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Maureen E. McPhilmy was a household name not due to her career but due to her tumultuous marriage and all-publicized divorce with conservative political commentator Bill O’Reilly. Although she started her career as a public relations professional in New York, her personal life put her in the limelight in a way she never wanted to be a known figure. In the present day, 2026, Maureen has removed her life from the media hub, but American society is still highly interested in her case.
Early Life and Career in Public Relations
Maureen E. McPhilmy was a woman who had established her career before she got her present name, Bill O’Reilly’s wife, since she had set out on her own business road in the competitive public relations world. She was born in 1966 in Chittenango, New York, and brought up in a middle-class Irish-American family. Later, she relocated to New York City, where she got employed in the public relations sector.
In the 1990s, Maureen was a PR executive who handled media relations and corporate communications. It is her professional attitude and hard work ethic that have earned her a decent career in PR circles in Manhattan. Her industry contacts led to her finally meeting Bill O’Reilly, who was an up-and-comer at ABC News.
Quick Profile:
| Feature | Details |
| Full Name | Maureen Elizabeth McPhilmy |
| Born | May 11, 1966 (Age 59 in 2026) |
| Husband | Jeffrey Gross (m. 2011) |
| Ex-Husband | Bill O’Reilly (m. 1996–2011) |
| Children | Madeline O’Reilly, Spencer O’Reilly |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated $5M – $10M |
Meeting Bill O’Reilly: A Seemingly Perfect Match
Maureen met Bill O’Reilly in 1992 when he worked as a correspondent with ABC News. They fell in love soon, and they got married in 1996, after a few years of courtship. O’Reilly then joined Fox News, where he soon became the host of their number one-rated show, The O’Reilly Factor, in cable news.
During the initial few years, their marriage seemed good on the exterior. Two children, a daughter called Madeline born in 1998 and a son named Spencer born in 2003, were born to the couple. Maureen retreated from her PR career to take care of their children; O’Reilly was in a taxing career and kept the house of their family in Manhasset, Long Island.
These years saw Maureen not be in the limelight much, as she would have loved some privacy even though her husband was gaining publicity. She used to make frequent appearances at public events with O’Reilly, though she did not seek the attention of the publicity that comes with being the wife of one of the most controversial men in cable news.
The Marriage Unravels: Allegations and Infidelity
The marriage was predating behind closed doors, however. According to court records that were later published, Maureen had gotten a divorce in 2010, claiming irreconcilable differences. The truth, however, was much graver.
Some shocking charges surfaced during the divorce process. Teenager Maureen had a daughter, Madeline, who later on testified to seeing her father force her mother down a staircase by the neck. This was an eyewitness who would be important in the further custody proceedings.
Also, news appeared that Maureen had already developed a relationship with Jeffrey Gross, who was one of the detectives of the Nassau County police, at the time she was married to O’Reilly. The issue of when this relationship started, before or after the separation of the couple, was also disputed; O’Reilly asserted that he had an adulterous relationship, whereas Maureen insisted that the affair was after their marriage collapsed.
The Bill O’Reilly Divorce: How Much Was the Settlement?
The divorce of Maureen McPhilmy and Bill O’Reilly was one of the most controversial celebrity divorces in American history. The settlement, which was settled in 2011, is said to have involved large sums of money being paid to Maureen, although no specific details could be released in public. It is estimated that the settlement was valued at suitably many millions of dollars and child support payments.
The divorce decree was not the end of the battle in the legal arena. In 2015, O’Reilly sued Maureen with an outrageous lawsuit of 10 million dollars because she used his money to finance her relationship with Jeffrey Gross and committed fraud in their divorce proceedings.
The final killing of O’Reilly occurred in 2016 when a New York court of appeals ruled in favor of Maureen having primary residential custody of the two children. The influence of the testimony of Madeline concerning the witnessing of acts of domestic violence and the choice of the children to live with their mother greatly affected this decision.
