Professional NHRA Nitro Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria and custom vehicle fabricator Jesse James were married on March 24, 2013, in a private ceremony in Malibu, California. Their marriage lasted seven years before James announced their separation in March 2020, concluding a high-profile union that connected professional motorsports with reality television and custom fabrication.
Overview of the Relationship
The relationship between Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James brought together two prominent figures from distinct corners of automotive culture. DeJoria built her reputation as one of the fastest women in drag racing history, competing at the highest levels of National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Drag Racing. James gained international notoriety as the founder of West Coast Choppers and the host of hit television shows such as Monster Garage.
When the pair began dating in late 2012, their shared enthusiasm for high-horsepower engines, custom craftsmanship, and motorsport performance made them a frequent focus of automotive media and celebrity news outlets. Over their seven years together, the couple lived primarily in Texas, navigating the intense travel demands of professional drag racing and the operational pressures of high-end fabrication businesses.
In early 2020, as DeJoria was making a highly publicized return to full-time NHRA competition after a two-year hiatus, the couple announced their decision to part ways. Their divorce was finalized quietly later that year, allowing both individuals to focus on their respective careers and personal ventures.
Profiles of the Couple
Understanding the dynamics of their union requires looking at the individual backgrounds, career accomplishments, and public profiles that each partner brought to the marriage.
Alexis DeJoria: Heritage and Racing Career
Alexis DeJoria was born on September 4, 1977. She is the daughter of self-made billionaire entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems (hair care products) and The Patrón Spirits Company. Despite growing up with considerable family wealth, DeJoria chose to forge an independent path in one of the most physically demanding and dangerous sports in the world: professional drag racing.
Alexis DeJoria Racing Timeline:
- 2005: Begins drag racing in Super Comp category
- 2009: Transitions to Top Alcohol Funny Car (TA/FC)
- 2011: Debut in Nitro Funny Car (NHRA Full Throttle Series)
- 2014: Wins U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis (4.0-second barrier breaker)
- 2017: Temporary retirement to prioritize family
- 2020: Returns to full-time racing with DC Motorsports
DeJoria's drag racing career began in 2005 in the Super Comp category before she advanced to Top Alcohol Funny Cars, where she earned her first national event victory at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in 2011. That same year, she made her professional debut in the premier Nitro Funny Car division with Kalitta Motorsports.
Key milestones in her racing career include:
- Pioneering Performance: In 2014, DeJoria became the first woman to record a sub-four-second pass in a Funny Car, clocking a 3.997-second run at Pomona, California.
- Major Victories: She earned six career NHRA national event wins in Nitro Funny Car, including a victory at the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in 2014.
- Independent Spirit: Throughout her career, DeJoria emphasized earned merit over family connections, building a reputation as a fierce competitor capable of handling 11,000-horsepower race cars traveling in excess of 330 mph.
Jesse James: Custom Craftsman and Media Figure
Jesse Gregory James was born on April 19, 1969, in Long Beach, California. He established himself in the late 1990s as a master metal fabricator and motorcycle builder, founding West Coast Choppers in Long Beach. His hand-built, high-end custom choppers attracted celebrity clientele and catapulted him into national media prominence.
James transitioned into television stardom during the early 2000s:
- Television Breakthrough: He hosted Discovery Channel's hit series Monster Garage (2002–2006, revived in 2020), where he led teams of mechanics in modifying ordinary vehicles into extraordinary machines under tight deadlines.
- Public Profile: His rugged aesthetic, tattoo-covered persona, and outlaw image made him a staple of television and tabloid media.
- Prior Relationships: Prior to meeting DeJoria, James had been married three times, including a marriage to adult film actress Janine Lindemulder and a high-profile marriage to Academy Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock, which ended in 2020. He was also briefly engaged to tattoo artist Kat Von D.
The 2013 Wedding in Malibu
After dating for roughly a year, Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James married on March 24, 2013. The ceremony took place at the private estate of DeJoria's father, John Paul DeJoria, located in Malibu, California.
