In the United States, marriage seems to be a coin toss when we consider the divorce rates, which hover between 40% and 50%. Even though the majority of coin tosses went his way during his 23-year NFL career, the nuptial one didn’t fall in Tom Brady’s favor.
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The former New England Patriot divorced Gisele Bündchen nearly three years ago. But things were a lot less complicated since Brady and the international supermodel had the wherewithal to sign a prenuptial agreement.
Although the finer points of their agreement remain unclear, thanks to how they both decided to file their documents with the courts in the state of Illinois. Court records, including those related to divorce, are typically available to the public, but those of Brady and Bündchen remain unavailable to this day.
However, Thomas Field of Beermann LLP, a matrimonial and family lawyer, suggests that the estranged lovers had “…an ironclad prenuptial agreement, which made the division of assets very simple.”
According to Field, the couple’s papers are not in public discourse by design.
“The inability to access the terms of Tom and Gisele’s settlement suggests they entered their ultimate agreement by reference only, placing only the required court forms into the record and maintaining privacy over the more detailed financial settlement agreement. This practice is common among celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and other prominent figures seeking to safeguard their privacy,” said Field.
Considering that both Brady and Bündchen each have a personal net worth of more than $333 million, neither of them felt the need to argue over any particular dollar amount that the other may have been entitled to. Instead, they chose to prioritize their privacy first and foremost. Field describes this act as “commendable.”
Even though the two of them had grown apart, their separation was amicable. However, they still occasionally trade barbs via various media outlets.
According to the Daily Mail, Bündchen was reportedly “furious” after Brady penned an open letter stating that “I think part of being a great father is being a great example of doing what it takes to take care of your family. I chose to do it by playing football.”
Brady’s decision to extend his football career by signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was one of the major breaking points in their marriage. Naturally, Bündchen doesn’t agree with Brady on that.
Despite the controversy, the two of them remain adamant that they are doing their best to co-parent their two children, both of whom are now well into their teenage years. In 2024, Bündchen noted that “I think there [are] easier days than others, and I can only control what I do.”
Much like any other couple, their divorce has been a practice in humility, and both of them have had to make their fair share of tradeoffs. It’s never fun when the love runs out, so let this be a reminder to listen to and appreciate the ones around you, as you never know when things deteriorate to a point that it becomes unsalvageable.
