Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen divorce, explained: A relationship timeline since Buccaneers QB's retirement indecision

David Suggs

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen divorce, explained: A relationship timeline since Buccaneers QB's retirement indecision image

Celebrity power couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen have long been one of the crown jewels of the sports and entertainment world. However, that's come to an end.

Brady announced he and Bundchen finalized their divorce after months of rumors that the couple, which has been together since 2007, were living in separate houses.

Brady and Bundchen have become part of the furniture of their respective enterprises, with Brady climbing to the peak of football and Bundchen becoming one of the most influential supermodels of her time. So news of their split may come as a shock to many.

Here's everything you need to know about Brady, Bundchen and their 15-year relationship.

MORE: Inside Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen's relationship, from marriage to kids & more to know

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Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen timeline

Dec. 2006: Brady and Bundchen reportedly met during a blind date set up by a mutual friend. The pair hit it off and soon began dating in early 2007.

Feb. 2007: Still in the honeymoon stages of their relationship, Brady's ex — actress Bridget Moynahan — announced she was expecting and Brady was the father. Brady and Bundchen's romance was on the ropes, per Bundchen. However, the couple stuck together.

Aug. 2007: Brady and Moynahan's son was born. According to Bundchen, it was this moment that helped bring the couple together.

"I'm so grateful for [Bridget]," Bundchen told People. "I know this was hard, but I couldn't imagine my life without [Jack]. I call him my bonus child." She added, "He opened my heart in ways I didn't even know my heart could expand."

Aug. 2008: Brady and Bundchen made a very public appearance at the Met Gala. Sporting elegant fits, the couple cemented themselves as one of Hollywood's biggest duos — even though Brady was still playing in Boston.

Jan. 2009: Brady and Bundchen got engaged, with Brady gifting the Brazilian supermodel a diamond solitaire ring.

Feb. 2009: Brady and Bundchen were wed at St. Monica Cathedral in California, a little more than two years after first meeting.

June 2009: Brady and Bundchen announced they were expecting their first child.

Dec. 2009: Brady and Bundchen welcomed their first child together, a son, in early December.

Bundchen opted to have the baby at home, a choice Brady first disagreed with. However, the birth went off without a hitch.

"Me being there with G at his birth in our home, it lives in my mind. I think we brought this boy into the world in the most precious way," Brady said.

Feb. 2012: Bundchen famously mouthed off after the Pats' fell to the Giants in the Super Bowl, telling heckling fans ""My husband cannot f------ throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time."

Although a fairly innocuous statement, the couple received a bit of backlash for Bundchen's remarks.

Dec. 2012: Bundchen gave birth to the couple's second child, a baby girl, in late 2012.

"We feel so lucky to have been able to experience the miracle of birth once again and are forever grateful for the opportunity to be the parents of another little angel," Bundchen wrote on her Facebook page.

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May 2015: As rumors swirled around the couple's relationship and a potential divorce, Brady reaffirmed his commitment to Bundchen.

We're in a great place, I'll just say that [...] I'm a lucky man. I've been very blessed with support from my family and certainly her, and there's no bigger supporter that I have than her and vice versa," Brady said. "I've been very blessed to have an incredible relationship with my life partner, and I don't think anything will ever get in the way of that.

2018: During an appearance on the Howard Stern Show, Brady indicated that the couple were on the outs throughout 2018. Brady felt Bundchen wasn't feeling satisfied in the relationship, as the star quarterback appeared to be putting his family on the back burner in favor of his football career and business ventures.

A couple of years ago, she didn't feel like 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 of a sudden when the season ended, I'd be like, 'Great, let me get into all of my other business activities. Let me get into my football training,' and she's sitting there going, 'Well when are you going to do things for the house? When are you going to take the kids to school and do that?'

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Feb. 2019: Brady made an appearance at the 2019 Hollywood for Science gala, accompanying Bundchen, who was honored for her environmental contributions.

"She's inspiring me in so many ways. It's really special for her, and I love that she's here celebrating," Brady said.

Feb. 2019: Brady and Bundchen celebrated their tenth anniversary, with Bundchen posting some never before seen pictures on her Instagram from the couple's wedding day.

March 2020: With Brady taking his talents to Tampa after his 20-year stay with the Pats, Bundchen and the family moved to Florida.

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Feb. 2021: The Bucs won the Super Bowl as Bundchen cheered on from the stands.

Oct. 2021: Brady praised Bundchen for the sacrifices she has made over the course of his career while appearing on his podcast.

