The thunderous punches. The growling intensity in the ring. The boyish grin flashing under the hot studio lights. George Foreman has captivated the sporting world with his one-of-a-kind boxing career ever since winning Olympic gold in 1968. But just as intriguing as his achievements in the ring has been Foreman‘s marital journey over the decades.
So how many wives has George Foreman had? Let‘s step into the fighter‘s corner for a ringside view of his marriages through the years.
By The Numbers: Foreman‘s Marriage and Divorce Stats
- 5 – George Foreman has been married a total of 5 times
- 4 – Those 5 marriages were to just 4 different women
- 10 – Foreman has 10 children from his marriages
- 3 years – His shortest marriage lasted about 3 years
- 40+ years – His current marriage has lasted over 40 years and counting
Simply put, Foreman‘s romantic resume reveals a complex history filled with both short-lived unions and enduring bonds. While the total tally of 5 marriages is higher than average, each relationship brought children he loves and life lessons that have shaped the icon we know today.
Adrienne Calhoun – Meeting and Marrying Wife #1
Long before he became grill king and sitcom dad to millions of fans, young George Foreman met his first wife Adrienne Calhoun on a blind date in 1970. Fresh off a gold medal boxing performance at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the 21-year-old Foreman was launching his professional career and settling in Houston.
According to biographer Jonathan Eig, Foreman instantly took a liking to the clever and funny Adrienne when they first met at a local drive-in. The young couple dated for about a year before marrying in 1971 when Foreman was 22.
"Adrienne was Foreman‘s first real love," Eig wrote in his biography. Their marriage produced two children who Foreman adores – daughter Michi in 1971 and son George Jr. in 1973.
Though the relationship ultimately didn‘t last, Foreman reflects fondly on finding love with Adrienne. "My first wife and I were just children when we married in 1971, but we were very much in love," he told People magazine in 2016.
Unfortunately, Foreman‘s rapid rise in boxing created strain in the young marriage. As he relentless pursued the world heavyweight title, Adrienne felt increasingly isolated. "She wanted a husband who would sit and talk with her, but I was obsessed," Foreman admitted. The couple divorced in 1974 after just three years of marriage.
Cue Cynthia Lewis: Short Marriage at Height of Fame
In 1976, an older and wiser George Foreman met the woman who would become his second wife – Cynthia Lewis, an aspiring R&B singer living in Los Angeles. Foreman was in town training for an upcoming fight and was instantly smitten by the confident and talented Lewis. After a whirlwind courtship, the couple wed in 1977.
The marriage came during the height of Foreman‘s fame as heavyweight champion. But he remained relatively private about his new wife. "I think it‘s better to keep my personal life personal," he told Ebony magazine after the wedding.
Foreman‘s career came crashing down later in 1977 when he suffered a stunning upset to underdog Muhammad Ali in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle" fight. After that shattering loss, Foreman likely found comfort in his marriage to Cynthia. In 1978, they welcomed a son named George III.
But constant travel for Foreman‘s boxing career put strain on the young relationship. The couple ultimately divorced after just two years in 1979. Still, Foreman speaks kindly of Cynthia despite their split. "She was a terrific wife but I was a lousy husband," he told the Chicago Tribune.
Marriage #3 – Model Sharon Goodson Lasts Only a Year
Just two years removed from his split from Cynthia Lewis, Foreman was back at the altar again marrying his third wife – model Sharon Goodson – in 1981. Their romance began after crossing paths at a boxing match where Goodson was doing promotion work.
Foreman, who was in his early 30s during this marriage, has said little publicly about his relationship with Goodson over the years. Perhaps because the union was so short-lived.
After tying the knot in 1981, Foreman and Goodson parted ways after barely a year of marriage in 1982. The breakup produced no children, and Foreman quickly moved on to his next wife.
Andrea Skeete Brings Joy and Tragedy
It didn‘t take long after his split from Goodson for Foreman to find love again with Andrea Skeete, a young woman from the island nation of Jamaica. They married on the tropical island in 1982 when Foreman was 33.
