Mari Hulman George Net Worth

Mary Hulman George was an American businesswomen and philanthropist. She was best known as the chairperson of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1988 to 2016 and also of Hulman & Company. Mari Hulman George net worth before her death is estimated to be $50 million.

Mary was born on December 26, 1934 in Evansville, Indiana. She was the only child in her family born to Tony Hulman and Mary Fendrich Hulman. When she was 22 years old, she dated Elmer George and married with him on April 29, 1957. Together they had four children including one step children.

Elmer George was a racing driver but he had a little success as a racer. He retired from racing in 1963 and later became a Speedway vice-president and head of the IMS Radio Network. In 1976, Mary filed for divorce and after four weeks of filing the divorce, he was shot multiple times and was killed by Guy Trollinger, the family’s horse trainer and Mari’s alleged boyfriend.

After Mari’s father Tony Hulman died in 1977, her mother Mary Fendrich was named the chairperson of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hulman & Co. After Mary’s health began to decline, she retired and passed the family business to her daughter in 1988. She held those positions until 2016 and shortly after 2016 Indianapolis 500, she was elected chairman emeritus while her son Tony George was elevated to the chairman status.

Like her parents, Mari is horse lover. In 2001, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security renamed their search and rescue training area at Camp Atterbury the Mari Hulman George Search and Rescue Training Center, in recognition of her contributions to the care of animals. In- addition to that, she has also been active in the rescue and adoption of racing greyhounds.

On November 3, 2018 at the age of 83, she passed away.

Mari Hulman George Net Worth: $50 million

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Early Life and Education

Mari Hulman George was born Mary Antonia Hulman on December 26, 1934, in Evansville, Indiana, as the only child of Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr. and Mary Fendrich Hulman. Her parents were prominent Indiana philanthropists and business owners, with her mother’s family connected to the prestigious Fendrich cigar business. From the age of eleven, Mari’s life became intricately connected to motorsports, as she was frequently surrounded by the families of Indianapolis 500 drivers.

For her education, Mari attended St. Benedict School in Terre Haute and later the Ladywood School in Indianapolis. She then attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In recognition of her significant contributions to education and business, she received honorary doctorates from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1998 and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Career Highlights

Mari’s entry into the business world came remarkably young. Before her twenty-first birthday, she co-founded the HOW racing team with family friend Roger Wolcott, fielding competitive AAA and USAC Sprint and National Championship cars. The team employed notable drivers including Jerry Hoyt, Eddie Sachs, Tony Bettenhausen, Roger McCluskey, and Elmer George, whom Mari married in April 1957.

When her father purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in November 1945, rescuing it from near-certain demolition following World War II, Mari became immersed in professional auto racing at the highest levels. In 1988, she ascended to Chairman of the Board of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a role she held until 2016. She also served as chairperson of Hulman & Company, the family’s holding company managing their various business interests.

From 1997 to 2015, Mari held the distinguished honor of officially starting both the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400 with the famous command: “(Ladies and) Gentlemen, start your engines!” This role made her face recognizable to millions of racing fans worldwide and became one of the most visible symbols of her leadership at the Speedway.

Personal Life and Legacy

Mari married Elmer George in April 1957, having met him through the HOW racing team. However, the marriage ended in divorce when Mari filed in May 1976. Tragically, just four weeks after the divorce was finalized, Elmer George was killed by Guy Trollinger, the family’s horse trainer who had become Mari’s close companion. She was the mother of three daughters—Nancy, Josie, and Kathi—and one son, Anton H. “Tony” George, who would have significant influence on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mari’s philanthropic legacy was deeply shaped by her parents’ example. Her passion for equine studies led her to establish the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1989. The broader Hulman-George family made substantial contributions to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana State University, Purdue University, and Indiana University. Her grandfather Anton Hulman Sr. had donated the 123 acres upon which Rose Polytechnic Institute was built, and the family continued supporting the institution until it became Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1971.

Mari Hulman George passed away on November 3, 2018, at the age of eighty-three, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as a pioneering businesswoman in professional auto racing, a dedicated philanthropist, and a steward of one of America’s most cherished sporting institutions.