Mary Lee Harvey is an American woman best known as the second ex wife of comedian and television host Steve Harvey. The couple married in 1996 and had one son together, Wynton Harvey. Their relationship later ended in a difficult divorce followed by years of public disagreements and legal problems.
Mary knew Steve before he became one of the most recognized television hosts in the United States. She was with him during an important period of his growing career. However, after their marriage ended, most public attention around Mary focused on their divorce and the disputes that followed.
Away from her connection with Steve, Mary has kept much of her life private. She has been described as having worked in cosmetics and makeup, but there is limited information about her professional life. Here is a closer look at what is known about Mary, her marriage, her son, and her life after divorce.
Who Is Mary Lee Harvey?
Mary Lee Harvey became known to the public because of her relationship with Steve Harvey.
She was his second wife and spent many years with him before their marriage came to an end. Steve later became famous for his comedy, television work, books, and hosting career.
Mary did not build the same kind of public career. She generally remained outside the entertainment spotlight, even while her husband became increasingly famous.
Her name received much more attention after the marriage ended. The former couple had disagreements involving their son, public statements, and court orders.
These events kept Mary in the news for several years after the divorce.
What Is Known About Mary Lee Harvey's Early Years?
Mary is widely reported to have been born on October 20, 1960, in Texas.
Some accounts connect her early life with Arlington, Texas. However, many details about her childhood have remained private.
Mary reportedly grew up in a large family with ten children. She has spoken about having a difficult and crowded childhood.
There is little clear information about her parents and siblings. Their names and personal lives have not been an important part of Mary's public story.
Some reports say she attended Delhi High School. Information about any further education is limited, so it is unclear whether she attended college or completed other formal studies.
Mary was not famous during these early years. Most information about her became public only after her relationship with Steve Harvey attracted attention.
Mary Reportedly Worked in Cosmetics
Before becoming widely known, Mary reportedly worked in the beauty field.
Several accounts describe her as a makeup artist or say she worked at a cosmetics store. She was reportedly doing this type of work around the time she met Steve.
There is not much detailed information about her career.
For example, there is no clear record showing how long she worked as a makeup artist or whether she later ran her own makeup business.
Some online profiles have also called Mary an author. However, there is not enough clear information about published books or a writing career to describe her mainly as an author.
Her professional life has remained far less public than Steve's career.
Mary Lee Harvey Met Steve Harvey in Texas
Mary and Steve reportedly met in Arlington, Texas, in 1989.
One account says they first met at a club. Steve was working in stand up comedy at the time and was still building his career.
Their relationship did not immediately lead to marriage. Reports say they were together for around seven years before their wedding.
Steve had previously been married to Marcia Harvey. That relationship had ended before Mary became his second wife.
Mary was therefore part of Steve's life during a period when his career was changing. He moved from years of stand up comedy into bigger opportunities in entertainment.
After several years together, Mary and Steve married in 1996.
Their Marriage and Family Life
Mary became Steve Harvey's second wife when they married in 1996.
Their family soon grew.
On July 18, 1997, Mary gave birth to their son, Wynton Harvey. He is the only child clearly established as being born to Mary and Steve together.
Some reports say Mary also had a son before her relationship with Steve. However, the available accounts do not agree clearly enough about this part of her family history.
Wynton became an important part of the story when his parents later separated.
The custody of their son became one of the issues connected with the divorce. Reports say Steve was given primary custody of Wynton.
The reasons behind the court's decision should not be guessed because the available information does not provide enough detail to explain the full custody case.
Why Did Mary Lee Harvey and Steve Harvey Separate?
Mary and Steve eventually faced serious problems in their marriage.
Their relationship ended in the mid 2000s. Reports differ slightly on the exact divorce date. Some place the divorce in 2005, while others say the process was completed in 2006.
The breakup became highly public because Mary later made several serious claims about Steve.
She accused her former husband of being unfaithful during their marriage. She also made other claims about how she said she had been treated.
These were allegations made by Mary. They should not be described as proven events without clear evidence supporting them.
Mary also linked Marjorie Bridges to her claims about Steve's relationships. Marjorie later became Steve's third wife.
The available research does not establish Mary's claims about unfaithfulness as proven facts. For this reason, it would be wrong to state that Marjorie caused Mary and Steve's divorce.
What is clear is that the marriage ended badly and disagreements continued for years afterward.
The Divorce Continued to Affect Their Lives
The legal end of a marriage does not always end every disagreement between two former partners.
That was the case with Mary and Steve.
Their disputes continued after the divorce, especially as Mary began speaking publicly about their marriage.
She released videos online in which she discussed Steve and made allegations about their relationship.
These statements gained attention because Steve's fame had continued to grow.
By then, he was far more famous than he had been when Mary first met him.
The public comments eventually became connected with legal action and court orders from the former couple's divorce case.
What Happened to Mary Lee Harvey in 2013?
Mary's legal dispute attracted fresh attention in 2013 when she was jailed for contempt of court.
Contempt of court happens when someone fails to follow a court order or acts against the instructions of a court.
