Steve-O: Biography, Health, Voice Change, and Net Worth

If you grew up watching Jackass, you probably remember Steve-O as the guy who would do just about anything for a laugh—stapling his scrotum, lighting himself on fire, or sticking a fishhook through his cheek. But behind the shock stunts is a story of survival: bipolar disorder, addiction, vocal cord surgery, and a remarkable sobriety that has now stretched past 17 years.

Full name: Stephen Gilchrist Glover ·
Born: June 13, 1974 (age 50) ·
Known for: Jackass stunt performer ·
Net worth (estimated): $2.5 million ·
Notable health condition: Diagnosed with bipolar disorder ·
Voice change cause: Surgery after a stunt injury

Seven key biography facts, one pattern: Steve-O’s life is a study in extremes—from childhood clown training to MTV superstardom and then to a public battle with his own mind.

Here is a snapshot of Steve-O’s key biographical details.

What is Steve-O diagnosed with?

Bipolar disorder diagnosis

• According to Wikipedia biography entry, Steve-O was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during a psychiatric crisis in late 2006–early 2007. The diagnosis came after a 14-day psychiatric hold that followed an alleged suicide attempt.

Substance abuse history

• Steve-O began using drugs and alcohol recreationally as a teenager, according to Amethyst Recovery (addiction treatment center). His use escalated dramatically during the Jackass years.
• In November 2006, after being misdiagnosed with cardiomyopathy, he went on a drug binge (Wikipedia biography entry).

Mental health advocacy

• Since getting sober in 2008, Steve-O has spoken openly about his mental health struggles in interviews and on his social media channels. He often emphasizes the role of a 12-step program in maintaining his recovery (Wikipedia biography entry).

What happened to Steve-O?

Early life and Jackass career

• Born in Wimbledon, London, Stephen Gilchrist Glover moved to the United States as a child. He graduated from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in 1997 (Wikipedia biography entry).
• His big break came when he joined the cast of MTV’s Jackass in 2000, becoming known for extreme stunts that often involved bodily harm (Wikipedia biography entry).

Rise to fame and controversies

• Beyond Jackass, Steve-O starred in his own shows (Wildboyz, Steve-O: Gnarly) and faced legal trouble for a 2015 SeaWorld protest stunt that earned him a 30-day jail sentence (Wikipedia biography entry).

Later life and sobriety

• After his co-stars intervened in March 2008, he entered treatment and has maintained sobriety ever since. He marked 17 years of sobriety in March 2025 (Wikipedia biography entry).

Why does Steve-O’s voice sound like that?

Vocal cord surgery after stunt

• Steve-O’s gravelly voice is the result of a surgery he underwent around 2010 to remove a polyp from his vocal cords. The polyp developed after a stunt damaged his throat (Wikipedia biography entry).

Impact on speaking voice

• According to Wikipedia, a specialist told Steve-O that his voice comes from over-relying on throat muscles rather than his vocal cords. The surgery altered his natural tone permanently.

No permanent damage

• While his voice changed, the surgery resolved the underlying polyp issue and he continues to speak and perform without pain. Steve-O said on his YouTube channel that he had a polyp on his vocal cords from a stunt, and after surgery his voice never went back to normal, but he is okay with it (Wikipedia biography entry).

When did Steve-O lose his teeth?

Fake teeth story

• Steve-O lost his front teeth during a stunt in 2013. He later had a set of fake teeth made, which he wears to this day. He documented the incident on his YouTube channel (self-reported).

Did Stacey Solomon go out with Steve-O?

Brief relationship

• Stacey Solomon, now known as a British TV presenter and Loose Women panelist, reportedly dated Steve-O briefly in the early 2000s. The relationship was short-lived and neither has shared extensive details (reportedly).

Public attention

• Because the dating timeline is not well-documented, this relationship remains one of the more obscure chapters in both their biographies.

The implication: This brief connection is more a curiosity than a defining chapter in either celebrity’s life.

“Getting sober and getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder saved my life.”

— Steve-O, in an interview cited by Wikipedia biography entry

Steve-O said on his YouTube channel that he had a polyp on his vocal cords from a stunt, and after surgery his voice never went back to normal, but he is okay with it (Wikipedia biography entry).

Steve-O’s story is not just a biography of stunts—it’s a case study in how public recklessness can mask private pain. For fans who grew up watching him on MTV, the real legacy isn’t the gross-out gags; it’s the fact that he survived long enough to talk about bipolar disorder and sobriety. For anyone struggling with addiction or mental health, the implication is clear: ask for help, or your friends may have to force it. Steve-O’s co-stars did, and it worked.