George Foreman's Five Wives: The Untold Story Of His Longest Marriage To Mary Joan Martelly

The legacy of George Foreman, a two-time world heavyweight champion and the face of the ubiquitous George Foreman Grill, is one of massive professional success and a deep, personal journey that included five marriages. As of this current date, December 10, 2025, the most significant and recent update to his life story is his peaceful passing on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76. His final and longest-lasting partnership was with his fifth wife, Mary Joan Martelly, a relationship that endured for nearly four decades and provided the foundation for his life outside the boxing ring.

The story of George Foreman’s wives is a central, yet often overlooked, part of his biography. His quest for a stable, loving family life led him through four previous marriages before finding his life partner in Mary Joan Martelly. This article delves into the full history of his marital journey, focusing on the woman who stood by him through his boxing comeback, his massive entrepreneurial success, and his final years.

George Foreman: A Complete Biography and Marital History

George Edward Foreman, affectionately known as "Big George," lived a life that was truly larger than life, transitioning from a troubled youth to an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time world heavyweight champion, a devout minister, and a wildly successful entrepreneur.

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• Full Name: George Edward Foreman
• Born: January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, U.S.
• Died: March 21, 2025 (Age 76)
• Career: Professional Boxer, Entrepreneur, Minister, Author
• Boxing Highlights:
  • 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist (Heavyweight)
  • WBA, WBC, and lineal Heavyweight Champion (1973–1974)
  • IBF and lineal Heavyweight Champion (1994–1995)
  • Became the oldest Heavyweight Champion in history at age 45.
• Business Empire: Best known for the George Foreman Grill, which earned him over $200 million, surpassing his boxing earnings.
• Children: 12 children (five sons all named George: George Jr., George III, George IV, George V, and George VI; seven daughters: Georgetta, Natalia, Leola, Freeda George, Michi, Isabella, and Courtney).

The Five Women Who Married George Foreman

Foreman’s journey to lasting marital happiness was a public and often turbulent one, involving four divorces before his final, enduring marriage. The common thread in his search was a desire for a partner who could handle his immense fame and his deep commitment to his faith and family.

1. Adrienne Calhoun (1971–1974): Foreman's first marriage was in 1971, during the early peak of his professional boxing career. The union with Calhoun was short-lived, ending in divorce just three years later.
2. Cynthia Lewis (1977–1979): His second marriage, to Cynthia Lewis, was even briefer. It took place after his first retirement from boxing and his turn to ministry, lasting only two years.
3. Sharon Goodson (1981–1982): The marriage to Sharon Goodson was his shortest, lasting barely a year.
4. Andrea Skeete (1982–1985): His fourth marriage, to Andrea Skeete, ended just before he met his final wife. Foreman has often spoken about the challenges of balancing his spiritual calling and personal life during this period.
5. Mary Joan Martelly (1985–2025): Mary Joan was the final and most significant spouse in George Foreman's life. Their marriage lasted for nearly 40 years, ending only with his death in 2025.

Mary Joan Martelly: The Final, Enduring Love

Mary Joan Martelly, George Foreman's fifth wife, was the anchor that stabilized the legendary boxer's life. They were married in 1985, a pivotal year that saw Foreman beginning his second career as a devoted Christian minister and contemplating his famous boxing comeback a few years later.

Mary Joan was born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Her background and quiet strength provided a stark contrast to the often-chaotic world of professional boxing and celebrity. Their relationship was built on a shared commitment to faith and family, which proved strong enough to withstand the pressures of Foreman’s public life.

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The couple raised a large family together, including five of Foreman’s sons—all named George—and his daughters. Mary Joan played a crucial, behind-the-scenes role in managing the family and supporting George’s dual roles as a preacher and a businessman.

She was instrumental during his improbable return to boxing in 1987, which culminated in him becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history in 1994. Mary Joan's presence offered a sense of normalcy and grounding that was essential for the former champion's success outside the ring.

The Entrepreneurial Partnership and Family Life

The success of the George Foreman Grill, which turned Foreman into a global business icon, was a family affair. While George was the face of the product, the stability provided by Mary Joan Martelly allowed him to focus on his entrepreneurial ventures and ministry.

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Foreman's massive earnings from the grill, which reportedly included a $137.5 million payout for the rights from Salton, Inc., secured his family's financial future far beyond his boxing prize money. This wealth was managed within the stable environment that Mary Joan helped create.

The couple’s commitment extended to their shared children and Foreman’s children from previous marriages, totaling 12 in all. The naming convention of his five sons—George Jr., George III, George IV, George V, and George VI—is a famous quirk of his family life, which he explained was to ensure they all had something in common.

A Legacy of Faith and Family

Following his final retirement from boxing, George Foreman dedicated his life more fully to his ministry, becoming an ordained minister and establishing the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston, Texas. Mary Joan Martelly remained a devoted partner in this spiritual and philanthropic work.

In the aftermath of his passing in March 2025, Mary Joan has been the central figure in managing his immense legacy. Reports have highlighted her devotion and the strength of their private life together. Her recent public statements have focused on his role as a loving father and a man of deep faith, providing a poignant final chapter to a remarkable life.

The nearly 40-year marriage between George Foreman and Mary Joan Martelly stands as a testament to finding lasting love later in life. It was a partnership that transcended the glamour of the boxing world and the fame of his business empire, providing a quiet, unwavering foundation for one of the 20th century's most recognizable figures.