You’ve probably seen the sparkle. Every time the cameras flash at a red carpet event or a Shark Tank holiday special, there is Kym Johnson-Herjavec, looking every bit the professional dancer she is, standing next to a beaming Robert Herjavec. It looks like a fairy tale. Honestly, in the world of celebrity marriages—where "forever" often means eighteen months—theirs feels like a rare win.
But it wasn't always glitter and ballroom shoes.
When people search for Robert Herjavec wife, they are usually looking for Kym, the Australian dynamo who stole his heart on national television. However, the story of Robert's personal life is actually a tale of two very different chapters. There’s the long-term marriage that built his empire and the high-profile romance that saved him from a very dark place.
The First Chapter: Diane Plese and the Empire
Before the glitz of Hollywood, there was Diane Plese. She’s an optometrist, a fellow Croatian immigrant, and the woman who was by Robert’s side for 24 years. They married in 1990. Back then, Robert wasn't a "Shark." He was just a guy with a lot of drive and a basement office.
They had three children together: Caprice, Skye, and Brendan.
For over two decades, they were the ultimate power couple in the Canadian business scene. They lived in a $7.5 million mansion in Toronto's Bridle Path—a house so big it was literally featured on MTV Cribs. But money doesn't always buy "happily ever after." By 2014, the cracks were too deep to ignore.
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The separation was messy. Really messy. Robert has been open about the fact that the breakdown of his first marriage led him to a period of deep depression. He even admitted to having suicidal ideations during that time, a rare moment of vulnerability for a man who made his fortune being "tough" in the boardroom. The divorce was finalized in 2016, with a settlement that reportedly cost Robert around $25 million.
The "Dancing" Intervention
Enter Kym Johnson.
In 2015, Robert signed up for Season 20 of Dancing with the Stars. He was 52, recently separated, and looking for a distraction. He didn't expect to find a wife. Kym was the pro assigned to him.
The chemistry? It was instant.
Fans noticed it during the very first week. It wasn't just the tango; it was the way they looked at each other when the music stopped. Kym, who had been a staple on both the Australian and U.S. versions of the show for years, seemed to ground him. They finished in sixth place, but as Robert famously said, he won the "Mirrorball of life."
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They got engaged in February 2016. Robert proposed with a 6.5-carat ring that probably could have been seen from space. They tied the knot in July 2016 in Los Angeles, surrounded by DWTS alumni and Shark Tank stars.
Life with Kym Johnson-Herjavec in 2026
Fast forward to today. The couple is still going strong, which, again, is basically a century in Hollywood years.
Kym has mostly stepped away from the grueling schedule of professional dancing to focus on their family and her own business ventures. In 2018, the couple welcomed twins, Hudson Robert and Haven Mae. Kym was 41 at the time and has been incredibly candid about the miracle of having children later in life.
What their daily life actually looks like:
- The Commute: Believe it or not, Kym has shared that Robert actually takes the bus with the kids to school. Yes, the multimillionaire tech mogul on a school bus.
- The Homes: They split their time between Canada, Los Angeles, and Kym’s native Australia.
- The Business: Kym hasn't just sat back. She launched a successful fitness brand, "The BOD by Kym," and a dance-based fitness program called 5678 Fitness.
It’s easy to look at a celebrity marriage and think it’s all curated Instagram posts. But with Robert and Kym, there’s a sense of genuine partnership. On their 9th anniversary in 2025, Robert posted a tribute revealing that they danced their first wedding dance to Etta James’ "At Last"—a routine they had actually prepared for Dancing with the Stars but never got to perform because they were eliminated.
Addressing the Rumors
You can't have this much wealth and fame without a little drama. Over the years, there have been legal battles involving Robert’s past, including a lawsuit from an ex-girlfriend that was ultimately dismissed in 2018. Through it all, Kym has been the "strong, powerful, and caring" anchor Robert frequently praises on social media.
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Some people still wonder about the relationship between Kym and Robert’s older children from his first marriage. While they mostly keep that private, the older siblings have been seen at family events, suggesting a blended family dynamic that—while likely complex—seems to function away from the tabloid glare.
The Actionable Takeaway
What can we learn from the saga of Robert Herjavec wife and his journey through two very different marriages?
- Timing is everything. Kym often says she’s glad she didn't "settle" and waited to find the right person in her late 30s.
- Pivoting isn't just for business. Robert's ability to rebuild his personal life after a devastating divorce shows that your "second act" can be more fulfilling than your first.
- Invest in the partnership. Despite their massive wealth, the couple emphasizes doing the "normal" stuff—school runs, packing lunches, and family vacations.
If you’re looking for a blueprint on how to handle a high-profile "second chapter," the Herjavecs are a pretty solid case study. They’ve managed to keep the romance alive for a decade while navigating the chaos of twins and a global business empire.
Check out Kym's "5678 Fitness" if you want to see the workout that keeps her in "pro-dancer" shape, or keep an eye on Robert’s social media for his surprisingly relatable "dad moments" with Hudson and Haven.