Jesse James Talks Sandra, Mistresses and "Amazing Marriage": "I Threw It Away"

Bullock's ex breaks silence on Nightline, admits to cheating on wife and says he's now "the most hated man in the world"

So, is Jesse James the most hated man in America? Nope.

"I think it's 'Most Hated Man in the World' now," he says in an interview set to air on Nightline Tuesday.

In a preview of the sit-down, Sandra Bullock's estranged hubby breaks down in tears, admits to his cheating ways (no point not to, really) and opens up about everything from his time in rehab to the self-inflicted breakdown of his once picture-perfect marriage.

"I took a pretty amazing life and marriage and threw it away," he said.

When asked point-blank if he cheated on his wife, a conciliatory James answered plainly.

"Yep," he said.

Later, when ABC's Vicki Marbey runs down what many think to be the most heinous part of the deception—that not only did he cheat on Bullock, but he sat there smiling while she told the world she never knew what it was like for someone to have her back before James came along, it all got to be a bit too much for him.

"Let me take a break for a second," he said after starting to tear up.

Funny, that seems to have been Sandra's thinking, too.

(Originally published May 21, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. PT)