Jesse Gregory James was born in Lynwood, California to Larry and Carol James, the younger of two children. James says he is related to criminal Jesse James from his great grandfather's cousin. However, there is no evidence of it being true. James says he grew up in Long Beach, California, but that he did not spend his whole childhood there. James' parents divorced while he was still in grade school in South Gate, California. He and sister Julie moved to Riverside with their father, Larry James, and attended La Sierra High School.