Steady Entrepreneur, Devoted Partner: The Story of Jess Desanto

Basic Information

From College Connection to Family of Five

Every enduring partnership starts with a crossroad. For Jess Desanto and television personality Janelle Pierzina, that crossroad was the University of Minnesota–Duluth, where they met as students and began a relationship that would carry them from campus life to marriage, parenthood, and a life built in the Midwest.

The timeline of their relationship is as clear as it is warm. They became engaged in 2009, and by June 2010, Jess and Janelle exchanged vows. Over the next four years, their family grew quickly and joyfully: first with Violet Anne around late 2011, then Lincoln William in roughly August 2013, and finally Stella Rose in September 2014. With three young children and a busy household, they planted roots in Minnesota, settling in or near Edina. A Goldendoodle named Sprinkles adds energy and muddy pawprints to the picture.

Despite Janelle’s public profile from multiple appearances on Big Brother, Jess prefers the back row to the spotlight. He rarely makes media appearances and keeps a minimal footprint on social platforms. It’s a choice that suits his temperament and his work—pragmatic, steady, built on long-term horizons rather than quick flashes.

Building Desanto Investments: Properties, Portfolio, and Progress

Jess’s professional life revolves around real estate and hospitality. Together with his brother, Jake, he co-founded Desanto Investments, a quiet but industrious firm that acquired and managed properties across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their portfolio grew to include at least three hotels and seven rental properties during the 2012–2023 period. Among these holdings, one asset often noted is the AmericInn in Apple Valley, a property that became a recognizable anchor in the company’s lineup.

Over roughly a decade, the brothers followed a well-worn but demanding path in property investment—acquiring, renovating, stabilizing, and managing for cash flow and appreciation. The rhythm is methodical: renovate rooms, maintain staff, monitor occupancy rates, manage seasonal swings, and continuously improve guest experience. It is a business that rewards consistency and punishes complacency, and Jess appears to have leaned into the former with unfussy discipline.

The arc of this effort culminated in a reported milestone: a sale of the business in April 2023 valued at approximately $6.3 million. The figure, said to be about double the purchase value from 2012, hints at years of reinvestment and clean execution. Numbers don’t tell the full story, but in real estate they do hum a familiar tune—one that plays when operating margins rise, rooms stay full, and properties hold their charm.

Portfolio Snapshot (2012–2023)

Home Base in Minnesota: Rhythm, Routine, and Real Life

The Desanto household radiates a familiar Midwestern cadence—schools and sports schedules, winter coats by the door, summers by lakes. Jess’s approach to privacy allows the family to preserve ordinary rhythms despite a connection to reality TV fame. School events, weekend outings, and an energetic dog named Sprinkles keep the home lively.

Jess and Janelle’s partnership is the hub of that life. They share a history that predates public attention, and that foundation shows up in the steady contours of their day-to-day. If Janelle is the name you recognize, Jess is the framework you might not see—holding up the scaffolding behind the scenes.

Family Timeline

Low Profile, High Output: A Philosophy of Work

In an era of perpetual self-promotion, Jess chooses the quiet road. He rarely courts publicity, and most public mentions of him trace through features about Janelle. The absence of noise is its own kind of signal—one that points to a professional more interested in balance sheets than bylines.

That privacy dovetails with his business model. Real estate thrives on due diligence and patience: deferred maintenance cured, capital improvements phased, financing structured for resilience. Jess’s career reads like a case study in pragmatic persistence. It’s less fireworks, more furnace—constant warmth, steady burn.

By the Numbers

• 1 marriage: Jess and Janelle, June 2010
• 3 children: born circa 2011, 2013, and September 2014
• 3+ hotels and 7+ rentals managed over a decade
• ~11 years between the 2012 portfolio start and the reported 2023 sale
• ~$6.3 million reported transaction value in April 2023

FAQ

Who is Jess Desanto?

He is a Minnesota-based entrepreneur best known as the husband of Big Brother alum Janelle Pierzina.

What does Jess Desanto do for a living?

He co-founded and ran Desanto Investments with his brother, focusing on hotels and rental properties.

How did Jess meet Janelle Pierzina?

They met as students at the University of Minnesota–Duluth and later got engaged in 2009.

When did Jess and Janelle get married?

They married in June 2010.

How many children do they have?

They have three children: Violet Anne (~2011), Lincoln William (~August 2013), and Stella Rose (September 2014).

Where do Jess and his family live?

They reside in Minnesota, in or near Edina.

What properties are associated with Desanto Investments?

The portfolio included multiple rentals and several hotels, notably the AmericInn in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Did he sell his company?

Reports indicate the firm was sold in April 2023 for approximately $6.3 million.

What is Jess Desanto’s net worth?

While exact figures aren’t public, his holdings and the reported sale suggest a net worth in the millions.

Is Jess active on social media?

No, he keeps a low public profile and appears infrequently on social platforms.