Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen have confirmed their divorce, announcing on Instagram that they have decided to ‘amicably’ part ways after 13 years of marriage and following weeks of speculation that their romance was over.
In his statement, Brady, 45, said: ‘In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage. We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together.
‘We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way.
‘We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve. We arrived at this decision to end our marriage after much consideration.
‘Doing so is, of course, painful and difficult like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world. We wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written.’
In a veiled jab at her husband, Gisele said: ‘My priority has always been and will continue to be our children whom I love with all my heart.’
She said she ‘wishes the best’ for him but confirmed the pair had ‘grown apart’.
‘I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always,’ she said.
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen confirmed their divorce in Instagram statements on Friday. She said her priority had ‘always been’ the children, but said the pair had ‘grown apart’. In his statement, Brady said the decision was ‘painful and difficult’
Tom Brady (right) and Gisele Bundchen (left) have filed their divorce documents on Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter
The couple are expected to share custody of their two children, Vivian and Benjamin. Tom also has a third son from a previous relationship. They are shown in February 2022, after he announced he was retiring. Gisele embraced the decision – but he walked back on it a month later
For weeks, speculation has mounted that the pair were divorcing as a result of Brady’s decision to go back to work.
He announced his retirement in February, but then reversed it a month later.
Gisele, who largely put her modeling career on the back burner in order to travel with Brady and live with him and their children in Boston, was widely rumored to have been disappointed by the decision.
In recent weeks, she has been spotted meeting with spiritual healers in Miami and in September, she told ELLE: ‘Now it’s my turn.’
The pair claim to have reached an agreement on how to divide their $700million empire which includes three homes and multiple businesses.
They are expected to share custody of their two children, Benjamin, 12, and Vivian, nine. She had previously spoken of her fears that the brutal sport would leave Brady with injuries.
Brady initially quit his football career, in part, to focus on his family.
He about-turned a month later, returning to the sport with a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In an interview with ELLE in September she said: ‘I feel very fulfilled, as a mother and as a wife.
‘And now it’s going to be my turn. I’ve 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.
February: Gisele embraced Tom’s retirement, telling fans she was just as excited as he was about the ‘next chapter’ in their lives
March: A month later, Tom reverses his decision to retire. He said his time in the stands is ‘not now’ and that his family supports him
‘Seeing 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’ve done a good job on that. I 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.’ She had also shared her fears over her husband’s health.
‘Obviously, I have my concerns—this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present.
2009: Tom and Gisele married in 2009 first in a quiet ceremony in Santa Monica, California, and then in Costa Rica surrounded by friends and family. She was a Victoria’s Secret bombshell and he was a star player for the New England Patriots
‘I 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,’ she said.
In 2020, Brady described how his work had come between them in the past.
During an appearance on the Howard Stern Show, Tom told how the pair had struggled in their marriage.
‘There was a couple years ago, she didn’t feel I was doing my part for the family.
‘She felt like I would play football all season and she would take care of the house and then all the sudden when the season would end, that I’d be like, “Great, let me get into all my other business activities. Let me get into my football training.”
‘She wasn’t satisfied with our marriage, and I needed to make a change in that.
‘Her point was, “Of course this works for you … but it doesn’t work for me”.
‘I had to check myself. Because she was like, “I have my goals and dreams too,”‘ he said.
In February 2021, after his seventh Super Bowl win, Gisele – it seemed – had had enough.
She asked Brady: ‘What else do you have to prove?’ on the field following the win.
In February 2022, it seemed he was ready to take a backseat.
He announced his retirement from the sport, and she embraced the decision.
The couple attends The Met Gala in 2009, shortly after getting married. Gisele is carrying their first child, Benjamin. She is shown, right, in Boston later that year while more heavily pregnant. She moved to Boston to support Brady in his career with the New England Patriots
Tom and Gisele on the field after he won the 2019 Super Bowl. Their happy marriage was on clear display
‘What a ride! So many memories! When I met you over 15 years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about football.
‘But cheering for you and seeing you do what you love most made me learn about this wonderful game to the point that I seriously believed I knew more than the referees!
‘We always had a special champions playlist for every drive on our way to the game.
‘As a family, we always prayed for you, celebrated and supported you in every game, cheered every win and suffered with every loss.
‘I know how excited you are about the next chapter of your life. Watching you work so hard in your football career and seeing the dedication you are now putting into all your new endeavors is incredibly inspiring.
June: The couple looked happy and in love on a family vacation in June this year
Gisele has stayed in Miami in recent months while Brady plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
‘There is nothing you can’t achieve. I have always been here for you, you know that, and I’m as excited as you are for what the future holds!’
Forty days later, Brady announced his comeback. ‘These past two months, I’ve realized my place is on the field and not in the stands.
‘That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family.
‘They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG.’
Gisele said nothing publicly of the decision.
Construction on their Florida mansion is still underway amid despite the split.
The couple made plans to move to the high-security enclave – dubbed Billionaire Bunker – after they purchased a $17million property there in late 2020.
They tore down a pre-existing 5,772-square-foot home on the lot and are erecting a state-of-the-art eco-friendly mansion in its place.