"I think there's things that she wants to accomplish," he said. "You know, she hasn't worked as much in the last 10, 12 years just raising our family and kind of committing to being in a life in Boston and then moving to Florida."

Feb. 2022: After a 22-year career, Brady announced his intention to retire from football. He cited his intention to spend more time with his family, noting that Bundchen didn't like seeing Brady on the gridiron.

My wife is my biggest supporter. It pains her to see me get hit out there," Brady said on his podcast. "She deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad.

March 2022: Brady announced his decision to return to the NFL for the 2022 season. He seemingly received support from Bundchen, including his wife in children in his retirement post.

MORE: Gisele Bundchen pens touching Instagram post to Tom Brady after retirement

Sept. 2022: The rumor mill got to churning once more in early September, with some reports indicating that the couple was having marriage difficulties.

Bundchen had her say on the matter of Brady's return. In an interview with Elle, the 42-year old supermodel indicated that she wanted to see more of Brady.

“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,” she said in the profile.

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.

Brady was absent from Bucs training camp, and details surrounding his absence were sparse, adding smoke to the fire surrounding the health of his marriage. 

Brady weighed in on it after his return.

"I'm 45 years old, man," Brady said.

There's a lot of s— going on. You just gotta try and figure out life the best you can. It's a continuous process.

Sept. 11, 2022: Bundchen skipped the Bucs' first game of the season. She did tweet out support for the QB and his team, however.

MORE: Tom Brady drops hype video explaining why he came back for 2022 season with Buccaneers

Sept. 15, 2022: Multiple reports indicate that Brady and Bundchen have been living separately for some time, fueling additional rumors that the marriage could be nearing a split.

Sept. 25, 2022: While Brady and Bundchen's three children were at Tampa Bay's home opener, Bundchen was absent.

Oct. 4, 2022: Bundchen reportedly hires a divorce lawyer, according to CNN's Chloe Melas.

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Oct. 6, 2022: TMZ reported Bundchen had threatened divorce several times over football during the past, and that she has separated from him before with those divorce threats. She has reportedly wanted him out of football. TMZ reported the two are on speaking terms and that they are "as amicable as it can be."

Oct. 28, 2022: Brady confirmed the divorce was finalized in an Instagram post following months of rumors.

Gisele Bundchen net worth vs. Tom Brady

Brady and Bundchen make up one of the wealthiest couples in all of sports and entertainment. The Brazilian supermodel is worth a cool $400 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. Much of this stems from Bundchen's impressive portfolio of business holdings; she has inked multi-million dollar deals with Victoria's Secret, Chanel No. 5 and Pantene, among other brands, as well as launching her own line of designer sandals and purchasing a Brazilian hotel. 

Brady's net worth, on the other hand, is valued at $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The future Hall of Famer has also netted a host of endorsement deals over the course of his career, including Under Armour and Aston Martin. Brady also has launched his own business ventures, starting a lifestyle brand — TB12 — in 2013. 

Gisele Bundchen career earnings

Per Celebrity Net Worth, Bundchen has earned upwards of $500 million throughout her nearly three-decade career. Part of a vanguard of supermodels who revolutionized the business in the late '90s and early 2000s, Bundchen has shown tremendous lasting power as both a supermodel and entrepreneur.

Tom Brady career earnings

According to Spotrac, Brady has fielded over $330 million in earnings over the course of his 23-year career. As a Patriot, Brady made a little over $235 million, or an average of nearly $12 million a season.

His average annual salary has increased substantially since trading the New England cold for the beaches and palm trees of Florida. Brady will have brought in around $98 million over the course of his three years with the Bucs at the end of 2022.

How long were Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen married?

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen were married 13 years. The pair, who met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend back in 2006, tied the knot in a private ceremony at St. Monica Catholic Church in California. The couple revealed images of the special day in 2018.

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How many children does Tom Brady have?

Tom Brady has three children. The seven-time Super Bowl winner had his first child back in 2007, when his ex, actress Bridget Moynahan, gave birth to their son. Brady had started dating Bundchen by then and, according to the 42-year old model, the new relationship was on rocky terrain.

"It was a challenging thing because here I am, you know, thinking, I'm dating this guy, we met, and we started dating and everything is great and then this happens," Bündchen told CBS' Charlie Rose back in 2015. "So, then I felt like I didn't know what to do. It was kind of one of those moments of like, 'Do I just run away?'"

The couple stayed together and proceeded to have two more children, a 12-year old son and 9-year old daughter.

David Suggs

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David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.