Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau has had a rocky personal life with several marriages and high-profile relationships.
The former NFL star, who has two children, was married to his first wife, Lisa, in 1979. However, their marriage ended when he allegedly cheated on her with actress Brigitte Nielsen.
Later, Mark tied the knot with JoAnn, several years after parting ways with Nielsen.
Highlights
- Mark Gastineau allegedly had an affair with actress Brigitte Nielsen while married to his first wife, Lisa.
- After finalizing their divorce, Mark was left without any assets due to unpaid child support and other payments.
- Lisa Gastineau suggested that Mark’s health issues were a result of karma for his past actions.
- The former NFL star has been married to JoAnn Gastineau since 2007.
Recently, Mark Gastineau has been in the spotlight due to a confrontation with Brett Favre.
On 10 December 2024, Gastineau was involved in a public argument with Favre at a sports memorabilia show in Chicago.
Gastineau was upset with Favre over an incident from a 2001 game. During that game, Gastineau believed Favre intentionally fell down.
He said Favre allowed Michael Strahan to break Gastineau’s record for the most sacks in a single season.
The argument between Gastineau and Favre was recorded and included in an ESPN documentary titled “The New York Sack Exchange.”
This documentary focuses on Gastineau and his time with the New York Jets. After the video of the argument was shared online, Brett Favre explained his side of the story on social media.
He said he didn’t mean to upset Gastineau and felt sorry for him. Favre also mentioned that he thinks Gastineau should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mark Gastineau Cheated On His First Wife, Lisa With Actress Brigitte Nielsen
Mark Gastineau walked down the aisle with his first wife, Lisa Gastineau, in 1979.
Lisa, who is the star of the E! reality series, “The Gastineau Girls,” met the former athlete when she was only 19 and got married at 20 years old.
They welcomed a daughter, Brittny Gastineau, on 11 November 1982. Mark Gastineau’s daughter appeared on the E! reality series with her mom.
However, the former couple’s marriage lasted only a few years. The two separated in 1986 after Mark allegedly had an affair with actress Brigitte Nielsen.
Following four years of trials, the formerly married couple finalized their divorce in 1991.
I remember when Stallone's wife, Brigitte Nielsen, left him for Mark Gastineau. pic.twitter.com/fAnPhAcLMR
— LiNC🤓LN PARK (@linc0lnpark) January 20, 2017
The former NFL player and actress Brigitte Nielsen’s relationship resulted in the birth of their son, Killian Marcus, in 1989.
However, their romance was short-lived, and they eventually went their separate ways.
Furthermore, the former Jets star’s second marriage was with Patricia Schorr. They got married in 1997. Their marriage only last for a few year.
In September 2000, Mark Gastineau was sentenced to 18 months in ja*il for failing to complete an anger management course.
This course was part of his probation after he allegedly hit his second wife, Patricia.
After he was released from the ja-il, Gastineau became a member of the choir at Times Square Church and married his third wife, JoAnn, in 2007.
Mark and JoAnn are still married. In 2018, he said, “My wife, she and I used to go around and do yard work, but you know what, she does everything now for me.”
Lisa Said Mark Gastineau’s Health Issue Is Due To Karma
In early 2018, Mark Gastineau revealed in a radio interview that he was battling dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
TMZ caught up with his ex-wife, Lisa, outside Craig’s in West Hollywood, L.A., and asked if she had heard about Mark’s condition.
Lisa’s response showed that she hadn’t forgotten about his alleged affair with Brigitte Nielsen. “Maybe it’s karma,” she said, spelling out “K-A-R-M-A” before getting into her car.
Around that time, Gastineau was publicly asking NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for help for former players who were suffering.
He disclosed that he hadn’t received any compensation from the NFL’s billion-dollar concussion settlement and was also suing the NFL.
Mark And Lisa’s Divorce Settlement Saga
In July 1991, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Gastineau lost all his assets after a judge ruled against him for 85 weeks of unpaid child support and other payments.
This ruling finalized a 4-and-a-half-year divorce case. Lisa was granted the divorce on the grounds of “cruel and inhuman treatment.”
The judge also decided that Lisa was entitled to part of the $500,000 that Mark had forfeited when he left the New York Jets during midseason in 1988.
At that time, Lisa was awarded their home in Huntington, valued at $430,000 (in 1991), along with $18,500 annually in combined maintenance and child support for their 7-year-old daughter, Brittny.
According to the publication, the judge, Acting Supreme Court Justice H. Patrick Leis, made this decision on 21 June 1991.
Although Lisa was somewhat disappointed with the settlement, her attorney, Larry Schatz, said they got as much as they could.
Mark, on the other hand, was awarded their $500,000 house in Scottsdale, Arizona, which had little equity and was expected to be foreclosed on soon.
Lisa was running a boutique in Woodbury at that time.
Furthermore, in 2011 Page Six reported that, the athlete’s ex-wife claimed she was going to sue him, for unpaid alimony, child support, and court-ordered college tuition.
She claimed that Mark hadn’t paid her anything for years.
Additional Information
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mark Gasteneau’s net worth is $200K.
He was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma to his parents, Lou and Ernie Gastineau.
During his heyday, Mark was one of the most feared and quickest pass rushers.
