Kumail Nanjiani plays the leading character of the series, Welcome to the Chippendales, which centers around the life of Somen ‘Steve’ Banerjee, an Indian born in Mumbai who was the founder of the United States’ first male strip club. 

Steve Banerjee began his career as an operator at a Mobil gas station, but soon went on to own a nightclub, where he introduced acts like female mud-wrestling. Banerjee paired up with a promoter and pimp called Paul Snider and an Emmy-winning choreographer called Nick de Noia to help his business grow.

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Banerjee was later arrested for hiring a former police officer to murder de Noia. He had also plotted the murder of two more individuals and was involved in an arson attempt.

Steve Banerjee net worth

Steve Banerjee owned a number of nightclubs at the time of his death. Reports suggest that he had stored hefty sums of cash with Swiss banks to ensure his family did not suffer even if something were to happen to him. However, after his death, no money was recovered from these banks.

It is believed that Banerjee was worth around $4-5 million at the time of his death.

Wife

Steve Banerjee married his wife Irene sometime in the late 1980s. Irene stuck by her husband when he was arrested on multiple criminal charges. She also tried to gather character witnesses to try and reduce her husband’s jail sentence.

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Irene was declared the heir of Banerjee’s property after his death. She became the owner of the Chippendale establishments and all of its associated properties. Irene passed away in 2001 after battling breast cancer.

Children

Steve Banerjee and his wife were parents to two children- Lindsay (daughter) and Christian (son).

Cause of death

Steve Banerjee hung himself to death in his jail cell using a bedsheet hours before his final sentencing. He was set to be jailed for 26 years for the murder-for-hire of De Noia along with other charges.