Steve-O Reveals He Was ‘Broke and Homeless’ Before ‘Jackass’ Premiered—Having Earned Just $1.5K for ‘Entire First Season’

Steve-O, whose real name is Stephen Glover, revealed in an interview with "Playboy" that he earned less than $1,500 after taxes for the entire first season of the MTV series "Jackass." He stated that he was homeless and broke shortly after filming the initial episodes, despite being a star on the show. Glover explained that fame did not immediately translate to financial security, particularly after his minimal earnings were taxed. He also recounted his earlier career, including sharing skateboard stunt videos and a painful incident in 1997 where he burned his face attempting a fire-breathing backflip for "Big Brother" magazine. This event, while painful, contributed to his recognition in the stunt community. Following this, he attended Ringling Bros. Clown College with the explicit goal of becoming a famous stuntman, having been homeless for three years without achieving significant success.