Jesse Jane built a career that made her one of the most recognizable names in adult entertainment, but new court documents show that the longtime adult film star had far less to her name than the internet once claimed.
Born Cynthia Ann Howell in Fort Worth, Texas, Jesse Jane became a breakout figure in the 2000s after signing an exclusive deal with Digital Playground. She starred in Pirates (2005) and its high-budget sequel Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge (2008), two of the most expensive adult films ever produced.
Her visibility stretched beyond the industry as she landed roles in Starsky & Hutch, Entourage, and multiple reality shows. She also hosted award ceremonies, launched branded merchandise, and appeared in international publications, helping cement her reputation as one of the most prominent adult film stars of her era.
But according to probate records filed in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, and obtained by The Oklahoman, the financial picture at the time of her death told a very different story.
When Jane died at 43 on January 24, 2024, she had no real estate, no investments, and only $42,609 in her bank account. Probate attorney J. David Terrell noted that online claims estimating her net worth at half a million dollars were inaccurate, saying plainly, “You can’t trust the internet.”
Jane and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Brett Hasenmueller, were found deceased after a welfare check. Autopsy reports confirmed both died from fentanyl and cocaine overdoses.
A legal dispute over her estate initially emerged between her son, Ethan Self, and her husband, 77-year-old Richard H. Wilcox Jr., who had filed for divorce months before her death. Wilcox claimed they married in Santorini in 2019 and later filed a Declaration of Informal Marriage in Texas. Their divorce case was still pending at the time of her passing.
Although the dispute was headed for a hearing, the two ultimately reached an agreement, and the remaining funds were split evenly between them.
The probate documents also note that her husband had already sold her car for around $25,000 and shared the proceeds with her son. Additional earnings may still come from her licensing deal with XR Brands, which continues to sell signature Jesse Jane products.
In the decade leading up to her death, public records show Jane had faced significant financial strain. She sold her home in Moore, Oklahoma, in 2021 for $435,000 and had multiple state and federal tax liens, including a $200,755 federal lien filed in 2018.