Tom Brady and Gisele B眉ndchen have finalized their divorce, they each announced Friday, ending the 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of fashion and football.
The announcement landed in the midst of and just months after the seven-time Super Bowl champion
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback 鈥� who had long stated a desire to spend more time with B眉ndchen and his three children 鈥� only to change his mind 40 days later.
鈥淲hat more do you have to prove?鈥� B眉ndchen told her husband on the sidelines after his last, record-shattering Super Bowl victory, Brady himself recounted shortly after the win.
Despite Brady initially saying his retirement was a chance to focus his 鈥渢ime and energy on other things that require my attention,鈥� part of his motivation to come back was what he has referred to as 鈥渦nfinished business鈥� with the Buccaneers. The team failed to reach the Super Bowl last season in their effort to repeat as champions.
B眉ndchen told 鈥淐BS This Morning鈥� in 2017 that she was concerned about her husband after the previous year. Brady鈥檚 then-team, the New England Patriots, and agent declined to respond to her comments at the time, and an NFL spokesperson said he had suffered a head injury. Brady later said he preferred to
鈥淚 mean, we don鈥檛 talk about it,鈥� B眉ndchen said during the interview. 鈥淏ut he does have concussions. I don鈥檛 really think it鈥檚 a healthy thing for anybody to go through.鈥�
She more recently contended that the characterization in reports that she was desperate for her husband to retire carried sexist overtones.
鈥淥bviously, I have my concerns. This is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,鈥� the in September. 鈥淚 have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for (them). He needs to follow his joy, too.鈥�
B眉ndchen and Brady were introduced by a mutual friend and married 鈥� twice 鈥� a little over two years later. They said their first 鈥淚 dos鈥� in early 2009 at a Catholic church in Santa Monica, California, before family and close friends, followed by an equally small second wedding at her house in Costa Rica nearly two months later.
Their son Benjamin was born later that year, followed by a daughter, Vivian, in 2012. Brady also has a 15-year-old son, Jack Moynahan, from a previous relationship with actor Bridget Moynahan.
B眉ndchen, who was discovered by a modeling scout at age 13 in Brazil, secured her place as one of the industry鈥檚 highest-paid models by the 2000s and became a tabloid staple, fueled by a relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio. In addition to walking the runways of top designers, appearing in campaigns for high street and high fashion brands alike, she signed on as a Victoria鈥檚 Secret Angel and took on small film roles 鈥� including in 鈥淭he Devil Wears Prada.鈥�
She took a giving up runway work and limiting herself to a few advertising campaigns and magazine covers a year. She made one big exception, and a huge smile in 2016 as she crossed a 400-foot (120-meter) runway while fellow Brazilian 鈥淭he Girl from Ipanema.鈥�
Since paring back her modeling commitments, she has dedicated herself to environmental activism, particularly with regard to and business ventures like eco-friendly skin care and a lingerie line. She has also been vocal about mental health, disclosing debilitating panic attacks that she said had her contemplate suicide and criticizing unrealistic beauty standards.
Above all, B眉ndchen told Elle,
鈥淚鈥檝e done my part, which is (to) be there for (Tom). I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams,鈥� she said. 鈥淪eeing my children succeed and become the beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed, and being fulfilled in his career, it makes me happy. At this point in my life, I feel like I鈥檝e done a good job on that.鈥�
After years in Boston 鈥� where Brady 鈥� and then moving again to Tampa with him in 2020, she said she has her own plans: 鈥淚 have a huge list of things that I have to do, that I want to do. At 42, I feel more connected with my purpose.鈥�
Brady turned 45 in August, when he for unspecified personal reasons. The team supported the leave, calling it a pre-planned break agreed to before the start of training camp in July.
A three-time NFL MVP and the league鈥檚 all-time leader in yards passing and touchdowns, Brady has also signed a 10-year contract reportedly worth $375 million to become the once he hangs up his cleats. When that will be is yet uncertain 鈥� while Brady had expressed an interest in extending his playing career beyond his mid-40s if he remained healthy, his now ex-wife had a different idea back in 2017.
鈥淭hat kind of aggression all the time, that cannot be healthy for you,鈥� she said 鈥淚鈥檓 planning on him being healthy and do a lot of fun things when we鈥檙e like 100, I hope.鈥�
鈥擫eanne Italie And Fred Goodall, The Associated Press
