George Foreman has died at the age of 76, his family confirmed on his Instagram page on March 21, 2025.
What is known about his cause of death? The family did not release the official cause of death in the statement. The New York Times shared additional details, saying that Foreman died in a hospital in Houston, Texas.
Foreman’s brother Roy Foreman told The Times that the boxing legend’s cause of death was not yet clear. He died on Friday evening, the newspaper noted. Foreman lived on a nearly $10 million estate in Huffman, Texas, for years, but it was listed for sale in 2024.
His family shared the statement confirming his death along with a photo showing Foreman surrounded by relatives. Foreman was married for more than 40 years to his fifth wife, Mary Joan Martelly Foreman, and he had 12 children. Famously, all of his sons were named George Foreman.
Although Foreman was not known to be in ill health, he discussed almost dying in a YouTube video. After fighting Jimmy Young, Foreman decided to retire.
“Things changed for me,” he said. “I definitely died. I had an experience while I was dead and alive again.” He said in that interview that he saw Christian crosses on his hands. He said he was given “another chance to live and I really appreciated and understood that the greatest invention of all time were human beings and never wanted to hurt any again.”
“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,” the Foreman family wrote.
“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose,” the statement adds.
George Foreman at the premiere of “Big George Foreman” held at Regal L.A. Live on April 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
“A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own,” the family wrote.
Fans shared tributes in the comment thread. “3 giants have passed: Ali, Frazier and now Foreman,” wrote one.
His last Instagram post was in November when he shared a throwback photo and wrote, “30 years ago today! I started my day believing ‘All things are possible if we only believe.’ The power of a prayer; great or small. (Now a prayer over my Lunch) ‘that I only have 1, helping.'”
On October 31, he shared a photo showing him eating a slice of cake and looking healthy.
According to the Roar, Muhammad Ali’s doctor said that, because Foreman didn’t develop Parkinson’s Disease like Ali, it was difficult to tell the role boxing played in the disease’s formation.
