Mary Lou Retton's net worth, income source and assets in 2026
The topic of Mary Lou Retton’s net worth made headlines after her daughter revealed that she was critically ill and had to crowdfund to offset her medical bill. This left many wondering how such a decorated ex-athlete did not have health insurance or enough savings to pay for treatment. In an exclusive interview, the former gymnast opened up about her situation.
I’ve had over 30 operations of orthopedic stuff — I couldn’t afford it… That’s the bottom line: I couldn’t afford it.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- What is Mary Lou Retton's net worth?
- How old is Mary Lou Retton?
- Where does Mary Lou Retton live today?
- What did Mary Lou Retton do for a living?
- What disease does Mary Lou Retton have?
- Why did Mary Lou Retton's husband leave her?
- Why does Mary Lou have no insurance?
- How much does Mary Lou Retton weigh?
- What happened to Mary Lou Retton's face?
- Trivia
Key takeaways
- Mary Lou Retton is an American retired gymnast.
- She is widely recognised as the first woman to win the all-around gold medal for the US in Olympic gymnastics.
- The mother of four won two silver and two bronze medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Mary Lou Retton's net worth is estimated to be $1 million as of 2026.
Profile summary
Full name | Mary Lou Retton |
Nickname | America’s sweetheart |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 24 January 1968 |
Age | 58 years (as of 2026) |
Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
Birthplace | Fairmont, West Virginia, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Height | 4’9’’ (145 cm) |
Weight | 42 kg (93 lbs) |
Hair colour | Brown |
Eye colour | Brown |
Sexuality | Straight |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-husband | Shannon Kelley |
Children | 4 (Shayla, Skyla, McKenna and Emma) |
Parents | Ronnie and Lois Retton |
Siblings | 4 |
Profession | Former gymnast |
What is Mary Lou Retton's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mary Lou is worth $1 million. Despite her millionaire status, her daughter announced that she was seriously sick on 10 October 2023 and could not pay her medical bill. Per RollingStone, the Instagram story read:
My mom has a rare form of pneumonia and is currently fighting for her life. She has been in the ICU for over a week and is unable to breathe on her own.
Mary Lou Retton’s children set up a crowdfunding account to help with their mom's medical expenses. As of April 2026, the family had received $459,354 in donations for Mary, who is now out of the hospital and recovering.
Nonetheless, it is essential to note that someone’s net worth is not only their earnings but also their investment projects and debts. As such, it is possible for someone to have a $1 million net worth and lack a ton of liquid money to pay for a massive hospital bill. As of 2026, Mary Lou Retton's health is reportedly stable.
Source: Original
Is Mary Lou Retton a millionaire?
Yes, the retired American gymnast is a millionaire, going by her net worth. Retton became a national icon after winning the all-around gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
How did Mary Lou Retton make money?
Her wealth primarily stemmed from her illustrious sporting career, lucrative brand deals, speaking engagements and divorce settlement from her long-time husband, Shannon.
Below is a breakdown of her revenue-generating channels.
Source: Getty Images
Mary Lou Retton’s gymnastics career
The ex-athlete took up gymnastics at the age of 8. Training under Károlyis, she won the American Cup in 1983. In addition, Retton bagged the American Classics in 1983 and, 1983 and 1984.
Five weeks before the 1984 Summer Olympics, Lou suffered a knee injury and had an operation. Even so, this did not deter her from her goal, as she scored perfect 10s on vault and floor exercises during the competition. This made the former gymnast the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the individual all-around gold.
Mary was named Sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated for her stellar performance. She retired in 1986. In 1997, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Mary Lou Retton's endorsements
During the 1990s, retired Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton appeared in advertisements for the drug chain Revco.
She was the first female sportswoman pictured on a Wheaties box, whose sales improved after her appearance. In 2019 and 2023, Lou became a spokesperson for Australian Dream and Colonial Penn Life Insurance, respectively.
Source: Getty Images
Television appearances
Mary has starred in several films and TV shows, including Scrooged (1988), Knots Landing (1992), Baywatch (1993) and An Evening at the Improv (1994).
In 2018, she competed on season 27 of Dancing with the Stars, finishing in ninth place. The former gymnast's income from the show was reportedly $125,000.
Divorce settlement
Mary Lou Retton's ex-husband, Shannon Kelley, is a former football player. The two got married in 1990, and later divorced in 2018 after 28 years of marriage. Shannon Kelley reportedly paid her around $2 million worth of cash and property. Additionally, Lou received the duo’s 2015 Porsche Panamera.
How does Mary Lou Retton use her money?
Mary Lou Retton is not a flashy woman. In fact, she has mostly remained out of the limelight since her retirement and divorce. Not much is known about how she spends her money.
Source: Getty Images
How old is Mary Lou Retton?
Mary Lou Retton's age is 58 years as of 2026. The retired gymnast was born on 24 January 1968 in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA. Her dad, Ronnie, managed a coal-industry transportation equipment firm.
The retired gymnast attended Fairmont Senior High School, but dropped out to concentrate on her gymnastics career.
Where does Mary Lou Retton live today?
Mary Lou Retton's house is in Boerne, Texas, a town near San Antonio. She purchased the property in 2021. Before then, she was primarily based in the Texas Hill Country area for several years following her 2018 divorce.
What did Mary Lou Retton do for a living?
Lou was a professional gymnast. After retirement, she signed deals with various brands and attended speaking events. However, her job was greatly affected by COVID-19.
What disease does Mary Lou Retton have?
The former athlete contracted pneumonia in 2023 and was in the hospital for about a month. During a January 2024 interview with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, it was revealed that though Mary Lou Retton was on oxygen, her health was improving.
Source: Getty Images
Why did Mary Lou Retton's husband leave her?
Mary and her ex-husband, Shannon Kelley, divorced in 2018 after 27 years of marriage. They stated that they had grown apart and were no longer compatible.
The retired American gymnast described the split as a necessary change that needed to happen. Mary Lou Retton now lives in Boerne, Texas, United States.
Why does Mary Lou have no insurance?
Retton purportedly found insurance too expensive. She had previously paid for 30 orthopaedic surgeries during her active sporting days.
How much does Mary Lou Retton weigh?
The Fairmont native stands 4 feet 9 inches or 145 cm and weighs about 42 kilograms or 93 lbs. She features brown hair and eyes.
What happened to Mary Lou Retton's face?
Her physical appearance has changed over the years due to ageing and partly because of her health. In an interview with Women's World in 2024, Retton said this about her experience.
With this illness, I feel like I have aged 50 years, but I eat healthy. I always have.
Source: Getty Images
Trivia
- Retton began studying dance and acrobatics at age four.
- She was an outspoken supporter of the Reagan administration.
- Retton's hometown, Fairmont, West Virginia, named a road and a park in the town after her.
- The retired gymnast appeared in advertisements for the business chain Revco.
- Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
Mary Lou Retton’s net worth and financial stability sparked public interest in 2023 after her kids appealed for financial help to pay her medical bills. While many criticised her for not having insurance, others donated thousands of dollars to aid her. The former gymnast has since made a significant recovery from her illness, but she is still undergoing treatment.
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