Introduction: George Foreman Wife
George Foreman’s wife is Mary Joan Martelly, a Saint Lucian-American philanthropist born on May 17, 1963, in Mon Repos, St. Lucia. George Foreman was a two-time heavyweight boxing champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained minister, and successful entrepreneur best known for the George Foreman Grill. He passed away on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76, surrounded by his family. Mary Joan Martelly was his fifth and final wife, and the two remained married for four decades, making theirs one of the longest-lasting marriages in sports history. This article covers everything you need to know about Mary Joan Martelly — her early life, career, how she met George Foreman, their wedding, their large family, and her life today.
Who Is Mary Joan Martelly?
Mary Joan Martelly was born on May 17, 1963, in the small village of Mon Repos on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. She was the third of eight children in her family, growing up alongside six sisters and two brothers. Her childhood was shaped by modest means, and she learned early lessons in resilience, family loyalty, and hard work that would carry into her adult life.
Before she became known publicly, Martelly worked ordinary jobs to support herself, including positions in local restaurants and factories, and later worked as a nanny. She did not grow up around fame or wealth, and by her own account, she knew very little about boxing or George Foreman’s career before their paths crossed. Her early life on the island stands in sharp contrast to the public role she would eventually take on as the wife of one of America’s most recognizable sports figures. Little detail about her formal education has been made public, as Martelly has always kept her personal history largely private, choosing instead to let her decades of family life and charitable work speak for her.
Mary Joan Martelly’s Career & Professional Life
Mary Joan Martelly’s professional identity is best described as a philanthropist and community advocate rather than a traditional career woman. After moving to the United States and marrying George Foreman, she turned much of her focus toward raising their large blended family and supporting charitable causes close to her heart.
One of her most notable contributions has been her long-running advocacy work around HIV and AIDS awareness. In 2007, Martelly and George Foreman were jointly recognized at an event called “A World of Friends Fighting AIDS” for their efforts in raising awareness and supporting education around the disease. Her charitable work has also extended to children’s welfare, including initiatives focused on healthcare, education, and access to basic necessities for underprivileged children.
Because Martelly has stayed out of the public spotlight for most of her life, there is no widely reported individual net worth for her. However, she shared in the wealth George Foreman built through his boxing career, ministry, and business ventures — most famously the George Foreman Grill, a product that earned him hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties over the years.
How Did George Foreman and Mary Joan Meet?
George Foreman and Mary Joan Martelly’s story began under difficult circumstances. During the early 1980s, Foreman was going through a custody dispute connected to his divorce from his fourth wife. Martelly came to the United States on a temporary visa to accompany him and provide testimony during the legal proceedings in Houston, Texas.
At the time, Martelly has said she knew little to nothing about George Foreman’s boxing career or public reputation. Their connection grew out of that period of personal turmoil, as Foreman leaned on her support through a difficult chapter in his life. Their relationship developed steadily rather than as a whirlwind romance, built instead on trust that formed during a stressful time. According to accounts of their courtship, Foreman proposed during a low-key outing, presenting her with a small, modest ring rather than a lavish public proposal — a detail that reflects the down-to-earth nature of their relationship from the very beginning. Their engagement led quickly into marriage as Foreman was working to rebuild his personal life after retiring from boxing in 1977.
Marriage & Wedding Details
George Foreman and Mary Joan Martelly were married on March 27, 1985. The wedding took place during a pivotal period in Foreman’s life, shortly after he had stepped away from professional boxing and was focusing on his work as an ordained minister and his early steps into entrepreneurship.
The couple eventually settled in Huffman, Texas, a small community outside Houston, where they built the family home that would anchor their marriage for the next 40 years. Unlike many celebrity weddings, details of the ceremony itself were kept modest and largely private, in keeping with the couple’s low-profile approach to their relationship. What has endured publicly is the fact that the marriage lasted — a rarity for Foreman, who had been married four times before meeting Martelly, and a testament to the stability she brought to his life.
Children & Family Life
George Foreman and Mary Joan Martelly raised a large blended family together. The couple had five children of their own: George Foreman IV, George Foreman V, George Foreman VI, Leola Foreman, and Natalie Foreman. Foreman also had children from his previous relationships, and Martelly embraced a stepmother role within the wider family, which numbered ten children in total across all of Foreman’s marriages.
Family reports from 2024 noted that Foreman and Martelly had been married for more than 40 years and had built their lives around a close-knit household in Huffman, Texas. Despite George Foreman’s fame, the family largely stayed away from tabloid attention, with Martelly in particular maintaining a private, low-key lifestyle even as her husband remained a public figure through his boxing legacy and business success. Family, faith, and philanthropy were consistently described as the pillars that held their household together.
Mary Joan Martelly on Social Media
Mary Joan Martelly does not maintain a significant public social media presence. Unlike many spouses of celebrities, she has largely stayed offline, avoiding platforms like Instagram or Twitter/X in any prominent public-facing way. This is consistent with her decades-long approach to privacy, even as her husband and some of their children built public profiles of their own.
Most of what the public knows about Martelly comes from occasional interviews, family statements, and appearances alongside George Foreman at charitable events rather than from personal social media content. Her choice to stay away from the spotlight has remained consistent throughout her marriage.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Joan Martelly (also known as Mary Joan Foreman) |
| Date of Birth | May 17, 1963 |
| Nationality | Saint Lucian-American |
| Profession | Philanthropist, AIDS awareness advocate |
| Married to | George Foreman |
| Marriage Year | 1985 (March 27) |
| Children | 5 (George IV, George V, George VI, Leola, Natalie) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed individually |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is George Foreman’s wife’s name? A: George Foreman’s wife is Mary Joan Martelly, his fifth wife. They were married from 1985 until his death in March 2025.
Q: How old is Mary Joan Martelly? A: Mary Joan Martelly was born on May 17, 1963, making her 63 years old as of 2026.
Q: What does Mary Joan Martelly do for a living? A: Mary Joan Martelly is a philanthropist known for her work in HIV/AIDS awareness and children’s welfare causes. She has not pursued a separate public career outside her family and charitable work.
Q: When did George Foreman and Mary Joan get married? A: George Foreman and Mary Joan Martelly got married on March 27, 1985, in Texas, several years after Foreman’s retirement from boxing.
Q: How many kids do George Foreman and Mary Joan have? A: George Foreman and Mary Joan Martelly have five children together: George Foreman IV, George Foreman V, George Foreman VI, Leola Foreman, and Natalie Foreman.
Conclusion
Mary Joan Martelly may have spent decades out of the spotlight, but her role as George Foreman’s wife made her a quiet, steady force behind one of boxing’s most iconic legacies. From her humble beginnings in St. Lucia to four decades of marriage, five children, and years of philanthropic work, Martelly’s story is one of loyalty and resilience. As George Foreman’s wife, she stood by him through his ministry, his business success, and ultimately his passing in 2025, leaving behind a family legacy built on faith and quiet strength.
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