Is George Foreman Still Living? The Truth About the Boxing Legend in 2026

Is George Foreman Still Living? The Truth About the Boxing Legend in 2026

If you’re sitting there wondering is george foreman still living, the answer is actually a heavy one. It’s a bit of a shock to the system, especially if you grew up watching him go from the scariest man on the planet to the world's most lovable grill salesman.

Honestly, it feels like just yesterday he was grinning on our TV screens, but the reality is that the sports world changed forever on March 21, 2025.

George Foreman passed away at the age of 76.

He died peacefully in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his massive family—including his five sons, all famously named George. It’s one of those "where were you when you heard" moments for boxing fans. You’ve likely seen the headlines pop up lately because we are approaching the first anniversary of his passing, and the tributes are starting to flood social media again.

What Really Happened With George Foreman?

When the news broke last year, it caught a lot of people off guard. There wasn't some long, publicized battle with a terminal illness that played out in the tabloids. He lived his final years much like his second career: with a lot of dignity and a huge focus on his faith.

His family released a statement on Instagram that basically summed up the man perfectly. They described him as a "devout preacher, a devoted husband, and a loving father." It’s kinda wild to think that the same guy who literally knocked Joe Frazier off his feet was mostly remembered by his kids as a gentle minister.

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Wait, didn't he just have a movie come out?

Yeah, the timing of his passing felt especially poignant because the biopic Big George Foreman had recently introduced his life story to a whole new generation. It’s rare that a legend gets to see their entire life played out on the big screen like that before they go.

Why People Keep Asking: Is George Foreman Still Living?

It’s actually pretty common for folks to be confused about this. George had this "larger than life" energy that made him feel invincible. Plus, let’s be real—the internet is a mess. You’ve probably seen those weird celebrity death hoaxes that cycle through Facebook every three months.

But this wasn't a hoax.

The 2026 landscape of boxing feels a little emptier without him. He wasn't just a fighter; he was a walking, talking miracle of a human being. Think about it. He retired in the 70s, became a preacher, didn't lace up a glove for ten years, and then came back at 45 to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

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That’s not supposed to happen.

The $300 Million Legacy He Left Behind

One thing that’s been hitting the news lately—specifically in business circles—is the sheer scale of the estate he left to his wife, Mary Joan Martelly, and his children. We’re talking about an estimated $300 million.

Most of that didn't come from boxing.

While he made decent money in the ring, it was the George Foreman Grill that turned him into a financial titan. He once admitted in an interview that at the height of the grill's popularity, he was making $8 million a month. Not a year. A month.

He basically became the king of the "infomercial era," and honestly, he deserved it. He took a product no one wanted and made it a household staple just by being himself.

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A Quick Look at the Stats

  • Born: January 10, 1949
  • Died: March 21, 2025
  • Final Boxing Record: 76 wins, 5 losses (68 knockouts)
  • Career Peak: Oldest Heavyweight Champion at age 45
  • Business Peak: Over 100 million grills sold worldwide

Why His Passing Still Stings in 2026

The reason we're still talking about is george foreman still living is that he represented the "Second Act." He proved to everyone that your past doesn't have to define your future. In his youth, he was "Mr. Mean," a brooding powerhouse who terrified opponents. After his 1977 loss to Jimmy Young and his subsequent religious awakening, he became "Mr. Clean."

He spent decades working at his youth center in Houston. He wasn't just a figurehead; he was actually there, talking to kids, trying to keep them off the streets he grew up on.

It’s rare to see someone so genuinely change their heart.

What You Can Do To Honor Big George

If you're feeling a bit nostalgic or just want to pay your respects, there are a few things that actually matter more than just reading an article:

  1. Watch the 1994 Michael Moorer fight. If you want to see a man defy the laws of physics and aging, that’s the one. He was losing every round until that one right hand landed.
  2. Support a Youth Center. George’s heart was always with the kids. Donating to a local boxing gym or youth program is exactly what he would’ve wanted.
  3. Fire up the grill. It sounds silly, but that machine changed the way a lot of people thought about healthy eating.

George Foreman lived a life that was essentially three different lifetimes packed into one. He was a champion, a preacher, and a mogul. While he may not be with us in the physical sense anymore, you can't walk through a kitchen or watch a heavyweight fight without seeing his footprint.

The champ is gone, but the story is permanent.


Next Steps for You: To get a deeper look at his transformation, I recommend watching the documentary When We Were Kings. It captures the "Rumble in the Jungle" era and shows just how much he evolved from that terrifying young man into the legend we eventually lost. If you're looking for information on his estate or current memorial events, checking the official George Foreman social media accounts (still managed by his family) is your best bet for accurate, real-time updates.