We all know Big George Foreman as a world-class boxer, but he did so much outside of the ring as well. His influence during, and after his boxing career, will continue to be felt for years to come.
George Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas. His family moved to Houston’s Fifth Ward at a young age. After a tough and troubled upbringing, he became an amateur boxer and won a Gold Medal in the 1968 Olympics. He turned pro the following year and won the World Heavyweight Championship in 1973. He retired from boxing, for the first time, in 1977.
By the next year, he found his second calling behind the pulpit. He became an ordained minister in 1978. In 1980, he founded The Church of Lord Jesus Christ, a Pentecostal church in Houston, Texas. Before that, early church services were held in houses throughout the Houston area. George also created The George Forman Youth and Community Center. To help finance the new center, he returned to his first career path, boxing.
Photo Credit: Holly Stein /Allsport
During his boxing return, George made his television series debut in a semi-autobiographical role, he portrayed a retired boxer who runs an after-school program for troubled youth. In 1994, he made history by becoming the oldest heavyweight champion at the age of 45. Not only was he part of one of the most iconic boxing matches in history—1974’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ against challenger Muhammad Ali—but he also went on to become the face of one of the best-selling kitchen appliances of all time.
The George Foreman Grill went on sale in 1994. I’m sure that everyone reading this who is over 30 years old has purchased or used a George Foreman Grill in their lifetime. If you don’t know George for his all-time boxing talent, you know him from his infomercials selling the ‘Lean-Mean Grilling Machine!’ It has sold over 100 million units.
Marketing is so powerful that every grilling device we see in stores is often called a George Foreman Grill, even if it isn’t one. One of his opponents, Evander Holyfield, put out a similar Real Deal Grill.
George became a successful entrepreneur; not only was his grill a hot commodity, but he also sold cookbooks and Real Time Knock-Out Pain Relief.
In 2023, a biopic on his life Big George Foreman hit theaters. George was portrayed by Khris Davis.
George Foreman passed away on March 21, 2025, at the age of 76. Up until his death, he was very active in his church. He left behind 12 children, including 5 boys, all named George, and seven daughters. One of his daughters, Freeda—who passed away in 2019—held a professional boxing record of 5 wins and 1 loss.