The reaction of O’Reilly to the loss of custody became questionable. There were reports that he even attempted to have Maureen excommunicated by the Catholic Church since she had remarried and still managed to receive communion. His other alleged act is the use of his connections to launch an internal-affairs probe into the actions of Gross as a police officer. Such attempts did not seem to work out.
Who is Maureen McPhilmy’s Husband, Jeffrey Gross? Their Life in 2026
Maureen E. McPhilmy married Jeffrey Gross after her highly publicized divorce from Bill O’Reilly, marking a fresh start away from the disarray of her previous relationship. Gross, a veteran detective in the Nassau County police, provided a striking contrast to the high-profile media personality she had left behind.
While her first marriage often played out on a public stage due to O’Reilly’s celebrity status, her life with Gross has been purposefully discreet. In 2026, the couple continues to maintain an extremely low profile, choosing to focus on a quiet family life rather than media attention. This shift has allowed Maureen to reclaim her privacy and build a stable environment for her family.
By 2026, Maureen and Jeffrey are still together after over 15 years and are living a serene life in New York.
Maureen McPhilmy’s Children: Madeline and Spencer O’Reilly
The 2 children of Maureen and Bill O’Reilly have been relatively insulated from the outside world, but when they were brought into the custody court challenge, the children received attention they did not need. They have grown up to be successful young adults in their own ways, though.
Madeline O’Reilly: Witness to Advocate
Madeline O’Reilly was born in 1998, and she was a key figure in the custody case because she courageously testified about the alleged abuse she was witnessing at the hands of her father. The fact that she was courageous enough to testify at such a tender age was not easy, but it was very important in contributing to the court ruling in favor of Maureen being given custody of the child.
In 2026, Madeline, 28 years old by that time, had turned her painful childhood memories into a potent instrument to help people with even more power. Her major is now her Juris Doctor (JD) degree, and she decided to major in child advocacy and victims’ rights, which are very obviously relevant to her own life, as her parents were fighting it out in a custody war.
Madeline’s decision to focus on protecting children and advocating for victims demonstrates remarkable resilience and a determination to help others facing similar circumstances. While she maintains her privacy regarding personal matters, her professional direction speaks volumes about her character and values.
Spencer O’Reilly: The Athlete and Graduate
Spencer O’Reilly became the younger child, born in 2003. The custody battles were at their peak when he was in his early teens. He has remained out of the limelight just like his sister, although information about his education became available.
Spencer joined Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, and was a lacrosse player on the team. Sports programs were his education in the form of positive outreach during the hard times of life when his parents divorced.
Spencer attended Salve Regina and is 23. He is already an adult, but the information about his career is confidential, as the family does not want the media coverage.
What is Maureen E. McPhilmy’s net worth in 2026?
Due to her privacy, it is difficult to estimate the precise net worth of Maureen McPhilmy; however, it is possible to estimate it using available data.
- Divorce settlement: The deal has not been disclosed, but according to the legal experts, the money involved is a sizeable one. Maureen must have gotten multiple millions of dollars after O’Reilly had an estimated wealth of over $85 million. According to the conservative estimates, that amount is $35 million.
- Child support: In addition to the settlement, Maureen was to be paid by Spencer and Madeline. These amounts were huge, and most likely, until every child grew up, they may easily become hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
- Real estate: She retained a large real estate property as a result of the divorce, including the family house in Manhasset, Long Island, valued at over $1 million.
- Present income: Her husband, Jeffrey Gross, is a police detective. Such a position in Nassau County will cost between 100,000 and 150,000 a year and will contribute to the family’s revenue.
Adding all this into consideration, it is possible to conclude that by 2026, Maureen will have a net worth that is between $5 and 10 million. The reason is that the financial security allows her to remain private and concentrate on raising her children.
Bill O’Reilly in 2026: Where Is He Now?
Maureen is discreet, and Bill O’Reilly is not, yet he is actively involved in getting noticed, unlike his Fox News days.
O’Reilly transferred to independent media after leaving Fox News in 2017 and was harassed. He continues to host his podcast show, No Spin News, and has written a handful of books in 2026 to keep his relevance in the conservative learning field.
