U.S. Gymnast Mary Lou Retton’s Net Worth Helps Explain Her Insurance Issues

Anyone who remembers what a sensation Mary Lou Retton was after she won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics may have been shocked to learn that she was in the ICU fighting for her life. Her family had to crowdfund money to pay for that healthcare. According to her daughter, McKenna Kelley, Mary Lou doesn’t have health insurance, which explained why they had to crowdfund for her healthcare.

Given the level of fame that Mary Lou attained, and the endorsements that followed, many were shocked that she is uninsured and broke enough to have to crowdfund to pay for her medical bills. Naturally, that news led many people to wonder what Mary Lou’s overall net worth is.

After Mary Lou’s daughter claimed that she was “fighting for her life” in a battle against a rare form of pneumonia, she ultimately raised more than $400,000 to help pay for her care.

Mary Lou’s net worth is reportedly roughly $2 million, although that hasn’t been confirmed or verified by any independent source. So, while it’s possible that Mary Lou’s net worth might be that high, it’s impossible to say for sure.

It’s also important to note that regardless of what Mary Lou’s net worth might be, her net worth doesn’t necessarily accurately reflect how much money she might have on hand. Net worth includes the value of property you own, investments you have, and any contracts you have that may reflect future income. In short, it’s certainly possible for someone to be worth $2 million and not be able to afford healthcare.

Although Mary Lou’s family has crowdfunded more than enough money to pay for her medical care, it’s unclear why the money was needed to begin with. It’s possible that she doesn’t have the kind of steady employment that would offer health insurance, but it seems unlikely that she wouldn’t have the income required to pay for her own insurance through Obamacare.

What her story has surely highlighted, though, is that healthcare in America is enormously expensive for the uninsured. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary Lou and her family as she continues to fight to recover.