Mary Lou Retton

Despite being the first American woman to win the all-round gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics, her net worth is on the pretty lower side. For a person of her skills, caliber, and achievements, her net worth should have been much more significant. With fame and success, she tried to stay in the limelight and supported the Reagan administration.

She has also appeared in multiple TV commercials and even attended the University of Texas. She has been through a lot in her life but still continues to be a shining example for aspiring Olympians. Well, for inspiring upcoming talent, she’s been into public speaking as well. Let’s dive deeper into Mary Lou Retton’s net worth and lifestyle. 

What is Mary Lou Retton’s net worth? 

Mary Lou Retton’s estimated net worth of $2 million must be taken with a pinch of salt 

In 1984, Mary Lou Retton carved out history and made a name for herself. Thereafter, she had access to multiple income streams that she didn’t have earlier. She became a brand herself and started participating in different media projects. She even got endorsement deals from major brands that added to most of her net worth.

After her victory, everyone wanted to be in her shoes and learn from her life examples. She was often called to speak and inspire the aspiring Olympians. As per Marry Lou’s daughter, McKenna, her mother used to charge around $25,000 per speech, which is quite a decent amount of money in our opinion.

No one would have thought about it earlier, but in this new age, divorce settlements can also make you rich. Apologies if it sounds harsh, but true to the core! Miss Retton received a considerable amount of money from her divorce settlement in 2018. As per some reports, she got $2 million in cash and property combined. Besides, she also made money from the sale of her real estate. Miss Retton also got access to the couple’s Porsche car.

Mary Lou Retton had also sued Biomet in 2016 for their faulty metal hip implants. She stated that she had to undergo severe pain and remove those faulty implants via surgery that were installed in her body in 2005 and 2011. However, the lawsuit was settled out of court, and she received an undisclosed amount of money from the same, adding to her net worth. 

What is Mary Lou Retton’s claim to fame? 

Well, there are certain highlights in Mary Lou Retton’s life that made her famous. Some belong to the career, while some belong to her personal life. They are as under: 

• Reigning the 1984 Summer Olympics: Carving history in the books of Olympics forever, Mary beat the leader Ecaterina Szabo by landing a perfect ten on the vault. That perfect 10 made her an instant legend around the globe. From the 84 games she played, Mary won five medals: two bronze and two silvers, including the aforementioned gold. What made all this even more special and commendable was her recent recovery from knee surgery. 
• Cameos: Miss Retton retired soon after winning the third American Cup title in 1985. But there was nothing stopping her from making interesting cameos as herself in the films “Scrooged” and “Naked Gun 33 1/2: The Final Insult." She was also seen in "Knots Landing" and "Baywatch.". 
• Accolades and Honors: For a woman like Mary Lou, winning accolades was pretty normal. In 1985, she won the Golden Plate Award from Awards Council member Chuck Yeager. She was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. 
• Most Popular Athlete: Just a year later, she tied with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill in terms of statistics as the most popular athlete in the United States. Considering her history and fame, she was also later inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. 
• Sex Abuse Scandal: Miss Mary was into the limelight once again when the USA Gymnastics Sex Abuse Scandal came in news in 2016. Surprisingly, she and some other gymnastics members told the senator to drop the bill completely. However, for the safety of young and upcoming talent, the bill was signed in 2017 and became effective immediately. 
• Dancing With The Stars: Yeah, Mary became the sixth Olympian (all seasons) to join the roster of the Dancing With The Stars 27. On the new opportunity, she said, “Dance is very technical, and it's nothing to do with gymnastics; I can tell you that. So I am challenging myself and am growing from this journey, from this opportunity”. She partnered with Sasha Faber and was eliminated from the show in week 6. 
• First Woman Fame: Yeah, Mary Lou became the first woman to make her place at the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. 
• Rare Illness: In 2023, Mary Lou was in the news as her daughter started a fundraiser page for treatment of her mother’s rare pneumonia disease. She claimed that they didn’t have health insurance for further treatment and cannot incur the outstanding expenses. She asked for $50,000 help, and in turn, $460,000 was raised.

What businesses does Mary Lou Retton own? 

Mary Lou Retton displayed her smart entrepreneurial skills with different business ventures. Such business ventures added to her wealth and fame, and they are as under: 

• Writing: The legendary gymnast tried her hands at writing with books like “Mary Lou Retton: Creating an Olympic Champion” and “Mary Lou Retton’s Gateway to Happiness." After tasting much success at writing, she further delved into kids literature, thus inspiring them. 
• Fitness Line: Sighting a gap in the fitness product market, Retton and her daughter launched their own line called the Mary Lou Retton and McKenna Kelly signature collection by LR Productions. They sell equipment like floor balance beams, floor mats, portable pirouette bars, and foam learning beams. 

