What was Grant Imahara’s Net Worth?

Grant Imahara, a multifaceted talent in the fields of engineering and entertainment, left an indelible mark on the world of science television. At the time of his passing in July 2020, Imahara’s net worth was estimated at $2 million, reflecting his successful career as an electrical engineer, roboticist, television host, and actor. He gained widespread acclaim for his significant contributions to the popular science show “MythBusters,” where he appeared in over 200 episodes from 2005 to 2014. His creativity extended beyond “MythBusters” as he also contributed to “BattleBots,” “White Rabbit Project,” and brought to life the animatronic skeleton Geoff Peterson for “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Additionally, he embraced his inner Trekkie by portraying Hikaru Sulu in the fan-produced web series “Star Trek Continues.”

Early Life and Education

Born on October 23, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, Imahara was raised in a Japanese-American family. He pursued his passion for engineering at the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. His academic achievements laid the foundation for a pioneering career in the entertainment industry.

Work for Lucasfilm

Following his graduation from USC, Imahara embarked on a professional journey with Lucasfilm, specifically joining the THX division before transitioning to the visual effects powerhouse, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). Over his nine-year tenure at ILM, he contributed to an array of blockbuster films including “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” “Galaxy Quest,” “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” the “Star Wars” prequels, and “The Matrix” sequels. His skills as an engineer and model maker were instrumental in bringing these cinematic visions to life.

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BattleBots

Imahara’s television career took off when he competed on the robot combat show “BattleBots” in the early 2000s. With his ingeniously designed robot, Deadblow, he showcased his engineering prowess by claiming victories in the middleweight division. Deadblow’s fast pneumatic hammer weapon was a testament to Imahara’s technical creativity, and the robot later made appearances on “MythBusters.” In 2018, Imahara returned to “BattleBots” as a guest judge, further cementing his legacy within the robotic combat community.

MythBusters

In 2005, Imahara became a beloved figure on the Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters,” joining the Build Team at the invitation of co-host Jamie Hyneman and associate producer Linda Wolkovitch, a former ILM colleague. Alongside Tory Belleci and Kari Byron, Imahara’s role involved designing, building, and operating a variety of machines to test the veracity of myths and rumors. His innovative approach and engaging personality captivated audiences for nearly a decade, until he and his teammates departed the show after the 2014 season.

White Rabbit Project

In a reunion with his “MythBusters” colleagues, Imahara ventured into the world of streaming with the Netflix series “White Rabbit Project” in 2016. The show delved into intriguing topics such as superpowers, heists, jailbreaks, and peculiar World War II weaponry. Together, the team conducted experiments and constructed devices to assess these phenomena. Despite receiving positive reviews, the series was not renewed for additional seasons by Netflix.

Other Work

Among his other notable work, Imahara designed the animatronic human skeleton Geoff Peterson for the late-night talk show “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Created as a sidekick for Ferguson, the robot made his debut in 2010 and was voiced by Josh Robert Thompson. Elsewhere, in 2012, Imahara made a cameo appearance in the series finale of the Sci-Fi Channel series “Eureka.” The following year, he began playing Hikaru Sulu in the fan-made web series “Star Trek Continues,” a role he continued for all 11 episodes of the series through 2017. Meanwhile, in 2015, Imahara played Lieutenant Masaru in the fan-made film “Star Trek: Renegades” and had a supporting role in the Syfy television film “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!”

In 2017, Imahara began consulting for Walt Disney Imagineering on what he called a “top secret” project. The project ended up being the Stickman, an autonomous, self-correcting human-size acrobatic robot. Disney announced that this technology would be used in its theme parks around the world. Imahara continued working as a consultant for Disney and also as a mechanical designer for Spectral Moon. In 2020, he built an animatronic Baby Yoda with the aim of bringing it to children’s hospitals to cheer up the young patients. For the project, Imahara did the mechanical design, programming, and 3D printing, completing it four months before his passing.

Personal Life and Death

In 2011, Imahara began dating costume designer and actress Jennifer Newman. The couple got engaged in 2016.

On July 13, 2020, Imahara died from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm in Los Angeles. On what would have been his 50th birthday that year, his mother, friends, and colleagues launched the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation to provide support to underserved youth pursuing STEAM careers.