Jesse King was born in a house in Reseda, California on October 18th, 1974. After attending ten schools between three states, including Minot High School and San Marcos High School, he graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1992. Jesse King studied English and International Studies at The City College of New York. He graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with English Honors, and as a Kaye and Gilman Scholar. He credits his abilities to empathy and life affirming experiences.