From Activism to the Ring, A Diverse Family United by a Father’s Unconditional Love and Lasting Impact
Muhammad Ali, the iconic three-time world heavyweight boxing champion who transcended sport to become a global humanitarian, passed away in June 2016 at the age of 74. Yet, his profound legacy lives on, vibrantly maintained and diversified through the lives of his nine children: Maryum, Rasheda, Jamillah, Muhammad Ali Jr., Khaliah, Miya, Hana, Laila, and Asaad Amin. Born to Ali across four marriages and five women, this large, blended family shares a unique bond forged by their father’s unwavering commitment to their individual well-being and collective unity. As his daughter Miya revealed in a 2022 LipTalk Podcast, Ali “made sure that each of us had special attention,” a sentiment echoed by Hana Ali in her 2018 memoir, At Home with Muhammad Ali: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Forgiveness. “Although our stories differ,” Hana penned, “we share the fact that throughout our lives, our father showered us with unconditional love and affection.”
Ali, despite his demanding global career, intentionally fostered a close-knit family environment. Hana’s memoir highlights this, noting how “Every summer, my father brought his children together at our house” — referring to the Los Angeles mansion where siblings from different mothers would gather. This deliberate effort ensured a strong familial connection that persists to this day, as Jamillah Ali-Joyce affirmed in a 2022 interview: “To this day, we are close to one another because of him.”
The boxing legend himself reflected on the complexities of balancing his public persona with private fatherhood. “I tried to be the greatest boxer in the world and a good parent, too,” he stated, as quoted by Esquire Middle East. He recognized the unique challenge of parenting, noting, “Often, parents don’t really know if what they are doing is right or wrong until their child is grown and it is too late to change any of the decisions.” Maryum Ali recounted a poignant example of this family unity just months before his passing. On January 17, 2016, his 74th birthday, the family gathered for a celebration, complete with a slideshow of grandchildren and children. Maryum described it to the Los Angeles Times as “such a blessing that his last big family gathering was with everybody at his house.” In his final reflections on fatherhood, Ali expressed profound pride: “Whatever my failings as a parent, I am very proud of all my children,” he shared, acknowledging the added difficulty for them “to make their own way with such a controversial and public father.”
Here is everything to know about Muhammad Ali’s nine children:
Maryum “May May” Ali, 57
Born June 18, 1968, Maryum is the first child of Ali and his second wife, Khalilah Ali (née Belinda Boyd). She maintained a close relationship with her father, frequently traveling from Los Angeles to visit him in Arizona. Maryum’s early career as a comedian and rapper eventually led her to social work, where she dedicated over 15 years to juvenile delinquency prevention and youth development. Following her father’s 1984 Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, Maryum became a prominent advocate for Parkinson’s awareness in the early 2000s, telling PEOPLE in 2016, “This diagnosis doesn’t mean your life is over.” She authored the 2003 children’s book I Shook Up the World about her father’s life and appeared on a 2016 episode of Family Feud with her siblings Miya, Hana, Laila, and Ali’s third wife, Veronica. A public speaker today, Maryum credits her father with profoundly shaping her character, telling the Los Angeles Times, “I’m the woman that I am today because of him. I really listened to his lessons.”
Miya Ali
Born in 1972 to Ali and Patricia Harvell, Miya’s childhood involved living separately from her father, though he often invited her to his L.A. home and even made a special trip to her school when her classmates refused to believe he was her father. Miya, who revealed to WWLTV in 2017 that she struggled with dyslexia and was “bullied” as a child, co-launched the national wellness initiative Dyslexia Diagnosis Day. Later, she moved in with Ali to attend college in Michigan, recalling him as “a lot of fun, he was more like a friend,” with whom she could discuss “whatever.” A former hotel worker and mother to a son named Michael, Miya now serves as a brand ambassador for her younger sister Laila’s brand, Laila Ali Lifestyle.
Rasheda Ali, 54
One of twin daughters born August 21, 1970, to Ali and Khalilah, Rasheda forged a deeper bond with her father in adulthood, traveling with him frequently after college. She and her twin, Jamillah, studied mass communications at Western Illinois University. Rasheda is a mother of two sons with husband Bob Walsh: Biaggio Ali Walsh, an MMA fighter born in 1998, and Nico Ali Walsh, a professional boxer born in 2000. Like her big sister Maryum, Rasheda is a Parkinson’s advocate, publishing the 2005 children’s book I’ll Hold Your Hand So You Won’t Fall: A Child’s Guide to Parkinson’s Disease. At her father’s deathbed in 2016, Rasheda pledged to continue his legacy of “loving and giving,” a promise she reiterated in the 2021 docuseries simply titled, Muhammad Ali.
