Sally McNeil is a former U.S. Marine and champion bodybuilder whose life took a dramatic turn after becoming the center of a high-profile true-crime case.
Known from the Netflix documentary Killer Sally, she has faced success, struggle, and a long legal journey. This article explores Sally McNeil’s net worth, age, career, personal life, and where she stands today.
What is Sally McNeil Net Worth?
Sally McNeil is a complex figure whose life has covered major success in bodybuilding, service in the U.S. Marines, a high-profile criminal trial, prison time and eventual release.
Her net worth is therefore difficult to pin down precisely, but a number of sources estimate it at around US $500,000 to US $800,000 as of 2025. Given the limited reliable public accounting of her income post-release and the fact that her major career earnings were decades ago, this figure should be taken as a rough estimate, rather than a firm statement of wealth.
Income Details of Sally McNeil
To understand how McNeil’s net worth might have been built (and diminished), it helps to look at several income streams and losses:
- Military service: She served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton.
- Bodybuilding competitions: She won the U.S. Armed Services Physique Championship twice in the late 1980s.
- Wrestling and “muscle worship” video work: To support her family and her husband’s bodybuilding ambitions, she took on paid wrestling work including “muscle worship” sessions, which brought in cash during the early 1990s.
- Documentary and media rights: Post-prison, her story featured in the 2022 documentary series Killer Sally, which may have generated residual income.
- Legal and incarceration costs: Her conviction for the 1995 shooting of her husband, Ray McNeil, resulted in many years of incarceration (she was paroled in 2020). That means significant legal, living-expense and opportunity-costs.
All told, while she had legitimate earnings in her peak athletic and service years, the net effect over time (including prison costs, lost income and limited public career) likely means her estimated net worth falls into the mid-six-figure range rather than millions.
Quick Info About Sally McNeil
Early Life and Family
Sally McNeil had a troubled upbringing. She was born Sally Dempsey in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and grew up witnessing domestic violence in her household.
Her father, Richard Dale Dempsey, was reportedly an alcoholic who frequently abused her mother.From a young age she found refuge in sports such as swimming and cross-country, which later progressed into bodybuilding.
She later joined the U.S. Marines — following in family footsteps — which would mark the beginning of her adult career in strength, discipline and competitive sport. Sally has children — notably Shantina and John — from her first marriage. Her relationships, family dynamics and history of abuse have all been part of her story.
Sally McNeil Husband
Sally McNeil’s most publicly noted marriage was to Ray McNeil, a competitive bodybuilder who once competed in Mr. Olympia. The two were deeply involved in the bodybuilding circuit together.
Their relationship was turbulent and marked by abuse (Sally has alleged that Ray was abusive, and that steroid-induced rage played a role) culminating on Valentine’s Day 1995 when Sally shot Ray at their home.
In March 1996 she was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years-to-life; she was paroled in May 2020 after serving approximately 24–25 years.
In later years she remarried — to Norfleet Stewart — after release.
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Educational Background
Sally attended Dieruff High School in Allentown, where she participated in sports (swimming, diving, track) while her family life was unstable. She enrolled at East Stroudsburg State College (now East Stroudsburg University) with an aim to become a gym teacher, but dropped out due to financial constraints. Soon after, she enlisted in the Marines which became the launching pad for her bodybuilding career.
Career
Sally McNeil’s career can be described in stages:
Military & Early Athletics
She served in the U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton, rose to the rank of sergeant. Her athletic discipline emerged during this period, and she later transitioned into competitive bodybuilding.
Bodybuilding
In the late 1980s she won the U.S. Armed Services Physique Championship twice. In the early 1990s she competed in NPC/IFBB events including the USA Championships and North American Championships. In order to financially support her husband Ray’s bodybuilding ambitions, she also engaged in “muscle worship” and wrestling men for money — which brought both income and notoriety.
Trial, Incarceration and Documentary
On February 14, 1995, she shot her husband Ray; the trial and conviction followed in March 1996 for second-degree murder.
She served her sentence at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California.
After her release in 2020, her story was featured in the documentary series “Killer Sally” (2022). Age, Height and Weight
Age, Height and Weight
- Age: Born September 30, 1960 → as of 2025 she is 65 years old. (Some sources list May 29, 1960)
- Height: Reported around 5 ft 3 inches (160 cm) in some sources
- Weight: During her competitive days her weight varied; one source lists approximately 160 lbs (73 kg).
Sally McNeil Social Profiles
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Conclusion
Sally McNeil’s life is far from a typical celebrity net-worth story. Her early achievements in the Marines and bodybuilding earned her income and recognition, but her later conviction, long incarceration and public notoriety significantly altered the financial and personal trajectory of her life.
Estimated at around US $500,000 to $800,000, her net worth is modest compared to major athletes or media stars — but given the context of prison, lost income years and limited public career rebuilding, that figure reflects resilience rather than fame alone.
Ultimately, Sally McNeil’s story serves as a reminder that wealth isn’t just about earnings, but also about opportunities, life disruptions, personal choices and second chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the estimated net worth of Sally McNeil reliable?
Not absolutely. The estimate is compiled from available public sources and must be viewed as a ballpark figure given the many unknowns (legal costs, asset liquidation, prison time).
Q: Does Sally McNeil still receive income from the documentary?
It is not publicly confirmed what financial arrangements exist for the documentary “Killer Sally”. Any residual income might exist but is not detailed in available sources.
Q: What happened to her husband Ray McNeil?
Ray McNeil died from shotgun wounds sustained on February 14, 1995 at the hands of Sally; she claimed self-defense and was subsequently tried and convicted of second-degree murder.
Q: Where is Sally McNeil now?
She was granted parole in May 2020 and lives in Northern California. Her public activity appears limited.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. All financial figures, including net worth estimates, are approximate and may not reflect the most current data.
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