Jesse Ventura

American politician, formerly a professional wrestler. After service as a SEAL and a stint as a bodyguard for the Rolling Stones, the 6 4", 250 lb. shaved-head Ventura became Minnesotas new governor on 11/11/1998. In a political arena that has never been too conventional, he was the ultimate symbol of revolt by voters who were weary of the usual hype. There is nonetheless some trepidation, as Minnesota is the 20th largest state with a $23 billion budget and there is some wonder about electing a media figure. Raised in blue-collar Minneapolis, Ventura joined the Navy after high school and was trained as a SEAL, serving in Vietnam. A barroom brawler who didnt like to shower or shave, he began pumping up with weights. Honorably discharged in 1973, he rode with a motorcycle club in California, spent a semester at community college and rented out his tree-size arms for security. In the mid-70s, he took his magnificent body into wrestling - which is partly show biz, largely faked and choreographed. He learned quickly and soon was playing to sold-out arenas like Madison Square Garden. Known as "the Body," he played the villain, facing off against more heroic types, and proved a master showman. He was outlandish, outspoken and off-the-wall. Away from the spotlight, Ventura is a family man, married to Terry in 1975 with a son and a daughter and later, a 32-acre horse farm. Political by nature, he tried to form a wrestlers union but got nowhere. Later he sued the World Wrestling Federation for video royalties and was awarded $800,000. His career came to an abrupt halt in 1984 on the eve of a title match with Hulk Hogan when Ventura developed a pulmonary embolism. Not undone, Ventura transformed himself into an actor, playing with Schwarzenegger in "Predator." His credits also include TVs "The X-Files," where he wore a black coat and a sinister glare. In 1990, Ventura began his political career in earnest as Mayor of Brooklyn Park for a four-year stint. He entered talk radio, picking at the themes of taxes, legalized marijuana and the JFK conspiracy rap. When he arrived at the capitol on an icy January day in 1998 to announce that he was running for governor, no one paid much attention. His platform was mostly libertarian, lower taxes, less government, and he raised cash by selling 6,000 T-shirts at $22 a pop. College types voted for him because he was "cool." His election count was staggering. He carried every age group under 60 and every income level under $100,000. He struck a chord in coming across as an honest man in a climate where the average American is tired of hype and slick packaging. His inauguration was held on 1/04/1999. Burning the candle at both ends after the inauguration, Venturas wife, Terry, was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr syndrome and sent to bed by her doctors for a minimal time period of one month. Besides the physical and mental exhaustion of the political arena, Terry runs a horse-training business and is mom to son Tyrell, 19 and an aspiring filmmaker, and daughter Jade, 15 and in high school. Where most politicians tremble at having some of their youthful indiscretions revealed, Ventura beat the media to the punch with the publication of "I Aint Got Time to Bleed," 1999. In his memoir he admits - perhaps too candidly - to losing his virginity at 16 on a bet, consorting with prostitutes before his marriage, and using steroids and marijuana. His life was further examined in an Unauthorized Biograp Read less