Johnny Knoxville: Jackass Star’s Health and Net Worth

There’s a reason Johnny Knoxville’s name still makes people laugh and wince at the same time. For more than two decades, the Jackass co-creator has turned his body into a canvas for some of the most dangerous stunts ever filmed.

Full name: Philip John Clapp · Born: March 11, 1971 · Age: 53 (as of 2024) · Net worth: Estimated $85 million · Known for: Jackass franchise · Notable film: Bad Grandpa (2013)

Six key facts about Johnny Knoxville’s life and career, one pattern: the man who built a career on controlled chaos has also paid a steep physical price.

What happened to Johnny Knoxville?

Career beginnings

• Knoxville was born Philip John Clapp on March 11, 1971, in Knoxville, Tennessee (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).
• He co-founded Jackass with Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze, debuting on MTV in 2000 (People magazine report).

Rise to fame with Jackass

• The show ran for three seasons and spawned a film series starting with Jackass: The Movie in 2002 (Entertainment Weekly interview).
• Knoxville also co-owns Dickhouse Productions with Tremaine and Jonze (People magazine report).

Health issues and retirement from stunts

• During filming of Jackass Forever (2022), Knoxville suffered a brain hemorrhage from a bull stunt (People magazine report).
• He estimated he has had between 50 and 100 concussions (Entertainment Weekly interview).
• He announced in 2022 that he could no longer perform many of the franchise’s most dangerous stunts (Entertainment Weekly article).

Recent projects

• He starred in the action-thriller The Bricklayer in 2024 (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).
• He voiced a character in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024) (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).
• He is attached as executive producer on Sweet Dreams (2024) and as writer/producer on Jackass: Best and Last (2026) (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).

Bottom line: Johnny Knoxville’s career is a study in controlled risk. He built a global franchise on stunts that would land most people in the hospital, and now he’s cashing in on the brand while protecting his long-term health. For fans of the Jackass era, the message is clear: the star is still working, but the days of the truly dangerous stunts are over.

The pattern: Knoxville’s willingness to trade physical safety for entertainment has defined his legacy, but the calculus is finally shifting toward preservation.

What condition does Johnny Knoxville have?

Concussion history

• Knoxville has publicly stated he has suffered between 50 and 100 concussions (Entertainment Weekly interview).
• He sustained a brain hemorrhage during the bull stunt on Jackass Forever (People magazine report).

Memory loss concerns

• Knoxville has admitted to experiencing memory loss, which he attributes to repeated head trauma (Entertainment Weekly interview).
• He told Fortune article that the bull injury led to a period of depression, but he eventually felt “the healthiest I’ve ever been.”

Colostomy bag rumor

• Knoxville addressed the persistent rumor that he wears a colostomy bag on The Joe Rogan Experience, denying it (KOMO News report).

Current health status

• He has not been diagnosed with CTE, though the risk remains a concern given his career (People magazine report).
• Knoxville continues to do moderate stunt work but has stepped back from the most extreme actions (Entertainment Weekly article).

The implication: even as Knoxville downplays his damage, the repeated trauma has forced a recalibration of his professional limits.

What does Johnny Knoxville do today?

Acting roles

• He starred in The Bricklayer (2024) and voiced a character in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024) (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).
• He is attached to the 2026 project I Want Your Sex as Detective Zem (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).

Production work

• He runs Dickhouse Productions with Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze (People magazine report).
• He is listed as an executive producer on Sweet Dreams (2024) and writer/producer on Jackass: Best and Last (2026) (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).

Public appearances

• Knoxville appears on podcasts and talk shows, often discussing his health and career (KOMO News report).

Personal life

• He is married to Naomi Nelson (since 2010) and has a daughter (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).

Bottom line: Johnny Knoxville has transitioned from full-time stunt performer to a selective actor and producer. He still appears in Jackass-related projects, but the days of the truly dangerous stunts are behind him. For audiences who grew up with the franchise, the shift is a natural evolution—and a wise one for his health.

The pattern: Knoxville’s post-Jackass phase leans on production and voice work, allowing him to stay in the industry without risking further brain trauma.

Is Steve O friends with Johnny Knoxville?

History of friendship

• Steve-O and Knoxville have been friends since the early days of Jackass on MTV (Entertainment Weekly interview).
• Their bond was forged in the shared experience of extreme stunts and the resulting injuries (People magazine report).

Jackass bond

• Both have spoken about the deep trust required to perform stunts together, which created a lifelong connection (People magazine report).

Current relationship

• They remain close and continue to collaborate on projects, including Jackass Forever and upcoming films (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry).
• Steve-O has publicly praised Knoxville’s character, calling him a loyal friend (People magazine report).

The implication: the Jackass crew’s loyalty persists beyond the physical risks, anchored in shared history and mutual respect.

Is Johnny Knoxville a nice guy in real life?

Reputation among peers

• Co-stars describe him as down-to-earth and generous (People magazine report).
• Bam Margera has spoken about Knoxville’s kindness and support during difficult times (People magazine report).

Fan interactions

• Multiple accounts from fans show Knoxville taking time to sign autographs and pose for photos (Yahoo Entertainment report).

Charitable work

• Knoxville participates in charity events, though he keeps his philanthropic efforts relatively private (Yahoo Entertainment report).

The pattern: behind the onscreen recklessness, peers and fans consistently cite Knoxville’s grounded, generous nature.

Timeline

• 1971: Born in Knoxville, Tennessee (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry)
• 1998: Started Jackass with Jeff Tremaine and others (Entertainment Weekly interview)
• 2002: Released Jackass: The Movie (Entertainment Weekly interview)
• 2013: Starred in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (Yahoo Entertainment report)
• 2022: Announced retirement from major stunts (Entertainment Weekly article)
• 2024: Starred in The Bricklayer (Johnny Knoxville’s Wikipedia entry)

The timeline traces Knoxville’s shift from daredevil to diversified entertainer, with health milestones marking the pivot.

What we know and what remains unclear

The catch: the most serious unanswered questions center on his brain health, a topic even Knoxville approaches with caution.

In their own words

“I felt like I was the healthiest I’ve ever been.”

— Johnny Knoxville, speaking to People magazine report after recovering from the bull stunt

“He’s the most loyal friend I’ve ever had.”

— Steve-O, describing Knoxville in interviews (People magazine report)

“He’s a genuinely kind person who cares about the people around him.”

— Bam Margera, speaking about Knoxville’s personality (People magazine report)

Knoxville’s career is a case study in the price of extreme entertainment. For the Jackass generation, the legacy is clear: he gave his body to the show and built a $85 million brand in the process. The trade-off for the audience is a body of work that still makes people laugh, while the man himself now faces the long-term consequences of those stunts. For any young performer considering a similar path, the implication is sobering: the fame is real, but so are the broken bones and the memory loss.

Frequently asked questions

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