What brands has Mary Lou Retton endorsed? 

Mary Lou Retton was a brand to reckon with just after winning at the 1984 Olympics. She has endorsed many brands across the span of her career, and some of them are as follows: 

• Wheaties: She appeared on the Wheaties cereal box and also became the brand’s official spokesperson. General Mills (the parent entity) also emphasized the improvement in sales figures after making Mary the face of the brand. 
• Revco: In the 90's, Miss Mary became the official spokesperson for the U.S. drugstore chain Revco. She was also seen in multiple commercials for the brand. 
• Australian Dream: Pain is a part and parcel of life for athletes. So, in 2019, she very aptly endorsed this pain relief cream brand and became the spokesperson for the same. 
• Colonial Penn Life Insurance: Miss Mary might not have health insurance herself, but strangely, she became the spokesperson for the insurance provider in 2023. Jokes apart, many health insurance didn’t provide coverage for Mary as she had many pre-existing health conditions. 

Besides the above-mentioned brands, Mary Lou Retton had endorsement deals from brands like Energizer batteries, Purex detergent, Dobie Originals fitness apparel, Hasbro, McDonald's, Vidal Sassoon hair products, and GNC.

How does Mary Lou Retton spend her money? 

Not much information is available in this regard. Also, the recent financial crisis arising from Mary's health problems clearly points out that she would be living a more humble life than before. She received her own medical support via a fundraiser. 

After a backlash on the usage of funds, McKenna Kelly made it clear that "all remaining funds" will go to a charity of her mother’s choice. After recovery, Retton made it clear that the remaining amount of money will be donated to the American Lung Association. However, what portion of those funds will go to another charity is undisclosed. 

How many houses does Mary Lou Retton own? 

Well, Retton and her daughters have been quite private about their current houses. But there were two houses that were bought and sold by Mary Lou Retton. 

• Houston House: After winning the 1984 Olympics, Mary made Houston her priority and home. She clearly mentioned that "my goal was to come to Houston because the Karolyis were going to give me my best shot at making the Olympic team." Mary’s Houston mansion was a giant 9,000-square-foot residence with multiple rooms and cozy attributes. Sadly, after her divorce, the same was sold for $800,000. The money was split 50/50 among the couple (Mary Lou and Shannon Kelly).
• West Virginia House: Well, to be closer to her family, Mary decided to move to West Virginia in her luxurious abode. It was bought for $107,000 in 2007.However, her happiness was short-lived as this property was sold for a mere $575,000. The money was split 50/50 among the couple (Mary Lou and Shannon Kelly). Nothing much is known about this property, as nothing was disclosed about the same. Well, did you know there’s a whole street and park named after her in West Virginia? 
• Texas House: In an interview with Today, Mary was seen relaxing alongside her daughter Shayla Kelly. After her fight with the grueling disease, she returned home to Texas and is currently on the path of recovery. From the video, the house seems to be a pretty basic setup with nothing much outright luxurious. However, it is reported that she paid $600,000. for the property. 

How many cars does Mary Lou Retton own? 

Mary Lou Retton might have owned several cars in the span of her career. However, the information on them is extremely scarce, and she never publicly flaunted any of them. However, two of the cars that she owned are: 

• Chevrolet Corvette: Just at the tender age of sixteen, Mary Lou Retton appeared on the cover of the Seventeen magazine and later bought the Red Corvette car. It clearly indicates her passion for speed when she was young. At that time, the base price of a 1984 Chevy Corvette was $21,800. 
• Porsche Panamera: Before her divorce, Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelly used to own a 2015 Porsche Panamera car. After her divorce, the same was granted to Mary as a part of settlement. At the time, the sports car was estimated to be worth $43,000. 

What are Mary Lou Retton's charitable contributions? 

Mary Lou Retton might not be at the forefront of philanthropic efforts, but she helped the community in her own way. After her win, she became a “fitness ambassador” and inspired the world with her motivational speeches on proper nutrition and exercise.

She also served as a national chairperson and sat on the board of governors of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Currently, the same hospital raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. Unfortunately, she herself had to raise a crowdfunding campaign for the treatment of her rare pneumonia. 

What’s next for Mary Lou Retton? 

In order to determine the underlying reason for Mary Lou Retton's illness, doctors intend to do a lung biopsy as she progressively regains strength. Her road to rehabilitation is one of day-by-day progress with no apparent end in sight. But with the resolute help of her daughters, she faces every day with optimism and resolve. She is currently recovering from her illness at her Texas home. 

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