Martha Firestone Ford Net Worth: $800 Million
Category: Richest Business › Richest Billionaires
Net Worth: $800 Million
Birthdate: September 16, 1925 (98 years old)
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
What is Martha Firestone Ford’s Net Worth?
Martha Firestone Ford is an American businesswoman with a net worth of $800 million. She was married to William Clay Ford, the grandson of Henry Ford, from 1947 until his death in 2014. Her wealth is not solely from her marriage; her grandfather, Harvey Firestone, founded Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Martha Firestone Ford is also the former owner and chairwoman of the Detroit Lions of the NFL.
Early Life
Martha Parke Firestone Ford was born on September 16, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Harvey S. Firestone Jr. and Elizabeth Parke Firestone. Her paternal grandparents were Harvey Samuel Firestone, the founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., and Idabelle Smith Firestone. Martha graduated from Vassar College in 1946.
Detroit Lions
William Clay Ford bought the Detroit Lions in 1963 for $4.5 million, becoming the sole owner. After his death, the controlling interest of the team passed to Martha, with each of her four children holding small shares. Martha’s ownership was marked by accountability and a willingness to invest in the team. In 2017, she led a privately financed $100 million renovation of Ford Field. In her first season as owner, the Lions went 11-5, but a poor start the following year led her to fire longtime president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew. She then hired Rod Wood to run the Lions’ business operations.
Martha stepped down as the Detroit Lions’ owner on June 23, 2020, succeeded by her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp. By the end of her tenure, she was one of only 10 female NFL team owners.
Personal Life
Martha Firestone Ford met William Clay Ford in New York at a lunch arranged by their mothers. They married on June 21, 1947, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron, Ohio. The wedding was described as “the biggest society wedding in Akron’s history” by the Akron Beacon Journal.
The couple had four children: Martha Parke Morse, Sheila Firestone Hamp, William Clay Ford Jr., and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis. William died from pneumonia in 2014, just five days before his 89th birthday. Martha has 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Martha Firestone Ford is also on the board of the Henry Ford Health System. She has lived in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, since her marriage to William and now resides in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, in the house they built on Lake St. Clair in 1960.
Martha Firestone Ford’s life story encompasses her influential heritage, significant contributions to the Detroit Lions, and her impactful philanthropic efforts. Her legacy continues to shape both the automotive and sports industries.
