Steve Harvey Shares An Unbreakable Bond With Wife Of 16 Years Despite An Uncertain Start

Jul 04, 2023

Most of us know Steve Harvey as a comedian and the host of the TV show “Family Feud.” He has also graced the screen by hosting other programs such as the “Miss Universe” competition, “Judge Steve Harvey” and “The Steve Harvey Show.” This talented man has also worked as a businessman and has even written four books.

However, what many people may not be aware of is that Steve went through many struggles before finding his way to fame. This man would do anything for his kids, and it’s evident that his children and step-children greatly appreciate the sacrifices he’s made along the way.

While it may feel like Steve has been a part of our lives and an active member of Hollywood forever, he wasn’t born into fame. Growing up, he tried his hand at just about every job imaginable to make ends meet, including working as a boxer and a mailman. Steve’s dream, though, was to make it big in the world of stand-up comedy. However, he suffered a string of failures and was even homeless for several years.

Through it all, Steve did everything he could to provide for his children. Nowadays, he is able to celebrate all of his accomplishments alongside them, giving them the best life possible and proving that you can overcome any hardship as long as you have your loved ones by your side. Although Steve has faced some heartache in his personal life, he is now happily married and has seven children. Read on to find out about his big, beautiful family.

Steve was born on Jan. 17, 1957, in Welch, West Virginia. His full name is actually Broderick Stephen Harvey Sr. as he was named after actor Broderick Crawford from the TV series “Highway Patrol.” Steve and his family later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Glenville High School in 1974. He had a severe stuttering problem as a child but worked hard to overcome it – something that is definitely apparent in all of his work on television and radio. After finishing high school, Steve went on to attend Kent State University and West Virginia University.

It wasn’t long before Steve found his calling and performed his first stand-up comedy routine in 1985. However, finding his passion did not mean that he was finding success, as he actually struggled to make ends meet. According to PEOPLE, Steve found himself living in his car for three years during the late 1980s when he performed gigs that did not provide a hotel. He even showered at gas stations or swimming pool showers.

This was not the only tribulation Steve was going through during this point in his life. He was also dealing with heartbreak, as his first marriage to Marcia Harvey ended in 1994. They tied the knot in 1981 and had two children together. 

Steve did not give up on love, though, and married again to a woman named Mary Shackelford. They were married from 1996 until 2005 and had one child together, but the marriage was not meant to last. Fortunately for the comedian, better times were ahead, as a new wife and a new job opportunity were right around the corner.

In June 2007, Steve married Marjorie Bridges, the woman who he described as being responsible for making him the man he is today and completely changing his life for the better. Marjorie was already a mother to three children, all of whom Steve happily adopted, according to The Sun.

The good news for Steve didn’t end there, as he began hosting the highly loved game show “Family Feud” in September 2010. While Steve was already establishing a career for himself prior to this gig, landing the hosting job on the game show further cemented himself as a professional television host.

Steve has since gone on to become a well-known and adored star, finding plenty of fame and success along the way. Celebrity Net Worth reported that Steve's estimated net worth is $200 million, with an average salary of $45 million. He earned about $90 million from 2017 to 2019 from several different business ventures and also earns at least $10 million as the host of “Family Feud.”

His family was always supportive of his career and appreciative of the sacrifices he made along the way, proving that he has a lot of love to give to his beautiful wife and seven children. Steve’s children from his first wife are his two twin daughters, Brandi Harvey and Karli Harvey and his son Broderick Harvey Jr. His marriage to Shackelford gave him his fourth child and his second son Wynton Harvey. Steve's marriage to his current wife blessed him with three more children, as he graciously adopted Morgan, Lori and Jason Bridges.

While Steve and Marjorie are happily married now, their pairing almost didn’t make it to fruition. They actually first met way back in 1987. While they didn’t pursue a relationship at the time, she still made an impression on him. Steve recounted to Good Housekeeping:

“The very first thing I said to Marjorie was, ‘I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to marry you one day.’ That was the beginning.”

After Steve’s two marriages, they unexpectedly reconnected through a mutual friend in 2005, and the timing couldn’t have been better. They tied the knot in 2007 and haven’t left each other’s side in almost two decades, as proved by a loving clip captioned “I love You Girl” in May 2023. 

On the occasion of their 15th anniversary, Steve even penned a touching letter expressing his love and devotion to Marjorie, with whom he also shares six grandchildren. He wrote the “first time around didn’t pan out the way we would have wanted it to,” after which he suffered bouts of homelessness, unemployment and depression. However, they reconnected and “all the stars aligned for us at the right moment.” He continued:

“You gave me something I never had before in my life as an adult. You gave me peace. … Through our marriage, we learned to go with the flow. I also learned to listen more. But the best lesson you’ve taught me is that no matter what happens, we will always be fine.” 

He ended the note by thanking Marjorie “because without you there is no way my life could be this. I owe you a debt of gratitude because you simply changed my life. … You are the single biggest reason outside of God’s grace that I am where I am today. You’re the one.”

What do you think about Steve Harvey’s life and career? Are you happy that the funnyman found true love at long last? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.