George Foreman is a massive human being. You know the story—the terrifying knockout artist of the 70s who transformed into the jovial, burger-grilling pitchman of the 90s. But behind that specific, incredible second act is a woman who rarely does interviews and stays far away from the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi. If you’re looking for George Foreman wife on Google, you’re likely trying to figure out how a man who was married four times in a decade suddenly found a marriage that has lasted over 40 years.
That woman is Mary Joan Martelly.
It’s actually kinda wild when you look at George’s early track record. Before Mary came into the picture, his personal life was, honestly, a bit of a mess. He had four brief marriages to Adrienne Calhoun, Cynthia Lewis, Sharon Goodson, and Andrea Skeete. None of them stuck. They were fast, turbulent, and ended almost as quickly as a Foreman uppercut. Then came 1985.
Who is Mary Joan Martelly?
Mary isn't from the glitzy world of Vegas boxing or the Hollywood socialite scene. She’s originally from St. Lucia. Think about that for a second. She grew up in an Eastern Caribbean island nation, one of six children, and moved to the States to work. She was basically a regular person who happened to meet a former heavyweight champion who was, at the time, going through a massive spiritual and personal identity crisis.
They married in 1985. It was a turning point.
Most people don't realize that when George married Mary, he wasn't the "Grill King" yet. He was a preacher in Houston. He had walked away from boxing years earlier after his "epiphany" in a dressing room in Puerto Rico. They were living a relatively quiet life. But, as we all know, money started getting tight for the youth center George ran. He decided to do the unthinkable: return to the ring in his late 30s.
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Mary Joan Martelly didn't just sit in the front row. She became the stabilizing force for a blended family that is, frankly, huge. Together, George and Mary have five children: Leola, Natalie, George VI ("Big Wheel"), George V ("Red"), and George IV ("Big Al"). If you're doing the math, that's on top of George's other children from previous relationships.
The St. Lucian Influence on the Foreman Household
Mary’s upbringing in St. Lucia seems to have deeply influenced how the Foreman household operates. She’s famously private. You won't find her starring in a desperate reality TV show or posting "get ready with me" videos on TikTok. Her focus has always been on the kids and their philanthropic work, particularly regarding AIDS awareness.
Back in the 90s, she and George were very active in campaigning for pediatric AIDS prevention. They spent a lot of time in Houston and back in St. Lucia working on health initiatives. It’s a side of the George Foreman wife narrative that gets overshadowed by the boxing highlights, but it’s arguably the most important part of her legacy.
She stays out of the limelight.
That’s her superpower.
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In a world where celebrity spouses often try to build their own "brand," Mary Joan Martelly seems perfectly content being the person who keeps the wheels from falling off the bus. George has said in multiple interviews that she’s the one who kept him grounded during his improbable 1994 comeback when he knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champ in history at 45.
Navigating the Blended Family Dynamics
Let's talk about the kids. George famously named all five of his sons George Edward Foreman.
"I tell people, if you're going to get hit as many times as I've been hit by Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and Evander Holyfield, you're not going to remember many names," George usually jokes.
But Mary is the one who had to manage the logistics of a household with ten children in total (five of her own with George, plus his others). It takes a specific kind of temperament to handle that. She’s often described by those close to the family as the "glue." She isn't just the George Foreman wife; she's the matriarch of a mini-empire.
What People Get Wrong About Their Marriage
There’s this idea that because George is such a "big" personality, his wife must be a pushover. That’s almost certainly not the case. You don't stay married to a guy with George's ego and history for four decades by being a doormat. Mary is known within their inner circle for being incredibly firm.
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She's the one who handled the transition when George went from being a retired boxer to a billionaire businessman. When the George Foreman Grill took off—selling over 100 million units worldwide—the family's wealth exploded. Mary was the constant. She didn't change her lifestyle to match the bank account. She kept the family focused on the church and the youth center.
Real Talk: Why It Lasted This Time
Why did wife number five work when the first four failed?
- Timing: George was older and, frankly, humbled by his time away from the ring.
- Shared Values: Both are deeply religious. Their lives revolve around their faith and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston.
- Privacy: By keeping their private life private, they avoided the "celebrity curse" that tears most high-profile marriages apart.
The Foreman Philanthropy
Mary and George have poured millions into the George Foreman Youth and Community Center. It’s not just a tax write-off. They are there. They see the kids. Mary’s influence is particularly felt in the educational programs they support. She’s always pushed the importance of schooling for their children—all of whom have graduated from college, a point of immense pride for the couple.
Actionable Insights for Understanding the Foreman Legacy
If you're looking to understand the dynamics of the Foreman family or how they've maintained their public standing for so long, keep these points in mind:
- Look past the grill: While the business success is what most people know, the family's stability is rooted in Mary's St. Lucian heritage and her preference for a low-profile life.
- Study the "Second Act" model: George’s life is a masterclass in rebranding, but that rebranding was only possible because of the domestic stability Mary provided starting in 1985.
- Acknowledge the blended family success: Managing a family of ten children from different mothers is statistically difficult. The fact that the Foreman children are close-knit and successful is a testament to Mary’s role as the household's operational lead.
- Respect the privacy boundary: Unlike many contemporary "famous for being famous" families, the Foremans have maintained a strict boundary between George’s public persona and Mary’s private life. This is likely the "secret sauce" to their 40-year marriage.
To truly understand George, you have to realize he isn't just a solo act anymore. He hasn't been since the mid-80s. Mary Joan Martelly is the quiet architect of the life George Foreman enjoys today.