Tom Brady’s Ex Wife
Introduction
Tom Brady’s ex-wife is Gisele Caroline Bündchen, a Brazilian model and activist born on July 20, 1980, in Horizontina, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Tom Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, known for his 23-year career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While Brady built his legacy on the football field, Bündchen built hers on runways around the world, becoming one of the highest-paid supermodels of all time. The two were married for 13 years and share two children before finalizing their divorce in 2022. This article covers everything about Gisele Bündchen — her early life, modeling career, relationship with Tom Brady, their marriage, their kids, and what she is doing today.
Who Is Gisele Bündchen?
Gisele Caroline Bündchen was born on July 20, 1980, in the small town of Horizontina in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She is of German descent, and her family has lived in the region for six generations. Her father, Valdir Bündchen, was a university professor, and her mother, Vânia Nonnenmacher, worked as a bank clerk. Gisele grew up in a large, close-knit Catholic family with five sisters, including her fraternal twin, Patrícia.
As a child, Gisele was athletic and outdoorsy, playing volleyball and handball rather than dreaming of modeling. Her path into the industry began almost by chance. At age 13, while on a school trip to a shopping mall in São Paulo, she was spotted by a modeling scout. A year later, she entered Elite Model Management’s “Look of the Year” contest, placing well enough to launch her career. By 1996, she had moved to New York City and made her runway debut, setting the stage for global stardom.
Gisele Bündchen’s Career & Professional Life
Gisele quickly became one of the defining faces of the fashion industry. In 1999, Vogue famously credited her with ending the “heroin chic” era of modeling, replacing it with a tanned, athletic, healthy look that redefined beauty standards for the 2000s. She walked for top designers, appeared on countless magazine covers, and became one of Victoria’s Secret’s most recognizable Angels from 2000 to 2006.
Her commercial success was just as impressive. In 2000, she signed a landmark deal with Nike, and by the mid-2000s she was consistently ranked as the world’s highest-paid model by Forbes. Beyond fashion, Gisele has worked as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme since 2009, focusing on environmental and climate advocacy. She has also dabbled in acting and released a wellness-focused cookbook and lifestyle content. Today, her estimated net worth sits around $400 million, built through decades of modeling contracts, endorsements, and business ventures.
How Did Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen Meet?
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen were set up on a blind date in December 2006, arranged by a mutual friend. Brady later said the introduction changed his life, and the two hit it off quickly. At the time, Brady had just ended his relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan, with whom he would soon share a son, John “Jack” Edward Thomas Brady, born in August 2007.
Despite the complicated timing, Tom and Gisele’s relationship grew steadily through 2007 and 2008. They made their public debut as a couple at high-profile events, including their first Met Gala appearance together in 2008. After roughly two years of dating, Brady proposed in January 2009. Gisele later shared that Tom staged an elaborate prank involving a flooded apartment to catch her off guard before popping the question. The engagement moved fast — the couple didn’t wait long to plan their wedding.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Tom and Gisele married just one month after their engagement, on February 26, 2009, in an intimate ceremony at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California. The wedding was small and private, attended only by close family. Brady later told GQ that the entire event came together in about ten days.
A few months later, in April 2009, the couple held a second wedding ceremony at Gisele’s home in Costa Rica, again keeping the guest list limited to family members. This tropical celebration gave them a more relaxed setting to mark their union outside the spotlight of Los Angeles. Together, the two ceremonies reflected the couple’s effort to keep their private life private, even as they became one of the most photographed pairs in sports and entertainment.
Children & Family Life
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have two children together. Their son, Benjamin Rein Brady, was born on December 8, 2009, in a home water birth at the couple’s Boston townhouse. Their daughter, Vivian Lake Brady, followed on December 5, 2012.
The family also includes Brady’s eldest son, Jack, whom he shares with ex-partner Bridget Moynahan. Gisele has spoken publicly about helping raise Jack alongside her own children, describing a cooperative co-parenting dynamic between her, Tom, and Bridget. Even after Tom and Gisele’s 2022 divorce, both have prioritized a stable, low-drama environment for the kids, frequently sharing family moments — vacations, holidays, and milestone birthdays — on social media. Gisele has since welcomed a third child with her partner, Joaquim Valente, expanding her family further while continuing to co-parent Benjamin and Vivian with Brady.
Gisele Bündchen on Social Media
Gisele Bündchen maintains an active and highly engaged presence on Instagram, where she shares a mix of family photos, wellness and sustainability content, and glimpses into her post-modeling life. Her account reflects her long-standing interests in nature, fitness, and environmental causes rather than heavy promotional content. With millions of followers, she remains one of the most followed former supermodels in the world, using her platform to highlight causes like climate change alongside personal milestones involving her children.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gisele Caroline Bündchen |
| Date of Birth | July 20, 1980 |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Profession | Model, activist, businesswoman |
| Married to | Tom Brady (2009–2022); Joaquim Valente (2025–present) |
| Marriage Year | 2009 (to Brady) |
| Children | 3 (Benjamin and Vivian with Brady; one with Valente) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $400 million |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Tom Brady’s ex-wife’s name?
A: Tom Brady’s ex-wife is Gisele Bündchen, a Brazilian supermodel and environmental activist. The two were married from 2009 to 2022.
Q: How old is Gisele Bündchen?
A: Gisele Bündchen was born on July 20, 1980, making her in her mid-forties as of 2026.
Q: What does Gisele Bündchen do for a living?
A: Gisele is a world-renowned fashion model, entrepreneur, and UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador. She built her career on runways and major ad campaigns.
Q: When did Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen get married?
A: They married on February 26, 2009, in Santa Monica, California, followed by a second ceremony in Costa Rica that April.
Q: How many kids do Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have?
A: They have two children together: son Benjamin, born in 2009, and daughter Vivian, born in 2012.
Conclusion
Gisele Bündchen’s life story goes far beyond being known as Tom Brady’s ex-wife. She rose from a small town in southern Brazil to become one of the most successful supermodels in history, all while building a public platform around environmental advocacy and family life. Her 13-year marriage to Tom Brady produced two children and years of shared memories, and even after their split, both have worked to keep their family stable. Today, Gisele continues to thrive as a businesswoman, activist, and mother, proving her story was always much bigger than her marriage to one of football’s greatest legends.
