You’ve seen him on Family Feud cracking jokes or giving "man-to-man" advice on his talk show, but when it comes to his own romantic track record, things have been... well, let's just say "eventful." People always ask how many times has steve harvey been married because his personal life has played out like a high-stakes drama for decades.
The short answer is three. Steve Harvey has walked down the aisle three times.
But that number doesn't really tell the whole story. Between the early days of struggling to make it in comedy and the massive $160 million empire he sits on today, there’s a trail of messy divorces, legal battles, and a "meant-to-be" reunion that sounds like a movie script. Honestly, Steve's marital history is basically a masterclass in trial and error.
The First Marriage: Marcia Harvey (1981–1994)
Before the suits and the fame, Steve was just a guy in Ohio trying to figure it out. He married Marcia Harvey in 1981. At the time, he wasn't a superstar; he was working as an insurance salesman.
They had three kids together: twins Brandi and Karli, and a son, Broderick Jr.
The marriage lasted 14 years, which is actually a long time, but it crumbled right as Steve’s career started to take off. He decided to quit his stable job to chase stand-up comedy, and that move put a massive strain on the family. It got ugly. There were rumors of infidelity and reports that Steve basically disappeared to follow his dreams, leaving Marcia to raise the kids. They finally called it quits in 1994.
Steve has been open about this lately. He admitted that he had to go chase it, but he also acknowledged that it caused a huge rift with his children. It took years—basically until the kids were adults—for them to really reconcile.
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The Second Marriage: Mary Shackelford (1996–2005)
Two years after his first divorce, Steve jumped back in. He married Mary Shackelford in 1996. This is the one that most people remember because of how loudly it ended.
They had one son together, Wynton.
For a while, they were the "it" couple as Steve became a household name with The Steve Harvey Show. But by 2005, the wheels fell off. This wasn't just a "we grew apart" situation. Mary went on a scorched-earth campaign after the split, accusing Steve of everything from cheating to being a "serial polygamist."
It got weirdly public. Mary uploaded YouTube videos (long before that was a standard celebrity move) airing their dirty laundry. She even sued him for $60 million in 2017—years after they were already divorced—claiming "soul murder." The court eventually tossed the lawsuit, but the drama solidified this marriage as the most turbulent chapter in his life.
The Third Time's the Charm: Marjorie Bridges (2007–Present)
If you’re looking for the happy ending, this is it. Steve married Marjorie Bridges in June 2007.
But here’s the kicker: they actually met way back in 1990 at a comedy club in Memphis. Steve saw her in the crowd, stopped his set, and told the audience, "I don't know who you are, but I'm going to marry you one day."
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They dated briefly in the 90s, but the timing was off. Steve was still broke and figuring out his first divorce. They lost touch for years. It wasn't until his bodyguard, who apparently has a better memory than a GPS, suggested Steve reach out to her again after his second divorce that they reconnected.
The Blended Family Dynamics
When they got married, they didn't just merge bank accounts; they merged a lot of kids.
- Steve brought four children from his first two marriages.
- Marjorie brought three children (Morgan, Jason, and Lori) from her previous relationships.
- Steve eventually adopted Marjorie's kids, making it a total of seven.
Marjorie is often credited with "saving" Steve's public image and helping him level up his style and business. He frequently says she’s the first woman who ever truly respected him.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that Steve has been married four or five times. Maybe it’s because he talks about "his wives" so often in his comedy, or maybe it’s just the sheer volume of children and step-grandchildren that makes the family tree look more complicated than it is.
But nope, it’s just the three.
Another big rumor that popped up in 2023 was that Steve and Marjorie were headed for divorce because of cheating allegations. People on the internet went wild with it. However, Steve shut that down pretty fast at an event in Atlanta, telling the crowd to "find something else to do" because they’re doing just fine.
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Summary of the Marital Timeline
| Spouse | Years Married | Children |
|---|---|---|
| Marcia Harvey | 1981–1994 | Brandi, Karli, Broderick Jr. |
| Mary Shackelford | 1996–2005 | Wynton |
| Marjorie Bridges | 2007–Present | Morgan, Jason, Lori (Adopted) |
Lessons from Steve’s Journey
If you’re looking at Steve Harvey’s life as a blueprint, there are a few takeaways that aren't just celebrity gossip.
First, he’s a huge advocate for the idea that "timing is everything." He met the love of his life in 1990 but wasn't ready for her. He had to go through the fire of two divorces and a career overhaul before he could make the third one work.
Second, he proves that blended families take work. Marjorie has been quoted saying that they didn't just force the kids together; they had to give them space to be "broken" and heal from their respective pasts before they could become a unit.
If you're going through your own relationship hurdles, Steve's story is kinda proof that your past mistakes don't have to define your final chapter. You might get it wrong once (or twice), but that doesn't mean the third act won't be the best one.
For those following the Harvey family today, you can keep up with their travels and fashion on Marjorie's Instagram, where she’s earned the nickname "Queen of Slay-cations." It seems, after all the courtroom drama and tabloid headlines, Steve finally found the rhythm he was looking for.
Check out the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation if you want to see how they’ve turned their joint success into a platform for mentoring youth—it’s probably the most productive thing to come out of their union.