However, the cultural influence of O’Reilly is nowhere as high as in his Fox News period, when the show, The O’Reilly Factor, had millions of viewers. His present podcast and presentations have a smaller but still faithful audience.
Maureen McPhilmy, today Life 2026: Moving Forward/Privacy
Throughout the private life she desired after breaking up with Bill O’Reilly, Maureen has retained it in 2026. She is not willing to make a profit off her memoir through interviews, publishing, or appearances, unlike her counterparts who were thrust into the spotlight courtesy of their connection with celebrities.
She resides in New York along with her husband, Jeffrey Gross. Both children are adults: Madeline attends law school and does advocacy work, whereas Spencer completed Salve Regina. Therefore, Maureen is no longer a full-time mother but a person who is referring to new life and career stages.
The fact that she managed to recover her privacy despite the extreme attention from the masses depicts discipline and resilience on her part. With the culture that values fame, Bracelet is a clear win for Maureen as she opts to live privately.
The Broader Impact: Domestic Violence and Speaking Out
Even though Maureen herself never delivered any speech on her experiences, her story contributes to the larger discourse of domestic violence, particularly among prominent couples. The hidden nature of abuse in rich households and the bravery that children muster to speak out about what they have witnessed were raised in Madeline’s testimony.
By believing what Madeline said and awarding Maureen primary custody, the court made it abundantly clear that, even having a lot of money, fame, and power, abusive parties cannot get away with it.
Advocacy of children’s and victims’ rights is a purpose that makes Madeline endure pain. Her work can guide numerous children and families in her situation and make a legal change out of a traumatic past.
Conclusion
The tale of Maureen is that of suffering and recovery. Through a successful career in PR, a rough marriage to a well-known media personality, the so-called abuse, the bitter divorce by the public, and the struggle to keep her life private and dignified, she managed unusual situations.
Nowadays, most people would make such stories for money through tell-all books or media, but Maureen did not. She valued the well-being of her children and her privacy more than money and recognition.
Her children are both successful (Maureen having advocacy for children and the rights of victims) and do well in the field of their studies (Spencer finishing university and playing sports). It is through parenting and the healthy household Maureen created with Jeffrey Gross after the divorce that her children prosper.
Maureen is the woman she has always been: a private citizen, mother, and wife, and is no longer under the cameras and controversy that surrounded her.
The fact that she can easily turn off the tabloid topic and turn to her personal life displays her resilience and will to make her story her own.
FAQs
1. Who is Maureen McPhilmy’s husband in 2026?
Maureen is married to Jeffrey Gross, a veteran Nassau County police detective. The couple has remained together for over 15 years and continues to live a private life in New York.
2. What was the outcome of the Bill O’Reilly custody battle?
In 2016, a New York appellate court awarded Maureen McPhilmy primary residential custody of their two children, Madeline and Spencer. The decision was largely based on Madeline’s testimony about witnessing domestic violence.
3. Is Maureen McPhilmy still active in public relations?
No, Maureen has almost entirely withdrawn from public and professional life since her high-profile divorce. As of 2026, she maintains an extremely low profile, focusing on her family.
4. What happened between Bill O’Reilly and Maureen McPhilmy?
Their marriage ended in a highly contentious divorce finalized in 2011, involving serious allegations of domestic violence. O’Reilly subsequently sued Maureen for $10 million but ultimately lost primary custody of their children to Maureen in 2016.
5. Does Maureen McPhilmy have children?
Yes, Maureen has two children with Bill O’Reilly: Madeline (born 1998) and Spencer (born 2003). As of 2026, both are accomplished adults. Madeline is pursuing her JD degree, focusing on child advocacy, while Spencer graduated from Salve Regina University.
6. What is Maureen E. McPhilmy’s net worth?
Maureen’s estimated net worth in 2026 is between $5 million and $10 million, primarily from her divorce settlement, child support payments, real estate holdings, and her husband’s income.
7. Is Maureen McPhilmy still married to Jeffrey Gross?
Yes, as of 2026, Maureen McPhilmy and Jeffrey Gross are still married and living a private life in New York, away from the media spotlight.