George Foreman’s love life was just as eventful as his boxing career, with five marriages and a final, enduring union that lasted nearly four decades. His journey through matrimony began in 1971 with his first wife Adrienne Calhoun. The two met on a blind date in August 1970 and were married for three years before divorcing in 1974. During their marriage, they had one daughter, Michi.
Looking back, Calhoun expressed mixed emotions, saying, “He always says we should’ve been friends. He has a sense of humor, and I do, too. He hurt me and broke my heart…I thought I was going to be married forever.” She later remarried, but the two remained amicable.
In 1977, Foreman married Cynthia Lewis, a former Miss Black Teenage America winner. She was 20, while Foreman was 30 at the time of their wedding. Their marriage lasted five years, but it ended in a painful divorce. Years later, Lewis adapted her experiences into a one-woman play, Bruised But Not Broken: The Cynthia Foreman Story, which chronicled her struggles during their relationship. The third marriage, to Sharon Goodson in 1981, was brief. Very little is documented about their union, but reports suggest it was a short-lived romance that ended in 1982.
Foreman’s fourth partner, Andrea Skeete, entered his life in 1982. Their marriage lasted three years, dissolving in 1985. That same year, he married his fifth and final spouse, Mary Joan Martelly, the woman who would remain by his side for nearly 40 years until his passing.
Who Was George Foreman’s Wife, Mary Joan Martelly?
Born and raised in St. Lucia, Martelly had no prior knowledge of Foreman’s boxing fame when they met. In a 2014 interview, she admitted, “I didn’t know anything about George’s career before, I’ve never seen him box before, I didn’t even know him as a boxer, but I helped him all through it.”
Their love story took a turn when Martelly traveled to Houston on a temporary six-month visa to support Foreman during a custody dispute. As their relationship deepened, Foreman was adamant about her staying, leading to an unplanned but heartfelt proposal. “We were going to the movies, and he says, ‘I’ll be right back,’ and he came back with a little ring, you could barely see the diamond, and he’s like, ‘Can you marry me?’” Martelly recalled. “I didn’t know what to say, but I went, ‘Okay, yes.’”
Their marriage was built on love, faith, and shared values. Together, they raised a large, blended family that included Foreman’s children from previous marriages. The couple had at least five kids together: George IV, George V, George VI, Leola, and Natalie. Foreman, famously known for naming all his sons George, had a total of twelve children and numerous grandkids. Their family life was documented in the 2008 reality TV series, Family Foreman.
Beyond their family life, Foreman and Martelly dedicated themselves to philanthropy, particularly in AIDS awareness and children’s health initiatives. In 2007, they were jointly honored at A World of Friends Fighting AIDS for their efforts in raising awareness. Martelly remained humble about their charitable work, sharing, “Usually we’d do something and we wouldn’t tell anybody. My grandma always said, ‘If you want the blessing, then you don’t let the whole world know.’”
The couple built their dream home in Huffman, Texas, on a sprawling 45-acre estate with a 45,000-square-foot mansion. The property, valued at over $10 million, reflected the success Foreman achieved in boxing and business. Despite his attempts to return to the ring, Martelly once convinced him to stay retired, saying, “Isn’t that the way you want to leave?” Her words solidified his decision to step away from boxing for good.
On March 21, 2025, Foreman passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy in both sports and family life. His wife and children were by his side in his final moments. The family released a statement expressing their grief: “Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.”
George Foreman’s passing marked the end of an era, but his story—both in and out of the ring—will live on through his family, his legacy, and the love he shared with Mary Joan Martelly.
