Missy Rothstein: Bam Margera’s Ex-Wife, Career, and Life After Their Divorce

Missy Rothstein is an American model and photographer who became a household name after marrying professional skateboarder and MTV star Bam Margera in 2007. Their relationship played out on national television, their wedding got its own reality show, and their divorce in 2012 marked the end of one of the more visible celebrity marriages of the mid-2000s. Born Melissa Rothstein on June 3, 1980, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, she’s since stepped away from the spotlight and built a quieter life on her own terms.

While Bam Margera’s name has dominated tabloid headlines for years — for reasons both professional and deeply personal — Missy has largely avoided the public eye. Here’s what we know about her life before, during, and after her time as Missy Margera.

Early Life and Education

Melissa “Missy” Rothstein grew up in Springfield, a suburb in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles west of Philadelphia. She attended West Chester East High School, where she first crossed paths with Bam Margera. The two were part of the same social circle during their teenage years, though they wouldn’t start dating until later.

After high school, Missy enrolled at Penn State University, where she earned a degree in communications. College gave her a foundation she’d later lean on — both in her modeling work and in her eventual move toward photography. She was never someone who chased fame. By all accounts, she was a small-town Pennsylvania girl who happened to fall for someone who couldn’t stay out of the camera’s view.

Relationship with Bam Margera

Missy and Bam Margera’s relationship stretched back to their high school days in the West Chester area, but it wasn’t a straight line from teenage crush to marriage. They reconnected as adults after Bam had already risen to fame through Jackass, Viva La Bam, and his CKY video series. By the mid-2000s, Bam was one of the most recognizable figures in skateboarding and reality TV. Missy, meanwhile, had stayed grounded.

Their dynamic made for compelling television. Bam was chaotic, impulsive, and always performing. Missy was calm, measured, and clearly uncomfortable with the constant cameras. That contrast defined much of their public relationship — and it’s what MTV banked on when the network greenlit a show built entirely around their wedding.

Bam’s Unholy Union

In 2007, MTV aired Bam’s Unholy Union, an eight-episode reality series that followed Bam and Missy as they planned their wedding. The show leaned heavily into Bam’s brand of irreverent humor. He wrestled with the idea of settling down while Missy tried to keep the wedding planning on track. There were stunts, pranks, and the usual Margera family chaos — Bam’s parents, Phil and April, were regular fixtures on the show.

The couple married on February 3, 2007, in downtown Philadelphia. The ceremony was held at the Loews Hotel, and it drew a crowd of friends, family, and fellow Jackass cast members. The wedding itself was relatively traditional, a surprise given Bam’s reputation. Bam’s Unholy Union captured the lead-up and the event, giving viewers a front-row seat.

The show ran for one season and wasn’t renewed. But for a brief window, it made Missy Rothstein one of the more talked-about figures in MTV’s reality lineup — not because she courted attention, but because her relationship with Bam guaranteed it.

Career in Modeling and Photography

Before her marriage became tabloid fodder, Missy had already started building a career in modeling. She appeared in several small campaigns and photo shoots, leveraging her communications degree and natural comfort in front of the camera. Her look was classic and understated — she wasn’t chasing high-fashion editorial work, but she booked consistently in the commercial and lifestyle space.

She also made brief appearances in Jackass-related projects, including Haggard (2003), a low-budget comedy film directed by Bam, and Minghags (2009). These weren’t starring roles — they were cameos that came with the territory of being in Bam’s orbit.

After her divorce, Missy shifted her focus to the other side of the lens. She took up photography and has worked in the field since the early 2010s. It’s a career that suits someone who prefers to stay behind the scenes. Details about her professional photography work are sparse — she doesn’t maintain a major public portfolio or social media presence — but those who know her have noted that she’s serious about the craft.

Life After Divorce

Missy and Bam Margera finalized their divorce in 2012 after five years of marriage. The split wasn’t a shock to anyone who’d been paying attention. Bam’s lifestyle — the partying, the recklessness, the escalating behavior — had taken a toll. While neither party has spoken extensively about the specific reasons for the divorce, the writing had been on the wall for some time.

In the years since, Bam’s struggles have been well-documented. He’s dealt publicly with substance abuse, mental health issues, multiple stints in rehabilitation facilities, and legal trouble. In 2021, he was fired from the Jackass Forever production after failing to comply with the wellness agreement required by Paramount. His conservatorship, social media outbursts, and repeated rehab visits have kept him in the news cycle for all the wrong reasons.

Missy, by contrast, has done the opposite. She’s stayed out of interviews. She doesn’t comment publicly on Bam’s situation. She hasn’t monetized her connection to him through tell-all books or podcast appearances. In an era when ex-partners of celebrities routinely leverage their past for content, Missy Rothstein’s silence is notable.

She’s remained in the Pennsylvania area and has kept her personal life almost entirely private. There’s very little public information about her relationships or day-to-day activities since 2012, which appears to be exactly how she wants it.

Missy Rothstein’s Net Worth

As of 2026, Missy Rothstein’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million. That figure comes from a combination of her modeling work, her television appearances during the Bam’s Unholy Union era, and her divorce settlement with Bam Margera. Her photography career likely contributes to her current income as well, though exact earnings from that work aren’t publicly available.

It’s a modest figure compared to the estimated fortunes of other reality TV-adjacent personalities, but it reflects a life that isn’t built around chasing endorsement deals or brand partnerships. Missy has earned her money through work, not through staying famous.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Missy Rothstein?

Missy Rothstein, born Melissa Rothstein on June 3, 1980, is an American model and photographer. She’s best known as the ex-wife of professional skateboarder and Jackass star Bam Margera. The couple married in 2007 and divorced in 2012.

How old is Missy Rothstein?

Missy Rothstein is 45 years old as of 2026. She was born on June 3, 1980, in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

Where did Missy Rothstein go to college?

Missy attended Penn State University, where she graduated with a degree in communications.

What is Missy Rothstein doing now?

Missy Rothstein has largely stayed out of the public eye since her divorce from Bam Margera in 2012. She’s worked as a photographer and continues to live in the Pennsylvania area. She maintains a very private personal life.

How tall is Missy Rothstein?

Missy Rothstein stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, which is approximately 170 centimeters.

What is Missy Rothstein’s net worth?

Her net worth is estimated at around $1 million as of 2026, earned through modeling, television appearances, and her photography career.

Why did Missy Rothstein and Bam Margera divorce?

The couple divorced in 2012 after five years of marriage. While neither has spoken in detail about the reasons, Bam’s well-documented struggles with substance abuse and his increasingly erratic lifestyle were widely cited as contributing factors.