Publish date: 2024-01-03

Mary Lour Retton is a retired American gymnast. She represented the U.S. at the 1984 Summer Olympics where she won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition and two silver medals and two bronze medals throughout the competition. She was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal at the Olympics.

Retton is married to Shannon Kelley. He is reported to have a net worth of $8 million.

Mary Lou Retton Net Worth and Earnings; Source of Income

Mary Lou Retton boasts a net worth of $8 million, primarily garnered from various sources. She is most celebrated for her remarkable victory at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she secured the coveted all-around gold medal. This triumph catapulted her to fame and led to lucrative endorsement deals with prominent companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Mattel.

Her income streams extend beyond Olympic glory. Retton earned from her gymnastics career through prize money, appearance fees, and coaching, further contributing to her net worth. Following her gymnastics journey, she transitioned into a successful post-gymnastics career, donning roles as a motivational speaker, author, and television personality. Notably, she has graced the screens in various commercials and films, bolstering her financial standing.

Mary Lou Retton's financial prowess extends to her role as a successful businesswoman, adept at diversifying her income streams and making savvy investments. Her pursuits include motivational speaking engagements, where she shares valuable insights about the importance of hard work, dedication, and resilience.

Additionally, she has penned several books, including her autobiography titled "My Story: Achieving Olympic Dreams." Furthermore, Retton has made appearances on television shows such as "Dancing with the Stars" and "The View." Her endorsement deals with reputable brands like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Mattel have also significantly contributed to her wealth. 

Mary Lou Retton Husband: Who is her Life Partner?

Mary Lou Retton is married to the Houston real estate developer Shannon Kelley. Her husband is a former University of Texas quarterback and the couple tied their knot in 1990.

The two have four daughters in their marriage, Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma. They are still married to this day and have not had any issues in their marriage and family.

Mary Lou Retton's Bio and Early Life

Mary Lou Retton Kelley was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia to parents Ronnie Retton and Lois Retton. For her high school education, she attended the Fairmont Senior High School.

She joined the national team for the 1984 Olympic Games during her sophomore year of high school. She enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin after the end of her career.

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Professional Life of Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lour Retton started training in gymnastics at the young age of eight. It was in 1983 that she was able to make a name for herself when she won the American Cup and placed second to Dianne Durham at the US Nationals the same year. She suffered from a wrist injury which caused her to miss the World Gymnastic Championships in 1983. She did win the 1983 American Classic and won the title the following year as well.

Retton won her second American Cup as well as the U.S. Nationals, and the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1984. She suffered from a knee injury and had to undergo an operation five weeks before the 1984 Summer Olympics. Despite a short recovery time, she was able to win the 1984 Summer Olympics which was a close competition between her and Ecaterina Szabo of Romania. She was the first American and the first female gymnast outside Eastern Europe to win the individual all-around gold.

Aside from winning the gold in the individual all-around competition, she also won four additional medals, two silver and two bronze in the competition. She was named the Sportswoman of the Year by the Sports Illustrated Magazine. During her career as a gymnast, she won the American Cup all-around competition three times with her win in 1985 being the third and the last one. She retired from gymnastics in 1986.

Post end of Mary Lour Retton's professional career, she was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. The release of a sports study in 1993 showed that she and fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill were tied for first place beating other famous athletes like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Troy Aikman, and Dan Marino. She was inducted into the International Gymnastic Hall of Fame in 1997.

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