Introduction
Mary Joan Martelly is best known as the fifth and final wife of legendary heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. Their marriage, which began in 1985, lasted nearly 40 years until his death in March 2025, making her a quiet but significant figure in his life story.
Early Life
Martelly was born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Details about her family background and upbringing are not widely documented, but in a 2014 interview with the University of Houston, she spoke warmly about her school days, noting that she grew up alongside the same set of classmates from kindergarten all the way through high school.
Career
Martelly does not have a publicly documented independent career or professional background. Unlike many spouses of celebrities who pursue their own business ventures or public roles, most available information about her centers entirely on her role as George Foreman’s wife and as mother to their children, rather than any separate profession.
Personal Life
Martelly and Foreman married in 1985. By her own account, she knew nothing about his boxing career when they met and had never even watched him fight, yet she supported him fully, including through his famous comeback at age 38. She’s credited with helping him navigate a custody dispute involving his children and with encouraging his eventual retirement from boxing. Foreman affectionately called her “Joan” rather than “Mary,” describing her as a wife who understood that raising children is a lifelong commitment. Together, the couple had seven children and settled in Huffman, Texas, keeping their family life largely private despite his fame.
FAQ
When did Mary Joan Martelly marry George Foreman?
They married in 1985 and stayed together until his death in March 2025.
Where is Mary Joan Martelly from?
She was born and raised on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
How many children did she have with George Foreman?
The couple had seven children together.
Did Martelly know about Foreman’s boxing career before they met?
No—she has said she was unfamiliar with his boxing career and had never seen him fight before they got together.
What is Mary Joan Martelly’s net worth?
There’s no verified, publicly reported net worth specifically for her. Foreman’s own fortune was widely reported in the hundreds of millions, largely from his boxing career and the George Foreman Grill business, but no individual figure exists for Martelly.
Was she Foreman’s only wife?
No—she was his fifth wife. His previous marriages were to Andrea Skeete, Sharon Goodson, Cynthia Lewis, and Arienne Calhoun.
Conclusion
Mary Joan Martelly’s story is defined less by public achievement and more by decades of quiet partnership. As George Foreman’s longest-lasting spouse, she played a supportive, largely private role throughout his boxing comeback, his business success, and his later years as a minister and family man. While detailed public records of her personal career or finances remain scarce, her nearly 40-year marriage and the family she built with Foreman stand as her most defining legacy.