went on to host several 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 just her technical skills, but also her natural on-camera presence.
Professional Racing Career
Beyond television, Combs established herself as a fierce competitor in the racing arena. She competed in numerous racing events, including the Baja 1000, the King of the Hammers and the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, an all-women rally in Morocco, where she was the first woman to place at the Ultra4's King of the Hammers. She also competed in and won the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger in 2013, where she set 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 worked with a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging women to explore careers in these fields. She also started her own line of women's welding gear.