The marriage marked one of Foreman‘s longer lasting relationships, producing two children before ending after about 4 years in 1986. Daughter Freeda was born in 1981, prior to the wedding, and son George IV came in 1983.
While Foreman has avoided discussing his breakup with Skeete publicly, he has often shared the joy that children Freeda and George brought him during those years. But Foreman also endured unimaginable tragedy when Freeda died at age 42 in 2019 from an apparent suicide.
Despite their divorce decades earlier, Foreman credited Skeete for her role as mother to their children. "She was the best mother," he said after Freeda‘s passing.
Current Wife Mary Joan Martelly Brings Stability
By the mid 1980s, George Foreman was approaching 40 years old and had been through four marriages. But another relationship begun in 1985 would finally give him lasting stability in his romantic life.
He met Mary Joan Martelly through a mutual friend that year and something just clicked. "She was beautiful and charming," Foreman recalled to Ebony magazine. "And she took a liking to me." Likewise, Martelly found warmth and tenderness beneath Foreman‘s imposing, muscular exterior.
Foreman and Martelly married that same year, when he was 36 and his bride 26. In the four decades since, they have built a stable family life together centered around their faith. The marriage produced three daughters – Natalie, Leola, and Isabella – and two more sons, George V and George VI.
While not entirely free of conflict and challenges, Foreman has described his marriage to Martelly as the relationship that finally gave him balance. "I don‘t imagine myself without her," he told Oprah in 2003.
| Year | Age | Wife‘s Name | Union Length | Children from Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 22 | Adrienne Calhoun | 3 years | Daughter Michi, son George Jr. |
| 1977 | 28 | Cynthia Lewis | 2 years | Son George III |
| 1981 | 32 | Sharon Goodson | 1 year | None |
| 1982 | 33 | Andrea Skeete | 3 years | Daughter Freeda, son George IV |
| 1985 | 36 | Mary Joan Martelly | 40+ years (current) | Daughters Natalie, Leola, Isabella; sons George V, George VI |
Stepping back to look at the bigger picture surrounding his five trips down the aisle, what insights does George Foreman‘s marital history offer? Here are a few perspectives:
The hopeless romantic: As his own memoir details, Foreman was a hopeless romantic as a young man filled with dreams of lifelong marriage. "I always wanted to marry and have a family," he reflected. Even after some early failed relationships, Foreman kept on believing in love.
The family man: While his many marriages could suggest instability to some, Foreman‘s life choices consistently centered on wanting a family. "My main purpose for having many wives was to have children," he explained in 2013. Each new relationship represented a chance at building his beloved, bustling family clan.
The attention-grabber: Critics have speculated that Foreman‘s marriages also represented savvy PR moves during his boxing career. His 1977 wedding to Cynthia Lewis, for example, sparked press attention that brought his name back in the headlines between fights. His multiple unions kept him visible, kept fans engaged, and boosted his marketability in the eyes of some observers.
The regretful spouse: In his later years, Foreman has shown some regret about the impermanence of his past marriages. "I‘d been a lousy husband and failed time and again to make my marriages work," he said in his memoir. His wife Mary Joan helped him understand the importance of real spiritual devotion to sustain a lifelong partnership.
The changed man: What mattered most to the older and wiser Foreman was that he evolved to be a caring father to the children from all his marriages. "I am a different man now than when I was with my other wives and in those other lives," he shared with People magazine. "I‘m convicted of my mistakes, and I‘m a product of all of my mistakes."
From sportswriters to gossip columnists, George Foreman‘s marriages through the years made for catchy headlines in the press:
- "George Gets Hitched Again" – One typical tabloid take on Marriage #3
- "Foreman Knocks Out 4th Wife" – A boxing pun used to announce his divorce from Skeete
- "Foreman Trades Vows With, Uh, What‘s Her Name?" – A dig at his many wedding ceremonies
- "Minister of Marriages" – Referencing Foreman‘s embraces of religion alongside weddings
- "Foreman a Champion at Marriage and Divorce" – Blunt headline summing up his marital resume
Some commentators marveled at how smoothly Foreman transitioned from one wife to the next over the years. Others praised his unwavering commitment to fatherhood even amidst relationship turmoil.
