Cleto Escobedo III Dies At 59: Jimmy Kimmel's Childhood Friend-Co-Worker's Huge Net Worth Revealed

Cleto Escobedo III, an American saxophonist and bandleader for Jimmy Kimmel Live! passed away at the mere age of 59. Jimmy Kimmel announced Cleto Escobedo III's demise on November 11, 2025. For the unversed, Cleto Escobedo and his band, Cleto and the Cletones, had been an integral part of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since its debut in 2003. Cleto Escobedo III's passing sparked a sense of grief among his fans, friends, and colleagues. Amid this, let's have a look at Cleto Escobedo III's early life and his massive net worth, which he built from years of hard work.

Cleto Escobedo III passed away at 59: Jimmy Kimmel shares an emotional note after losing his childhood friend

Cleto Escobedo III was born in 1966 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and from an early age, he leaned towards music. Cleto Escobedo III was born to Cleto Escobedo Jr, who was also a respected musician. As music was deeply ingrained in their family, Cleto Escobedo III developed an interest in music from an early age and also firmly shaped his career in the same field. He was known for his skills on the saxophone and for his style of fusing funk, jazz, and R&B.

Cleto and Kimmel were neighbours, and they had been together with each other since they were only nine years old. Cleto's demise was entirely shocking for Jimmy, who took to his IG handle, and expressed his grief over the same. He wrote that he was only nine years old when he met Cleto, and they had been inseparable since then. Jimmy further added that they could never have imagined that they would get ready together and go to work every day, which was a mere dream to them, which turned into reality. Cleto had been with Jimmy Kimmel Live! since the time of its debut in 2003. Jimmy could be quoted as saying:

"Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers."

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Cleto Escobedo III's massive net worth revealed

Cleto Escobedo III had been in the TV space through Jimmy Kimmel Live! for more than two decades now. Well, apart from that, he also collaborated with several artists. Cleto Escobedo III also accompanied several artists on their live tours and released some of his original music videos. He left an inspirational mark in the music industry with his resonating music, wherein he tried to mix modernism with traditional jazz roots, making his creations unforgettable. Talking about his net worth, while the exact amount couldn't be confirmed, as per reports in the public domain, Cleto Escobedo's net worth was 2-3 million USD at the time of his death. He achieved national recognition, which was possible given his long tenure on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

What was the cause of Cleto Escobedo III's sudden death?

While Cleto Escobedo III's sudden death at such a young age brought several questions about the reason, the reason remained unknown. Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s Thursday show was abruptly cancelled, and Variety had confirmed that the 'personal reason' was Cleto Escobedo III's condition. Till now, no family statement has been released, revealing the cause of his death, and it was confirmed by Jimmy Kimmel first.

We wish Cleto Escobedo III's family strength to deal with this tough time!

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