It was supposed to be the forever kind of love. You know, the one where the Super Bowl rings and the Chanel campaigns just felt like background noise to a perfectly curated life in Massachusetts and Florida. But then 2022 happened. The world watched as Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady, the ultimate celebrity power couple, called it quits after 13 years of marriage.
Honestly, it wasn't just a breakup; it was the end of an era. People are still talking about it in 2026, mostly because their lives have taken such wildly different turns since that October afternoon when the divorce papers were finalized.
The retirement that wasn't
We have to talk about the "un-retirement." It's basically the elephant in the room. In early 2022, Tom Brady announced he was leaving the NFL. Gisele was thrilled. She had been vocal about her concerns for years, telling Elle magazine that football is a "violent sport" and she wanted him to be more present for their children, Benjamin and Vivian.
Then, 40 days later, he was back.
That U-turn changed everything. Sources close to the couple at the time told People that the decision caused a massive rift. It wasn't just about the game; it was about a broken promise to prioritize the family. By the time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started their season, the writing was on the wall. They weren't living together. They were hiring lawyers.
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Where is Gisele Bündchen now?
If you’ve been following the news lately, you know Gisele’s life looks completely different. She didn't just move on; she started a whole new chapter. In December 2025, she quietly married Joaquim Valente, her longtime jiu-jitsu instructor, in an intimate ceremony at her home in Surfside, Florida.
It was a "non-event" wedding, according to insiders. Very low-key.
This came just months after she welcomed a baby boy with Valente in February 2025. It’s her third child, and she’s been sharing glimpses of her "newborn bliss" on Instagram, showing her kids Benjamin and Vivian bonding with their new half-brother. She seems, for lack of a better word, centered. There’s a sense of peace in her posts that felt missing during those final, tense years with Tom.
Tom Brady’s 2026 reality
Tom, on the other hand, is leaning into his post-NFL career with the same intensity he brought to the field. He’s the lead analyst for Fox Sports, a minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces, and he’s constantly linked to new names in the dating world.
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Most recently? He was spotted ringing in 2026 in St. Barths with influencer Alix Earle.
The age gap (she’s 25, he’s 48) has definitely raised some eyebrows on social media, but Tom doesn't seem to care. He’s living the bachelor life in his US$17 million "Billionaire Bunker" mansion in Miami. It’s a stark contrast to Gisele’s quiet, family-focused life just a few miles away.
How co-parenting actually works for them
Despite the drama of the split—and the rumors of tension following Gisele’s remarriage—the two have been surprisingly disciplined about co-parenting. They live near each other in Miami specifically for the kids.
They’ve stuck to some pretty specific rules:
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- No Spoiling: Both have mentioned in interviews that they don't want their kids to feel entitled because of their wealth.
- Active Lifestyles: Whether it’s yoga with Gisele or sports with Tom, the kids are always moving.
- Mutual Respect: Even after the "Roast of Tom Brady" (which Gisele reportedly hated), she told Vanity Fair she always cheers for him. "If there’s one person I want to be the happiest in the world, it’s him," she said.
It's not always perfect. Gisele has admitted that having different rules in different houses is a "work in progress." Kids are smart; they know what they can get away with at Dad's house versus Mom's. But they seem to be navigating it with more maturity than your average Hollywood exes.
The financial fallout
You’d think a divorce between a billionaire-adjacent quarterback and a supermodel would be a legal bloodbath. It wasn't. Because they both came into the marriage with massive independent wealth—Gisele actually had a higher net worth for much of their marriage—the "ironclad prenup" made the split relatively quick.
Most of their assets were already siloed. The biggest hurdle was the real estate, specifically the Indian Creek property, which Tom kept and finished building.
What we can learn from their split
The story of Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady isn't just about two famous people breaking up. It’s a case study in what happens when two people’s "North Stars" stop aligning. He wanted the legacy; she wanted the presence. Neither was "wrong," but they were no longer right for each other.
If you’re looking to apply their experience to your own life, focus on these three things:
- Communication on non-negotiables: If one partner expects retirement and the other isn't ready, the resentment will eventually burn the house down.
- Prioritize the transition: The reason their kids seem so adjusted is that the parents prioritized proximity. Living in the same city makes "joint custody" an actual reality, not just a legal term.
- Identity outside the couple: Gisele’s successful pivot to a new family and Tom’s expansion into business shows that life doesn't end at divorce; it just pivots.
To stay updated on their current projects, you can follow Gisele’s wellness journey through her cookbook and social channels, or catch Tom every Sunday during the NFL season on Fox.