But the most common media perspective was one of judgement and even mockery aimed at the fighter‘s relationship habits. His five marriages were portrayed largely as the impulsive actions of an out-of-control ego in many accounts.
Of course, the most biting critiques came from those dismissing Foreman‘s marriages as mere PR stunts and scheming for celebrity status. But the boxer and his supporters typically avoided engaging with these shallow accusations about his personal life.
While unique in many ways, George Foreman‘s marital history also holds up a mirror to attitudes and assumptions prevalent in America during his era.
For one, the ease of Foreman rapidly divorcing and remarrying so many times reflects the shifting views on marriage in the 60s, 70s and 80s. The rise of no-fault divorce eroded the stigma around split-ups and facilitated George‘s relationship turnover in the eyes of society.
Foreman‘s choices as a father, however, embodied different cultural values surging during that period. By so proudly embracing fatherhood amidst marital shifts, George modeled the ideal of dedication to parenting ascendant at that time.
Race also likely impacted perceptions of Foreman‘s marriages. As a successful Black athlete, some ugly racial stereotypes around promiscuity and unstable families were surely projected onto Foreman unfairly by his detractors.
But he also stood as a bold counterpoint to those prejudices through his public devotion to being a loving father. By following his own North Star in romantic life and parenting, Foreman served as an influential role model on his own terms.
Following his last divorce in the mid 1980s, George Foreman has now been faithfully married to wife Mary Joan Martelly for over 40 years and counting. The boxing champ seems to have finally found the marital fulfillment and family stability he always sought.
While avoiding specifics, Foreman has hinted his current marriage hasn‘t been without challenges through the decades. But his enduring bond with Mary Joan continues to thrive thanks to wisdom gained from past relationships.
Their family home in Texas now boasts acres of land where his 10 children, along with grandchildren, can gather for backyard adventures and holidays filled with laughter and joy. At age 74, Foreman‘s later years are defined by the thriving family he adores.
In the end, what can be learned from closely examining George Foreman‘s path through 5 marriages with 4 wives?
Follow your heart, but listen to your head too – Foreman followed his heart into marriage repeatedly. But letting practicality balance the romantic whimsy may have led to more stable unions.
To err is human – George made mistakes as a spouse that contributed to his divorces. But his accountability and personal growth over time make him admirable.
Impermanence doesn‘t negate importance – His short-lived marriages still produced children and memories Foreman treasures. We don‘t have to achieve "forever" to find meaning.
Commit your all…while it lasts – Foreman didn‘t approach marriage halfway. He was devoted to each relationship wholeheartedly for however long it lasted.
It‘s never too late to get it "right" – Perseverance in love can pay off. For Foreman, wife #5, Mary Joan, was the charm after four previous attempts.
At age 76, with his fighting days just memories, George Foreman is still a beloved cultural icon because of (and despite) his unconventional marital resume. Both inside the ring and out, he lives life on his own terms. And isn‘t that the greatest lesson of all?
How old was George Foreman when he got married for the first time?
Foreman was 22 years old when he married his first wife Adrienne Calhoun in 1971.
What is George Foreman‘s longest marriage?
Foreman‘s longest marriage is to his current wife Mary Joan Martelly at over 40 years and counting. They wed in 1985.
Which wife did George Foreman have a child with named Freeda?
George Foreman‘s daughter Freeda, who sadly passed away in 2019, was born to Foreman‘s fourth wife Andrea Skeete. The two were married from 1982 to 1985.
How many children does George Foreman have with his current wife?
George Foreman has 5 children from his marriage to Mary Joan Martelly – daughters Natalie, Leola, and Isabella, and sons George V and George VI.
How old was George Foreman when he married his current wife Mary Joan?
Foreman was 36 years old when he married Mary Joan Martelly in 1985 after four previous marriages. She was 26 at the time.
Did any of George Foreman‘s divorces end up in intense court battles?
No, there are no public records of any messy celebrity-style divorce proceedings from Foreman‘s marriages. Each split appears to have been relatively low-key.
