Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Melanie, who was a fashion designer, is most popularly known for being the ex-wife of popular stunt performer, comedian, filmmaker, and “Jackass” actor Johnny Knoxville (born Philip John Clapp). The pair first met in Los Angeles after Melanie moved there from Texas and, shortly after, got married on May 15th, 1995, in the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas. They had a relatively small wedding as Johnny, a chronic gambling addict, had squandered all their wedding money.
On January 4th, 1996, less than a year after their marriage, the couple welcomed their first and only child, Madison Tatiana Clapp. Unfortunately, Melanie and Johnny went their separate ways in 2008 after Johnny filed for a divorce in 2006. Neither Johnny nor Melanie have revealed the details of their separation, as both have stated that the marriage ended due to irreconcilable differences.
All their properties were split evenly, and the couple had joint custody over their daughter, Madison. Now, Madison, twenty-six and attended Oberlin College in Ohio, is a writer and works as an editor and creator for “Chickenbutt Magazine,” a quarterly print journal that retails for fourteen dollars. She is also an actress and is best known for her roles in “Jackass 3D” (2010) and “Jackass 3.5” (2011).
Melanie is now the owner of a successful interior design company called “Side Street Home” that deals in home goods such as rugs, luxury bedding, clothing, gifts, decorative pillows, custom furniture, hand-painted tiles, lighting, and other small-batch specialty items.
While her ex-husband, Johnny, remarried after their separation, Melanie appears to have fallen off the dating scene after her divorce because she hasn’t been romantically associated with anyone since then. But because she maintains such a low profile, it is difficult to determine whether or not she has been in a relationship or is even presently dating someone. She may just not have disclosed the relationship to the public. Johnny, however, married Naomi Nelson in September 2010, with whom he has two kids: Rocko Akira Clapp and Arlo Clapp. After about 11 years of marriage, Johnny filed for divorce from Naomi in September 2021.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Melanie Lynn Cates |
| Popular Name: | Melanie Lynn Clapp |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birth Date: | 1964 |
| Age: | 59 years |
| Parents: | Undisclosed |
| Siblings: | Undisclosed |
| Birth Place: | Austin, Texas, United States of America |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | American |
| Education: | Undisclosed |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Husband/Spouse: | Johnny Knoxville (1995-2008) |
| Children: | Madison Tatiana Clapp |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $500,000. |
| Source of Wealth: | Interior Designer/ Alimony From Marriage |
| Height: | 5ft6 (1.68m) |
| Weight: |
62kg (134 lbs) |
Early Life And Career Information
Prior to marrying the celebrity Johnny Knoxville, Melanie led a normal early life shielded from the prying eyes of the media. She is very private, so the actual date of her birth, parents, family background, education, or any other personal information is not available online. We do not know much about her; however, she was born in 1964 in Austin, Texas, where she grew up and lived before moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her dreams of becoming a successful fashion designer. It was in Los Angeles that she met her ex-husband Johnny Knoxville.
She married Johnny in 1995; that year, Knoxville was already involved in the entertainment industry. He acted in commercials and wrote articles for Big Brother, Blunt, and Bikini, but he did not gain widespread fame until 2000, when his MTV show “Jackass” rose to become one of the highest-rated television shows in the U.S. at the time. This means that Melanie and Johnny were together before his immense popularity.
Before her marriage and fame, Clapp was previously an American fashion designer. She began her career as a designer in the mid-90s with clothing and jewelry and had accounts with notable brands like Urban Outfitters and Warner Bros. Retail. She then moved on to Interior Design and Home Remodeling and owns the company “Side Street Home,” a concept home goods store that also offers design services in Los Angeles, Nashville, and Austin.
Side Street home has its base store located at 506 Hearn Street, Austin, Texas, and AIA Austin and Tribeza Interior Design tour have recognized the company’s interior designs. The store is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11 AM till 5 PM and Sundays from 12 PM till 5 PM. Mondays’ are only available via an appointment schedule.
Melanie Lynn Clapp’s Net Worth
Melanie Lynn Clamp is estimated to have a net worth of around $500,000. This is due to her successful interior design business, Side Street Home, and the alimony from her ex-husband, Johnny Knoxville.
Lessons From The Life Of Melanie Lynn Clapp
Believe In Yourself
Melanie Lynn Clapp’s life is one of sheer determination and perseverance. She left the town where she grew up, searching for greener pastures for her fashion design career. Afterward, she was able to pivot into her flourishing career as an interior designer, all because she believed she could do it.
Always Follow Your Dreams.
By Melanie choosing to follow her dreams of being an interior designer, she was able to run her successful company, Side Street Home.