Wait. Stop. Before you keep scrolling through forums or looking for a date of death, let's get the most important fact out of the way immediately. George Foreman is not dead. He is very much alive.
If you're asking what did George Foreman die from, you might be thinking of someone else, or perhaps you’ve fallen victim to one of those weird celebrity death hoaxes that cycle through social media every few months. It happens. People get confused because George has lived about four different lives in the span of one. He was the terrifying heavyweight champion, then he was the street-corner preacher, then the oldest man to win the title, and finally, the guy who sold you a grill.
At 77 years old (as of early 2026), Big George is still active, still smiling, and still very much a part of the cultural fabric. He hasn't passed away. He’s just busy being a grandfather and a businessman.
Why Do People Think George Foreman Died?
Honestly, it's a mix of things. Usually, when a name like "George Foreman" starts trending alongside words like "death" or "passed away," it’s because of a few specific reasons.
First off, the boxing world has lost a lot of its titans recently. When icons like Muhammad Ali or Joe Frazier passed, it naturally made people check in on the rest of that golden era. Since Foreman was the third pillar of that legendary 1970s heavyweight triangle, people instinctively search for his status.
Then there's the "George" problem. George Foreman famously named all five of his sons George. George Jr., George III, George IV, George V, and George VI. He even has a daughter named Georgetta. If any news breaks regarding one of his sons—even something minor—the headlines often just lead with "George Foreman," and the internet's game of telephone does the rest.
The Misconception of the 1977 "Death"
There is a literal reason why someone might think George Foreman died, though. In 1977, after a grueling loss to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico, Foreman had a near-death experience in the dressing room. He didn't die clinically, but he describes it as a spiritual death and rebirth.
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He was exhausted. He was hallucinating. He felt himself "going into a deep, dark place." He says he smelled the stench of death and felt like he was in a void. When he came out of it, he wasn't a boxer anymore; he was a Christian. He quit the sport on the spot and didn't lace up a glove for a decade. If you read a biography that mentions "the end of George Foreman" in 1977, it's talking about his career, not his heartbeat.
The Health of a Heavyweight
People often worry about retired boxers because of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). It's a valid concern. We’ve seen what happened to Ali. We’ve seen the "punch drunk" state that many warriors end up in.
But George? He’s sharp.
In interviews, he still speaks with that slow, deliberate, Texas drawl, but his wit is fast. He doesn't show the typical signs of neurological decline that you'd expect from a man who went toe-to-toe with the hardest hitters in history. Part of that might be his style. In his second career—the one where he wore the "Old George" persona—he fought behind a cross-arm defense and relied on sheer strength rather than taking a thousand jabs to the face.
He stayed healthy. He stayed active. He turned a 10-year retirement into a 10-year comeback that culminated in him knocking out Michael Moorer at age 45 to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever. You don't do that if your body is failing.
Managing the Legacy
Foreman has always been smarter than people gave him credit for. Back in the 70s, he played the "mummy" role—this silent, brooding killer. It was a marketing gimmick. Later, he realized that being the "jovial fat guy" who loved cheeseburgers was way more profitable.
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He parlayed that likability into the George Foreman Grill. If you think he’s just a face on a box, think again. He was intimately involved in the marketing that led to over 100 million units being sold. He eventually sold the naming rights for a staggering $138 million in 1999. Money doesn't buy immortality, but it does buy the best healthcare in the world, which is why at 77, he looks better than many men twenty years his junior.
The Reality of Celebrity Death Hoaxes
We live in an era where "RIP George Foreman" can trend on X (formerly Twitter) just because a bot account wanted to farm engagement. It's cruel, but it's the reality of the 2020s.
When you see a headline like "What did George Foreman die from," it's often a "clickbait trap" designed to get you to click on a site that then tells you he’s actually fine. It preys on your nostalgia. You remember the Rumble in the Jungle. You remember the grill commercials. You care about the guy, so you click.
How to Spot the Truth
- Check Major News Outlets: If a former Heavyweight Champion of the World dies, it will be on the front page of ESPN, the New York Times, and the BBC within minutes.
- Look at Official Socials: George is active on social media. He often posts encouraging words or pictures of his family.
- Verify the Date: Many "death" articles are actually old pieces about the passing of his daughter, Freeda Foreman, who tragically died in 2019. That was a real loss for the Foreman family, and sometimes those old news stories resurface and get misinterpreted as George himself passing.
Life After the Ring
Foreman spends most of his time now at his ranch in Texas or at the church where he has pastored for decades. He’s a man of routine. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and despite the "burger-loving" persona, he’s actually quite conscious of his health these days.
He’s also a prolific author and speaker. He doesn't just sit around. He's constantly engaged in business ventures and charitable work. He once said that the biggest mistake people make is thinking that once you're old, you're done. He proved that wrong in 1994, and he’s still proving it wrong today.
Summary of the "Death" Rumors
There is no cause of death for George Foreman because there is no death.
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- Status: Alive and well.
- Last Major Health Event: The 1977 "spiritual awakening" (often misconstrued as a health crisis).
- Recent Tragedies: The loss of his daughter Freeda in 2019 (often causes confusion in search results).
- Current Focus: Ministry, family, and overseeing his various business interests.
If you came here looking for a tribute, you can give it to him while he's still here to hear it. He’s one of the few legends from that era of boxing who is still with us, and he’s arguably the one who transitioned into "civilian" life the most successfully.
What You Should Do Next
Instead of worrying about his passing, take a page out of his book. George Foreman’s life is a masterclass in the "second act."
If you're feeling stuck or like your "prime" has passed, go watch the replay of the Foreman vs. Moorer fight from 1994. It’s a 10-round lesson in patience. He was losing that fight. He was slow. He was being outboxed. But he didn't quit. He waited for that one opening, landed the right hand, and changed history.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Watch "Big George Foreman" (2023): If you want the real story of his life, his "death" in the dressing room, and his comeback, the biopic is actually quite accurate to his autobiography.
- Follow him on X/Twitter: He posts daily. It’s the easiest way to see that he’s still kicking.
- Read "God in My Corner": It’s his autobiography that details his 1977 experience and explains why he left boxing at the height of his fame.
Stop searching for his obituary—the man is still writing his story.