Marilyn Nault (January 15, 1950 – January 21, 2009) was the third wife of Bill Russell, the late legendary professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
Being married to a celebrity automatically makes one a celebrity, which was the case for Marilyn Nault as she came into the limelight as a result of her husband’s fame and has kept making headlines even after her death. Read on to learn all about Bill Russell’s third wife.
Summary of Marilyn Nault’s Bio
- Full name: Marilyn Nault
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: January 15, 1950
- Date of death: January 21, 2009
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Capricon
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Marilyn Nault’s Husband: Bill Russell (deceased)
- Marilyn Nault’s Children: None
- Marilyn Nault’s Parents: Quentin Nault (father) and Helen Nault (mother)
- Siblings: 4
- Marilyn Nault’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 8 inches
- Marilyn Nault’s Height in Centimetres: 172cm
- Marilyn Nault’s Weight: 60kg
- Famous for: Being the third wife of the late basketball player Bill Russell
Marilyn Nault was Born in 1950
Marilyn Nault was born on January 15, 1950, in Concordia, Kansas, United States of America, to her parents, Quentin and Helen Nault. Her parents were both citizens of the United States, but that is about all that is available about them.
Other information such as their occupation is not known as the late Marilyn did not reveal much about her parents. She was White by ethnicity and an American by nationality, with her zodiac sign being Aquarius.
Speaking about her childhood, we know that the late businesswoman had quite a difficult childhood as her parents were not financially balanced to cater to her and her siblings, and this led to them struggling to get by as the days went by.
As already known, Marilyn was not the only child of her parents as she comes from a large family of seven, which consists of her parents, herself, and her four brothers. Theirs was a Catholic family that followed a very devout Christian faith as their parents passed down this belief to their children as they raised them in their home in Kansas. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about Marilyn’s siblings.
Was Bill Russell’s Wife Educated?
Marilyn Nault was a well-educated woman. She had her primary education at a prestigious Catholic elementary school in Kansas. People who knew her way back testified that the late celebrity wife was someone who always took her academics seriously as she knew the importance of education.
Going further in her academic pursuit, Marilyn Nault has a university degree, but neither the name of the university she attended nor the course she took is known to the general public.
Marilyn Nault was a Businesswoman
Marilyn Nault, upon graduating from high school, relocated to Seattle which was where she had to take a job to support her parents. She went ahead to work as a jewelry sales personnel, after which she moved on to get other jobs.
Upon graduating from the university, she went ahead and pursued a job that is not widely known. She also ventured into business and established business enterprises for herself, although not much is known about her businesses as she was a very private person.
She was Bill Russell’s Wife For Thirteen Years
The late Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell were once a married pair. The couple got married in 1996 in a private wedding ceremony which was attended by close friends and family members.
Marilyn worked as a saleswoman at a jewelry store in Seattle when Russell first met her. She was 46 years old while Bill was 62 at the time. They got acquainted and then dated for about four years before deciding to take their relationship to the next level by getting married. For Bill Russell, it was not his first marriage as he had already gotten married twice before meeting Marilyn.
Marilyn Russell and her husband spent 13 years together as husband and wife, enjoying marital bliss and traveling a lot together, but their 13-year marriage produced no children. She did, however, become a stepmother to Bill Russell’s three children from his first marriage to Rose Swisher. Rose and Bill’s children are Kareen, Jacob Russell, and the late William Russell Jr., who died from cancer on January 25, 2016.
Kareen Rusell is a political and legal analyst. She is said to be working with the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights after graduating from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School.
Jacob was born on June 7, 1959. He was married to a woman named Sara, and the couple and their two children lived in Washington, D.C.
Marilyn Nault Died in 2009 of an Unknown Cause
Marilyn Nault died in the early morning of January 21, 2009, at 59. Her death shocked many as it occurred unexpectedly because she had never been reported sick or admitted to a hospital.
Since no one knows what killed her, rumors began to circulate as expected. According to reports, the celebrity wife was said to have been suffering from a number of serious illnesses prior to her death. Some other reports also said she died of cancer.
