Margie Washichek was Jimmy Buffett’s first wife. The couple married in 1969 and divorced in 1972, several years before Buffett became famous with “Margaritaville.”
Unlike most celebrity ex-wives, Margie Washichek has remained almost completely private for more than five decades. She has never given interviews, written a memoir, or appeared in public discussions about her former husband. As a result, only a limited number of verified facts about her are known.
Quick Facts: Margie Washichek
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Margie Washichek |
| Known For | First wife of Jimmy Buffett |
| Marriage | 1969 – 1972 |
| Children with Buffett | None |
| Education | Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama |
| Notable Background | Former Miss USS Alabama |
| Public Profile After Divorce | Extremely private — no interviews or public appearances |
| Current Status | Has maintained complete privacy for over 50 years |
Early Life and Background
Margie Washichek grew up in the Gulf Coast region (sources commonly link her to Pascagoula, Mississippi, and the Mobile, Alabama area). She attended Spring Hill College, a Catholic college in Mobile.
In the late 1960s she held the local title of Miss USS Alabama. Beyond this, very little verified information about her early life has been published.
How Margie Washichek Met Jimmy Buffett
Margie and Jimmy Buffett met in the late 1960s while both were in the Mobile / southern Mississippi area. Buffett was attending the University of Southern Mississippi and beginning to pursue music seriously. He was recording early material at Product Sound Studios in Mobile.
According to accounts connected to the studio, Margie became connected to Buffett’s circle around this time. The two became engaged and married in 1969.
Marriage (1969–1972)
The marriage took place during Buffett’s struggling early years as a musician. After signing with producer Buzz Cason, the couple moved to Nashville.
This period was difficult. Buffett’s first album sold poorly, he worked as a journalist for Billboard magazine, and the couple faced financial hardship. In his 1998 autobiography A Pirate Looks at Fifty, Buffett later reflected on this chapter of his life with unusual honesty.
He described the marriage as his “shallow and immature attempt at being a husband.” In the divorce, he left Margie the Mercedes they owned, writing that she “deserved it for putting up with” him.
The divorce was finalized in September 1972. There were no children from the marriage.
Life After the Divorce
After the divorce, Margie Washichek completely stepped away from public life.
She has never given an interview about the marriage or about Jimmy Buffett. She did not appear in any of the major retrospectives or tributes that followed Buffett’s death on September 1, 2023. No verified social media presence, later career details, or confirmed current location have been published by reliable sources.
This deliberate privacy is rare among people connected to major celebrities and is one of the reasons public curiosity about her remains high.
Jimmy Buffett After the Divorce
Shortly after the divorce, Buffett left Nashville and moved to Key West, Florida. There he developed the tropical sound and lifestyle that would later define his career. He met his second wife, Jane (née Slagsvol), in Key West. They married in 1977 and remained together until his death in 2023. They had three children.
The end of his first marriage is often viewed as a turning point that pushed Buffett toward the Keys and the music that made him famous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jimmy Buffett’s first wife? Margie Washichek. They were married from 1969 to 1972.
Did Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett have children? No. They had no children together.
When did Jimmy Buffett and Margie Washichek get divorced? The divorce was finalized in September 1972.
What does Margie Washichek do now? She has maintained complete privacy for over 50 years. No verified public information about her current life is available.
Is Margie Washichek still alive? There is no public record confirming her current status. She has remained out of the public eye since the early 1970s.
Why is so little known about Margie Washichek? She chose privacy after the divorce and has never spoken publicly about her marriage to Jimmy Buffett or her life afterward.
Sources & Accuracy Note This article was researched by the KazInsider Editorial Team using Jimmy Buffett’s own autobiography A Pirate Looks at Fifty, contemporary reporting, and verified biographical records. Many websites publish unverified claims about Margie Washichek’s birth date, later marriages, net worth, or career. We have intentionally limited this article to facts that can be reasonably confirmed. Last updated: July 31, 2026.