Jamillah Ali-Joyce, 54
The twin sister of Rasheda, Jamillah was also born on August 21, 1970. She recounted in a 2022 interview with WGVU35 that Ali’s frequent visits involved him loving to “tote us around, go to restaurants, go to nice places.” Jamillah also told The Mirror in June 2022, “We loved spending summers [at our dad’s Los Angeles mansion] because his goal was to get all of us [children] together. We all had different mothers. He wanted us to all get to know each other because we lived in different states.” This concerted effort fostered their enduring closeness, with Jamillah stating, “To this day, we are close to one another because of him.” After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studying at Western Illinois University, Jamillah had a minor acting role in 1994’s Beyond Desire. For over two decades, she has served as a job counselor for the Illinois Secretary of State Employment and actively fundraises for several Chicago charities. Jamillah resides in the city with her husband, Michael Joyce, and their three children: Nadia, Amira, and Jake.
Khaliah Ali, 51
Born in June 1974 to Ali and Wanda Bolton (now Aaisha), Khaliah spent parts of her early childhood at Ali’s training camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, alongside her siblings, even living in a cabin adjacent to her stepmother Belinda and her children. Khaliah fondly remembers her father’s loving nature, particularly his constant reassurance about her beauty and intelligence, dubbing her “Madame President,” despite her struggles with weight. A fashion designer, Khaliah and her son Jacob (whom she shares with ex-husband Spencer Wertheimer) were present in Ali’s final hours in 2016. She married music executive Jason Flom on October 6, 2024, after a three-month engagement, describing their newfound love to PEOPLE as “so seamless and easy.”
Muhammad Ali Jr.
Born in 1972 to Ali and Khalilah, Muhammad Jr. grew up closely with his half-sisters, recalling his father’s frequent presence and efforts to unite all the siblings for family trips to the Pennsylvania training camp, where they rode horses and watched him train. He described his relationship with his father as “like a brother, brother-type relationship.” Despite a period of disconnect in later years, he was at his father’s deathbed when the boxer died in 2016. The subject of the 2023 documentary My Father Muhammad Ali: The Untold Story, which openly addressed his struggles with drug addiction, Muhammad Jr. established the Muhammad Ali Legacy Continues organization in 2023. This initiative combats bullying and promotes anti-racism, with Muhammad Jr. leading anti-bullying talks and teaching self-defense and conflict resolution. He is a father to three children: Saliah, Ameera, and Shakera.
Hana Ali, 49
Born August 6, 1976, to Ali and his third wife, Veronica Porché, Hana described her Fremont, California childhood as a “fairy tale,” albeit one characterized by her father’s extraordinary generosity, often bringing homeless families home in his Rolls-Royce. A self-professed “daddy’s girl,” Hana vividly recalls Ali’s nightly stories, morning kisses, and even his endearing attempts to braid her hair for school. She co-wrote The Soul of a Butterfly (2003) with her father and authored More Than a Hero (2000), along with her 2018 memoir At Home with Muhammad Ali: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Forgiveness. Hana is also a freelance writer for CNN and has appeared in documentaries such as The Trials of Muhammad Ali (2013) and I Am Ali (2014). She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, mixed martial artist Kevin Casey.
Laila Ali, 47
Born December 30, 1977, to Ali and Veronica, Laila recalls a childhood impacted by her father’s extensive travels. An entrepreneur from a young age, she started her first business, “Laila’s Nail Studio,” at 18, after an initial job at McDonald’s. Laila famously followed in her father’s footsteps, becoming a professional boxer despite Ali’s initial reluctance. He explicitly “tried to talk me out of it,” she recounted to PEOPLE in 2022. However, she persevered, assuring him, “Dad, if I get knocked down, I am going to get back up just like you did.” Ali ultimately witnessed many of her fights, including her notable 2001 bout against Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter of his legendary rival Joe Frazier. Laila retired undefeated in 2007 as a super middleweight and light heavyweight champion, earning her father’s full respect and pride. Ali was present at her July 23, 2007, wedding to NFL star Curtis Conway, with whom she has two children, Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr. (born 2008) and Sydney J. Conway (born 2011). Laila has appeared on numerous television shows including The Masked Singer (2019), Celebrity Wife Swap, Chopped: All-Stars, Home Made Simple, and The New Celebrity Apprentice. Today, Laila runs her own successful lifestyle brand, Laila Ali Lifestyle.
Asaad Amin Ali
The youngest of Ali’s children, Asaad was adopted by Ali and his fourth wife, Lonnie Ali, at five months old. Raised on a farm in a small Michigan town, Asaad pursued baseball at the University of Louisville before working for the Chicago White Sox and coaching college baseball. He currently serves as a multimedia content producer for the University of Louisville’s athletics department. Following his father’s death in 2016, Asaad penned a heartfelt tribute, expressing gratitude for the love, bravery, and wisdom Ali instilled in him over 25 years. Asaad has a daughter and a son with his wife, Rachel Ali, whom he met during their freshman year of college.
Through their diverse paths and shared memories, Muhammad Ali’s nine children collectively uphold the spirit of “The Greatest,” ensuring his extraordinary legacy of love, conviction, and humanitarianism continues to inspire new generations. Their individual achievements and familial bond stand as a testament to the enduring impact of a father who, despite his global fame, prioritized personal connection and instilled profound values in each of his beloved offspring.