Reports connected Mary's case with restrictions that came from her divorce proceedings.
She had publicly discussed her former marriage despite a court order connected with what she could say about the case.
This event is sometimes described in a much simpler and more dramatic way online, with claims that Mary was jailed for speaking badly about Steve.
That description misses the important legal point.
Her jail time was connected with contempt of court and the failure to follow a court order, rather than simply having a negative opinion about her former husband.
What Happened to Their Son Wynton?
Wynton Harvey was born in 1997 and was still young when his parents' relationship ended.
Reports say Steve received primary custody following the divorce.
Mary remained Wynton's mother, but the custody decision meant that he primarily lived under his father's care.
It is not necessary to turn Wynton's childhood into part of the public dispute between his parents. The available information does not support guessing about his private feelings or personal relationship with either parent.
For Mary's biography, the important fact is simple. She and Steve share one son, Wynton, and his custody became part of their divorce proceedings.
Did Mary Receive Money From the Divorce?
Many online reports give numbers for Mary's divorce settlement.
However, the figures do not agree.
Some accounts mention monthly payments of $40,000. Others discuss a large one time payment or several properties.
The reported length of the monthly payments also differs between sources.
Because these numbers conflict, there is not enough support to present one exact figure as the confirmed amount Mary received.
It is reasonable to say that financial and property matters were handled during the divorce. Exact amounts should not be treated as certain without stronger records.
This is especially important because different numbers are often repeated online without explaining where they originally came from.
How Much Is Mary Lee Harvey Worth?
Mary Lee Harvey's exact net worth is not publicly known.
A figure of about $500,000 appears in several online biographies, but there is no clear evidence showing how that amount was calculated.
Her private finances are not publicly available.
There is also little clear information about her current career or income. This makes it difficult to give a meaningful estimate of her wealth.
Money she may have received from her divorce also does not provide enough information to calculate her present net worth.
The most accurate answer is that Mary's personal wealth has not been reliably confirmed.
Steve Harvey's Life After Their Divorce
Steve continued building his entertainment career after his marriage to Mary ended.
He later married Marjorie in 2007.
His television career also grew, and he became widely known for hosting programs including Family Feud. He has worked as a comedian, television host, actor, author, and producer.
Mary followed a very different path in public.
Instead of remaining a regular figure in entertainment news, she gradually moved away from the spotlight after the major legal disputes surrounding the divorce.
This difference is one reason there is much more current information about Steve than about Mary.
Where Is Mary Lee Harvey Today?
Mary's present life is mostly private.
Older reports have connected her with Texas, but there is not enough recent information to confidently state her exact current home.
There is also no clear public information about her present job.
Questions have been raised online about whether Mary married again after Steve. Some reports have suggested another marriage, but there is not enough reliable evidence to confirm it.
Her current relationship status should therefore remain private unless stronger information becomes available.
Mary also does not appear to maintain the same kind of public presence as her famous former husband.
Most people searching for her today are looking for information about her years with Steve, their son, their divorce, and the court case that followed.
Why Does Mary Lee Harvey Still Get Public Attention?
Mary's connection with Steve remains the main reason people know her name.
Their relationship began long before Steve reached the level of fame he has today. They spent years together, married in 1996, and became parents to Wynton in 1997.
The difficult divorce then created another reason for public interest.
Mary's allegations, the custody matter, her online statements, and the later contempt of court case all received attention.
However, these events should be described carefully.
A fair account should not treat every accusation made during a difficult divorce as a proven fact. It should also avoid guessing about Mary's private life simply because she was once married to a famous person.
Today, she appears to prefer a much quieter life.
Final Thoughts
Mary Lee Harvey is best known as Steve Harvey's second ex wife and the mother of their son, Wynton Harvey.
The two reportedly met in Arlington, Texas, in 1989 and married in 1996. Their son was born the following year.
Their marriage ended in the mid 2000s and was followed by public disagreements and legal action. Mary made serious claims about her former husband, but those allegations should not be presented as proven facts.
In 2013, she was jailed for contempt of court in a matter connected with orders from the divorce case.
Mary has since kept much of her life private. Her current job, exact residence, relationship status, and net worth are not clearly established.
(FAQs)
How did Mary Lee Harvey become famous?
Mary became widely known through her marriage to comedian and television host Steve Harvey. She was his second wife.
When did Mary Lee Harvey meet Steve Harvey?
They reportedly met in 1989 in Arlington, Texas. One account says they met at a club while Steve was building his comedy career.
Does Mary Lee Harvey have a child with Steve Harvey?
Yes. Mary and Steve have a son named Wynton Harvey, who was born on July 18, 1997.
What happened between Mary Lee Harvey and Steve Harvey?
Their marriage ended in the mid 2000s and was followed by public and legal disagreements. Mary made several allegations about Steve, but those claims should not be treated as proven facts without supporting evidence.
Where is Mary Lee Harvey now?
Mary has largely stayed away from public attention. Older reports connect her with Texas, but her exact current residence and activities have not been clearly confirmed.
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