Ceremony Details and Atmosphere
The wedding was designed as an intimate, personal gathering of close friends, family members, and colleagues from both the automotive and entertainment worlds. Unlike the grand media spectacles surrounding some of James's earlier relationships, the couple chose a more restrained, rustic-chic atmosphere for their nuptials.
Key aspects of the wedding included:
- Custom Craftsmanship: True to his background as a jeweler and metal fabricator, Jesse James personally designed and crafted the wedding rings for both himself and DeJoria. The rings featured intricate metalwork, incorporating black diamonds and custom-molded gold band structures.
- Bridal Attire: DeJoria walked down the aisle in a traditional white gown featuring complex embroidery, escorted by her father, John Paul DeJoria.
- Blended Family Involvement: The ceremony heavily featured children from both partners' previous relationships. DeJoria brought her daughter, Bella, into the marriage, while James brought his three children: daughters Chandler and Sunny, and son Jesse Jr.
The wedding represented a blending of two distinct households into a single family structure, with both partners expressing a commitment to maintaining stability for their children away from the glare of Hollywood media.
Married Life and Shared Pursuits (2013–2020)
During their seven-year marriage, DeJoria and James built a lifestyle centered around custom vehicles, racing commitments, and family life in Texas.
Relocation to Austin, Texas
Following their marriage, the couple established their primary residence in the Austin, Texas area. Austin served as a practical hub for both partners. It offered proximity to John Paul DeJoria's business ventures, a thriving custom car and motorcycle scene, and relative privacy compared to Southern California.
James moved operations related to West Coast Choppers and his firearms manufacturing enterprise, Jesse James Firearms Unlimited (JJFU), to Texas. Concurrently, he became involved with the Austin Speed Shop, a noted hot rod restoration and custom build facility in central Texas. DeJoria maintained her rigorous travel schedule on the NHRA tour, which spanned over 20 national event weekends per year across the United States.
| Shared Life & Career Synergy |
|---|
| • Primary Residence: Austin, Texas area |
| • Alexis's Focus: Professional NHRA Funny Car racing (Kalitta Team) |
| • Jesse's Focus: Custom fabrication, Austin Speed Shop, JJFU firearms |
| • Family Life: Raising a blended household of four children |
| • 2017 Pause: Alexis steps away from racing to spend time with family |
Career Support and Alexis's Temporary Retirement
Throughout the mid-2010s, James was a frequent presence in the pit area at NHRA national events, supporting DeJoria during race weekends. DeJoria's racing career achieved several peak milestones during the early years of their marriage, including her historic 2014 U.S. Nationals win.
In late 2017, DeJoria made the decision to step away from full-time professional drag racing. After 12 years of active competition, she announced her temporary retirement to focus on her family, spend time with her daughter Bella as she approached her teenage years, and support her stepchildren.
During this hiatus between 2018 and 2019, DeJoria spent extended time at home in Texas, managing family obligations while James continued his custom fabrication projects and TV appearances.
The 2020 Separation and Divorce
In early 2020, as DeJoria prepared to launch her professional racing comeback with a newly formed team, news emerged that the couple's seven-year marriage had come to an end.
Public Announcement and Timeline
On March 17, 2020, Jesse James publicly announced the end of their marriage via a social media post on Instagram. In his statement, James expressed regret over the end of the union, stating that despite their best efforts over seven years, the distance and demands of their individual lives had led to an irreparable rift.
Key details surrounding the separation included:
- Announcement Timing: The public announcement coincided with the beginning of the 2020 NHRA racing season, right as DeJoria returned to competition behind the wheel of a Nitro Funny Car sponsored by ROKiT and Bandero Premium Tequila.
- Privacy and Demeanor: DeJoria chose not to issue sensational public statements, maintaining a professional focus on her racing comeback. She requested privacy regarding her personal life and focused her media interactions on her return to the drag strip.
- Finalization: The legal proceedings for the divorce were handled discreetly in Texas, concluding later in 2020 without high-profile court disputes or public mudslinging.
