Larry Bird needs no formal introduction. The legendary NBA star is one of the finest basketball players to grace the NBA. He was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden, Indiana, United States to Georgia and Claude Bird.
Although Bird had a turbulent childhood, he later became a successful professional basketballer. Larry Bird, a three-time NBA champion, led the Boston Celtics to three NBA Championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986, winning three MVP awards in the process.
A popular aphorism states that there is a woman behind every successful man. If you are wondering to know the woman in Larry Bird’s life, it is no other person than Dinah Mattingly.
Larry Bird’s popularity has thrown Dinah into the limelight but she has also avoided public scrutiny for years. Larry and Dinah have been married for more than 35 years and have kept their marriage away from the media and the general public.
This post offers to provide you with information about Larry Bird’s wife Dinah Mattingly.
Profile Summary
Full name | Dinah Mattingly Bird |
Date of Birth | 16 November 1954 |
Place of Birth | Vigo County, Indiana |
Age | 69 (as of September 2024) |
Gender | Female |
Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
Nationality | American |
Residence | West Baden Springs, Indiana |
Alma mater | Indiana State University |
Height | 5 ft 5In tall (1.67 m) |
Weight | 123 lbs (57 kg) |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Hazel |
Marital status | Married |
Husband | Larry Bird |
Children | Mariah & Connor |
Net worth | $1 million |
Who is Dinah Mattingly?
Dinah Mattingly is famously known for being the wife of NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird. She was born on November 16, 1956, in Vigo County, Indiana, U.S. She had her college education at Indiana State University, where she studied physical education.
After her graduation, she became a physical education teacher, teaching students at North Side High School in French Lick, Indiana.
Dinah met Larry Bird during her college years but they weren’t dating until she graduated from college in 1986. The pair got married on 31st October 1989 in a small wedding ceremony held in a friend’s house in Terre Haute, Indiana, which had seven people in attendance.
Before their marriage, Larry was previously married to Janet Condra, who was his lover at Springs Valley High School, and they tied the knot on November 8, 1975. He was in his first year at Indiana State at the time he first wedded.
However, the marriage crashed in less than a year. Despite attempts to reconcile and revive the marriage in 1977 when they welcomed their daughter, Corrie, things didn’t work out for them.
Amazingly, Dinah Mattingly (born November 16, 1954) is two years older than Larry (born December 7, 1956), and the duo has remained together for years.
Even though there are several rumors and cheating accusations of an illegitimate child, the couple has never separated or called it quits. Dinah has been actively supporting her husband. During his playing years, she was constantly present, cheering him to victory and after his retirement, she backed him in taking up several front-office positions.
Larry Birds’ Bio and Career
Larry Bird is one of the most decorated NBA players of his generation. He was the 6th overall pick in the first round of the 1978 NBA draft and was subsequently selected by the Boston Celtics.
He retired from his playing career in 1992 after suffering a back injury. All through his professional NBA career, Larry made a total of 897 appearances with 5,695 assists (6.3 apg), 8,974 rebounds (10.0 rpg), and 21,791 points (24.3 ppg). He retired as the 5th free-throw shooter of all-time behind the likes of Mark Price, Rick Barry, Calvin Murphy, and Scott Skiles.
Following his retirement, he took up a front-office position with the Boston Celtics.
In 1997, Larry was named as the Indiana Pacers head coach, where he won Coach of the Year in his debut season. He coached the team for three years and resigned in 2000; just as he promised. In 2003, he emerged as Indiana Pacers’ president of operations.
He helped the Indiana Pacers end a 4-year playoff drought during the 2020-11 season. The win saw him clinch the NBA Executive of the Year award in 2012, making him the only person in NBA history to win Most Valuable Player (MVP), Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Not to forget, he also won individual awards as a player. Some of the awards he won as a player include Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player (MVP), Finals MVP, and All-Star MVP.
In June 2013, Larry returned as Pace31 October ll operations president – just a year after winning the Executive of the Year award. However, he resigned again in 2017 but stayed on the board in an advisory position.
Dinah Mattingly’s Children
Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird have no biological children of their own but they adopted two children, who they named Mariah and Conner. Dinah also served as a stepmother to Corrie, Larry’s daughter from his first marriage to Julie Condra.
Dinah Mattingly’s Net Worth
Dinah Mattingly conceals her personal life from the public view. She has no Instagram account where one can keep track of her career trajectory. Her husband, Larry has managed to keep a low profile despite his status as an NBA legend.
With Larry Bird’s net worth estimated to be around $75 million, Dinah Mattingly could have around $15 million or more by marriage laws. Her husband earned over $26 million in salary all through his basketball career, which is a decent salary.
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