You know the legend. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Muhammad Ali was the king of the ring, a man who could talk circles around world leaders and knock out the toughest heavyweights of his era. But outside those ropes? Honestly, his personal life was just as fast-moving and, at times, way more complicated than a 15-round title fight.
When people ask how many times was Muhammad Ali married, the short answer is four. But that number doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the drama, the heartbreak, and the deep-seated religious convictions that drove his relationships. He wasn't just a boxer; he was a man constantly searching for a specific kind of home life, often while the whole world was watching.
The Whirlwind: Sonji Roi (1964–1966)
Ali's first marriage was basically a sprint. He met Sonji Roi, a cocktail waitress and model, in July 1964. Most people take months or years to decide on a spouse. Ali? He proposed to her the very night they met. They were married 41 days later in Gary, Indiana.
It was a total mismatch from the jump. Ali was deep into his conversion to the Nation of Islam, and he expected Sonji to follow suit. He wanted her to adopt the modest dress and customs of the faith. Sonji, who was independent and a bit of a firebrand herself, wasn't having it. She later said she felt like she was being brainwashed. The marriage lasted less than two years. They didn't have any kids together, and by January 1966, the divorce was final.
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The Foundation: Belinda Boyd (1967–1977)
If Sonji was a whirlwind, his second marriage to Belinda Boyd was the bedrock of his prime years. They married in August 1967 when she was just 17. Following the wedding, she changed her name to Khalilah Ali.
You’ve got to remember the context here. This was right when Ali was banned from boxing for refusing the Vietnam War draft. Khalilah was the one who stood by him when he was broke and stripped of his titles. She was tough. She even used her own college money to help keep the family afloat during those "exile" years. Together, they had four children:
- Maryum (May May), born in 1968.
- Twins Jamillah and Rasheda, born in 1970.
- Muhammad Ali Jr., born in 1972.
Despite the stability she offered, things fell apart because of Ali’s legendary "wandering eye." While he was preparing for the iconic "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975, he started appearing in public with another woman, Veronica Porché. Khalilah actually flew to the Philippines to confront him in a hotel room. It wasn't pretty. They divorced in 1977.
The Glamour: Veronica Porché (1977–1986)
Veronica Porché was a beautiful model who had been part of Ali’s entourage for a while. They married in June 1977, just after his divorce from Khalilah was finalized. By then, they already had one daughter, Hana, and Veronica was pregnant with their second, Laila Ali—who, as you probably know, went on to become a world champion boxer herself.
This era was the beginning of the end for Ali’s boxing career. As he slowed down in the ring, the pressures of his lifestyle and his health began to mount. The marriage lasted about nine years. While it looked glamorous on the outside, the same patterns of infidelity that broke his second marriage eventually caught up with this one too. They divorced in 1986.
The Final Round: Yolanda "Lonnie" Williams (1986–2016)
The story of Ali’s fourth marriage is actually kinda sweet, in a "written in the stars" sort of way. He married Yolanda "Lonnie" Williams in November 1986. But here’s the kicker: they had known each other since Lonnie was six years old. Their mothers were best friends in Louisville, and she’d grown up across the street from him.
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Lonnie was the one who took care of him as Parkinson’s disease began to take its toll. She wasn't just a wife; she was his business manager and his fiercest protector. They adopted a son, Asaad Amin, when he was just five months old. Lonnie is often credited with saving Ali’s finances and making sure his legacy was protected long after he could no longer speak for himself. They stayed married for 30 years, right up until his death in 2016.
The Big Picture
So, when you're looking at how many times was Muhammad Ali married, you're really looking at the different phases of his life.
- The Rebel: Trying to find a Muslim identity with Sonji.
- The Exile: Building a family and a legacy with Khalilah.
- The Superstar: Navigating fame and decline with Veronica.
- The Legend: Finding peace and care with Lonnie.
He also had two other daughters, Miya and Khaliah, from relationships outside of these marriages, bringing his total count to nine children. It was a massive, often messy, but deeply connected family.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the Champ's life, your next step should be checking out the documentary What's My Name: Muhammad Ali or reading Hana Ali's memoir, At Home with Muhammad Ali. They offer a much more intimate look at the man behind the gloves than any stat sheet ever could.