Comparative Overview: Relationship Timeline and Key Facts
The table below outlines the key structural milestones of the marriage between Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James, contrasting their background details, career profiles, and timeline events.
| Milestone / Feature | Alexis DeJoria | Jesse James |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Profession | Professional NHRA Drag Racer (Nitro Funny Car) | Custom Fabricator, TV Host, Entrepreneur |
| Notable Achievements | First woman under 4 seconds in Funny Car; 6 NHRA event wins | Founder of West Coast Choppers; Host of Monster Garage |
| Famous Pedigree / Exes | Daughter of billionaire John Paul DeJoria | Formerly married to Sandra Bullock, Janine Lindemulder |
| Wedding Date & Place | March 24, 2013 — Malibu, California | March 24, 2013 — Malibu, California |
| Wedding Ring Customization | Wearer of custom-crafted ring made by Jesse | Designer and hand-fabricator of both wedding bands |
| Primary Married Residence | Austin, Texas | Austin, Texas |
| Separation Announced | March 2020 | March 2020 (via Instagram post) |
| Marriage Duration | 7 Years (2013–2020) | 7 Years (2013–2020) |
| Post-Divorce Status | Active NHRA driver; owner/driver at DC Motorsports | Married adult film performer Bonnie Speed (2022) |
Post-Divorce Trajectories and Current Status
Following their 2020 divorce, both Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James moved forward along separate personal and professional paths.
Alexis DeJoria: Resurgence in Motorsports
Since returning to full-time NHRA Nitro Funny Car racing in 2020, Alexis DeJoria has re-established herself as a consistent contender in the category.
DeJoria's Post-Divorce Achievements:
- Formed partnership with crew chief Del Worsham at DC Motorsports
- Secured victory at the 2021 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol)
- Consistently qualified in top-tier positions in Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
- Expanded commercial sponsorship alignments (Bandero Tequila, ROKiT)
Driving for DC Motorsports, DeJoria qualified for multiple NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and earned race victories, including a dominant performance at Bristol Dragway in October 2021. She continues to compete at the highest level of drag racing, maintaining a clean distinction between her professional athletic identity and her past personal life.
Jesse James: New Ventures and Remarriage
After the divorce was finalized, Jesse James continued his custom metalwork projects and television appearances. In 2020, he participated in a revival of Monster Garage for Discovery+.
On a personal level, James moved on to a new relationship. In late 2022, James married former adult film actress Alisson Speed (known professionally as Bonnie Speed). The couple resides in Texas, where James continues to operate his fabrication business and firearms brand, keeping a relatively lower mainstream profile compared to his peak television years in the 2000s.
Frequently Asked Questions
When were Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James married?
Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James were married on March 24, 2013. The ceremony took place at the private estate of DeJoria’s father, Paul Mitchell and Patrón co-founder John Paul DeJoria, in Malibu, California.
How long were Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James married?
The couple was married for seven years. They wed in March 2013 and officially separated in March 2020, with their divorce being finalized later that same year.
Did Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James have children together?
No, Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James did not have any children together during their marriage. However, they raised a blended family consisting of four children from their respective prior relationships: DeJoria's daughter, Bella, and James's three children, Chandler, Sunny, and Jesse Jr.
Why did Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James get divorced?
In March 2020, Jesse James posted a public statement on social media announcing that the couple had decided to separate. He cited personal differences and the strain of balancing their individual lives and careers over seven years. DeJoria maintained privacy regarding the split and focused on her return to professional drag racing.
Is Alexis DeJoria still drag racing?
Yes. After taking a hiatus from 2018 through 2019, DeJoria returned to full-time NHRA Nitro Funny Car competition in 2020 with DC Motorsports. She continues to compete professionally on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour.
Has Jesse James remarried since his divorce from Alexis DeJoria?
Yes. Jesse James married former adult film actress Alisson Speed (Bonnie Speed) in late 2022. This represents James's fifth marriage.
Key Takeaways
The seven-year marriage of Alexis DeJoria and Jesse James remains a notable chapter in the intersection of American motorsports and pop culture. While their union brought significant media attention during the 2010s, both individuals handled their 2020 separation with relative privacy. Today, DeJoria remains a prominent athlete and multi-time winner in NHRA Nitro Funny Car drag racing, while James continues his work as a custom craftsman and fabricator in Texas.
