All About Mary Joan Martelly? Who Is George Foreman's Wife

Retired boxing champion George Foreman has been married to his wife, Mary Joan Martelly, for nearly 40 years.

The couple wed in 1985, marking Foreman's fifth marriage but symbolizing a fresh start for the pair. Together, they built a blended family, welcoming five children together: George IV, George V, George VI, Leola and Natalie. They also welcomed two children via adoption — Isabella Brandie Lilja in 2009 and Courtney Isaac in 2012. In addition, they also parent several children from Foreman’s previous marriages.

Martelly revealed in a 2014 interview with the University of Houston Law Center that she didn’t really know who Foreman was before meeting him. “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,” she said.

The public got a rare look at their family life in the 2008 TV Land series Family Foreman, which highlighted the heavyweight champ’s career and role as a father.

Over the years, Martelly and Foreman have combined their efforts in numerous philanthropic endeavors, especially focusing on children’s welfare and health initiatives.

So who is George Foreman’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Mary Joan Martelly and her relationship with the boxer.

Born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Martelly had an early life marked by modest beginnings. She grew up in the close-knit community of Mon Repos, developing a strong sense of determination and an appreciation for the values of hard work and perseverance.

During her youth, Martelly showed a keen interest in sports. In her interview with the University of Houston Law Center, she recounted fond memories of her time in school.

“I loved sports in school," she shared. "School was really fun interestingly, 'cause you grew up with the same set of children from kindergarten all the way up to high school, so everyone knew everyone."

Martelly got the opportunity to come to the U.S. on a six-month temporary visa when she accompanied Foreman to Houston to testify on behalf of the boxer during an ongoing custody dispute. “By the time my six months came, he was in love. He was like, ‘You can’t go back,’ ” she told the University of Houston Law Center in 2014.

“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?’ ” she recalled. “And I was like, 'I didn’t know what to say,' but I went, ‘Okay, yes.’ ”

Martelly’s leap of faith seemingly paid off, as the couple has been married for nearly 40 years since their March 1985 wedding. The couple had dated for about a year before tying the knot.

Their nuptials marked the beginning of a new chapter in th -

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eir lives, blending their families and children from Foreman’s previous marriages.

Before marrying Martelly, Foreman had been married four other times. His first marriage to Adrienne Calhoun began in 1971 and ended in divorce in 1974. Foreman then married beauty queen Cynthia Lewis in 1977, and their union lasted until 1979.

He married Sharon Goodson in 1981, but the pair split after just one year. Foreman’s fourth marriage was to Andrea Skeete in 1982, and they remained together until their divorce in 1985.

Later that same year, Foreman wed Martelly, marking his fifth marriage.

Foreman and Martelly have quite a large family, welcoming five children together: George IV, George V, George VI, Leola and Natalie. They also expanded their family through adoption, welcoming Isabella Brenda Lilja in 2009 and Courtney Isaac in 2012.

In addition to their children together, Martelly is a stepmother to Foreman’s children from previous relationships — daughters Michi, Freeda (who sadly died in 2019) and Georgetta, and sons George Jr. and George III. All of Foreman's sons are named George Edward Foreman, keeping the family name alive and well.

When talking about raising her children, Martelly fondly told the University of Houston Law Center that she wanted to be a source of support for her kids. “I had to raise my kids and I wanted to be there for them, I wanted to be there to pick them up from school, and from A to Z,” she said.

The couple currently lives in an estate in Huffman, Texas. Purchased in the early 2000s, their dream home took nearly three years to complete and is nestled on 45 acres of land.

The property is estimated at more than $10 million and features several buildings, including a main house, guesthouse and dedicated gym facility. The main home spans 45,000 square feet, blending classic and modern design elements.

Martelly has been deeply involved in philanthropic endeavors, particularly focusing on AIDS awareness as well as promoting education for children. Alongside her husband, she has volunteered extensively for campaigns aimed at preventing pediatric AIDS.

Their efforts have taken them from Houston to St. Lucia, spreading vital information about AIDS in children and advocating for prevention measures. In recognition of their significant contributions, the couple was jointly honored in 2007 at an event called A World of Friends Fighting AIDS.

However, Martelly has always remained humble about her efforts, telling the University of Houston Law Center: “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.' "

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