Decades later, Retton again made headlines when her daughters revealed she was hospitalized and fighting for her life against a rare and serious case of pneumonia in late 2023. Unable to breathe on her own at one point, Retton’s medical crisis shed light on her financial struggles to pay the extensive hospital bills. Her daughters set up a GoFundMe account that raised over $450,000 from more than 5,000 donors.

So how did an Olympic legend like Retton end up in such dire financial straits? Why does she lack health insurance? And what is Mary Lou Retton’s current net worth after her decorated career? Let’s take a closer look.

Mary Lou Retton’s Rise to Fame

Mary Lou Retton grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia and started gymnastics at age 8. Showing prodigious talent, she eventually moved to Houston at age 15 to train under renowned coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi. The intense training paid off when Retton won the American Cup in 1983 and soon dominated the sport domestically.

In 1984, just weeks after knee surgery, a 16-year-old Retton captivated the nation by winning five medals at the Los Angeles Olympics. Her gold in the women’s individual all-around competition was historic, as she was credited with “saving” the Games for the U.S. by beating out favored Romanian Ecaterina Szabo. Overnight, Retton became America’s sweetheart.

She was the first female athlete to land on a Wheaties box. Major endorsements soon rolled in from brands like Energizer, Revco, McDonald’s, and Vidal Sassoon. Her infectious smile and girl-next-door persona made her a fan favorite. She also made various television and movie appearances over the next decade.

What is Mary Lou Retton’s Net Worth?

For all her fame and fortune early on, various outlets estimate Mary Lou Retton’s current net worth at around $2 million. But her exact wealth remains unclear.

Net worth calculations factor in all assets like houses, cars, investments, businesses, and cash savings balanced against debts and liabilities. While Retton likely banked large sums during her peak years in the 1980s, her finances since retiring are unknown.

Without a regular income stream like a salary, Retton has had to rely on assets, endorsement deals, speaking engagements, and other ventures to support herself. But gymnastics earnings tend to peak early on. And Retton has kept a low profile in recent decades compared to the height of her celebrity.

Why the Financial Troubles?

So with fame and fortune seemingly set early on, why is Retton now facing financial hardship? A few key reasons help explain it:

1. No Health Insurance
Shockingly, one of America’s most famous Olympians has no health insurance. So her recent hospital bills are entirely out-of-pocket expenses likely costing hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Details on why Retton lacks insurance remain unclear.

2. Divorce Settlement
Retton divorced her husband of 27 years, former University of Texas quarterback Shannon Kelley, in 2018. The split may have negatively impacted her net worth depending on any settlement or alimony arrangements.

3. Legal Fees
Retton became embroiled in controversy surrounding the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal and USA Gymnastics. Any legal bills from related lawsuits or investigations may have cut into her finances over the last few years.

4. Daughters’ Gymnastics Careers
Retton has twin daughters who followed in her footsteps into competitive gymnastics. Funding their training and careers over the last 15+ years has likely been very expensive.

5. Lack of Career Earnings
Unlike major pro sports leagues, gymnastics careers tend to be short with most earnings happening at a very young age. So Retton hasn’t benefited from a long, lucrative career. And any endorsement or appearance deals have likely faded over time.

While $2 million is still a healthy net worth, enormous hospital bills can bankrupt almost anyone without insurance. Add in other factors like divorce, lawsuits, raising two athletic daughters, etc. and that wealth can disappear quickly.

What’s Next for Mary Lou Retton?

As of early 2024, Mary Lou Retton is still recovering from her bout with pneumonia and trying to regain her full health. Her daughters’ GoFundMe campaign continues working to alleviate the financial damage and raised over $450,000 so far.

Retton gave an update on her condition in January, saying “I’m so grateful to be here. I am blessed to be here, because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support.”

She still requires an oxygen machine but is slowly improving. However, the road to full recovery may be long for the now 56-year-old. The gymnastics icon also spoke about being a very private person, so her public financial struggles clearly highlight the dire circumstances.

While Mary Lou Retton’s exact net worth moving forward remains in flux, her formidable grit and trademark smile in facing this challenge head-on have again captured hearts. Fans and admirers have shown their support and helped ease her financial burden during the hardest days. That same determined spirit that made her an American hero decades ago continues shining through. I sincerely hope you find this “Mary Lou Retton Net Worth In 2024- The Olympic Champion’s Surprising Fortune Unveiled” article helpful.

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