So far, the family has decided to keep the cause of her death private, so none of the assumptions have been affirmed. As a result, the exact cause of her death is unspecified. Indeed, her death was difficult for the entire Rusell family, including her stepchildren, who were all saddened by her passing.
Marilyn Nault’s Husband was a Professional Basketball Player
Marilyn Russell’s late husband, Bill Russell, was a professional American basketball player who was well-recognized for playing as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The legendary Boston Celtics player not only enjoyed a tremendous NBA career but also led a life filled with exciting experiences.
The legendary NBA player in his lifetime was married four times to four different women. In 1956, he tied the knot for the first time with Rose Swisher Russell, his college love. Their marriage lasted for 17 years, from 1956 until 1973, the longest of all his marriages.
Nevertheless, despite the years they spent together, things got sour between them as they grew emotionally distant and subsequently divorced. Their marriage was blessed with three kids who were the only kids’ Bill Russell had till his death.
Bill Russell moved on from his divorce from his first wife and remarried in 1977. This time he got hitched to Miss USA 1968 winner Dorothy Anstett. This was Bill’s shortest marriage as it lasted for only three years; they got divorced in 1980. The couple had no children from their union.
His marriage to Marilyn Nault was his third attempt, and after Marilyn passed away, Bill fell in love with and married former professional golfer Jeannine Russell. As of the time of their marriage on December 8, 2018, he was 84 years old. Their union did not last so long, as he died four years later.
Bill Russell had lived the rest of his life battling cancer after the untimely passing of Marilyn. The late basketball player, in an interview, claimed that the loss of his third wife, Marilyn Nault, greatly impacted his overall health and outlook on life. Ultimately, Bill passed away on July 31, 2022, at 88.
Marilyn Nault’s Net Worth
Marilyn Nault’s net worth is unknown as the celebrity wife maintained a very private life, making it difficult for anyone to state a specific figure. However, it is speculated that she had a total asset value of more than $1 million at the time of her death.
Her husband, Bill Russell, on the other hand, is estimated to have a net worth of $10 million which he earned from his career as an NBA player.
Quick Facts About Marilyn Nault
- Who was Marilyn Nault? Marilyn Nault was the third wife of Bill Russell. She was born on January 15, 1950, in Concordia, Kansas, and passed away on January 21, 2009.
- What was Marilyn Nault’s profession? Marilyn Nault was a jewelry salesperson, initially based in her hometown Concordia, Kansas. After high school, she moved to Seattle, Washington to further her career.
- When and where did Marilyn Nault meet Bill Russell? Marilyn Nault met Bill Russell in Seattle, Washington, where she moved after graduating from high school. They started dating in 1996 and got married in 2000.
- How long were Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell married? Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell were married for nearly nine years, from February 17, 2000, until Marilyn’s passing on January 21, 2009.
- Did Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell have any children? No, Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell did not have any children together.
- What was Marilyn Nault’s cause of death? Marilyn Nault passed away after a battle with cancer. After her passing, Bill Russell became a significant supporter of the Harold (and Carol) Pump Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cancer.
- Who were Marilyn Nault’s parents and siblings? Marilyn’s parents were Quentin and Helen Nault. She had four brothers: Phil, Eric, James, and Kyle.
- How did Marilyn Nault’s death affect Bill Russell? Marilyn’s passing deeply affected Russell, who dedicated a significant part of his life to fighting cancer following her death. He remained single for several years until marrying retired professional golfer Jeannine Fiorito in 2018.
- What is known about Marilyn Nault’s life and personality? Not much about Marilyn Nault’s life is publicly known because she and Bill Russell avoided the public eye during their time together. However, she is remembered for her cheerful personality and is said to have been a great travel buddy to her husband.
- What was the age difference between Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell? Marilyn Nault was almost sixteen years younger than Bill Russell. At the time of their marriage, Marilyn was 50, and Bill Russell was 66.
