By now, most folks know that Tom Brady’s ex-wife is Gisele Bündchen and that Tom isn’t the only superstar in his family.
Getting to Know Gisele Bündchen
While most of America is familiar with Brady, Gisele isn’t as well known in some households. She was commonly referred to as “Tom Brady’s Wife,” but that is only one of the many hats she wears.
Gisele Bundchen Fun Facts
Gisele’s successes far exceed what you might associate with a fashion model. For a long time, she’s led a very successful life. Read on.
Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur
1.) The model has been investing in real estate since the age of 18. She considers it one of her hobbies and has made business deals in New York City, Los Angeles, and Brazil.
2.) She was part of a cover band when she was 10. The girl group would perform at birthday parties, but not for money. Instead, they would be paid with cake and allowed to stay at the party. Gisele did this with her sisters and neighbors for about two years.
3.) Gisele had awful skin as a teenager. Due to this, she created a skincare line to help others with the issue. In 2010, she launched Sejaa Pure Skincare to help teenagers battle acne issues.
4.) Gisele didn’t know the English language when she arrived in the United States. She listened to music, including Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, to learn the language.
Helicopter Pilot and Speaks Five Languages
5.) Gisele has her helicopter pilot license. She got it because she was always worried about what she would do if something happened to the pilot. During helicopter training, a goose was flying too close to the helicopter and frightened the model. She was so surprised that she briefly lost control of the helicopter, and it turned sideways.
6.) Gisele can speak English, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Spanish. She learned German early in school but said that she completely forgot it after her schooling. The future Tom Brady’s wife can shout out plays in five languages. Impressive!
7.) Her astrological sign is Virgo. She believes she fits the profile because Virgos like to be at home. Gisele has stated that she likes to go to work, get her job done, and return home as she is a homebody.
See How many rings does Tom Brady have?
73 Questions with Gisele Video
Gisele Bundchen: Early Life
Gisele Caroline Bundchen was born on July 20, 1980, in Horizontina, the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She was born to a bank clerk, pensioner, and college professor. She has a fraternal twin sister, Patricia, who was born five minutes after her. In addition to her twin sister, Gisele has four more sisters.
Gisele grew up in Brazil with dreams of being a professional volleyball player. Her goal was to be part of the Brazilian volleyball team, Sogipa. However, her life was changed in 1993 when her mother insisted that she join a modeling course with two of her sisters. A year later, Gisele was discovered by the Elite modeling agency at a shopping mall in Sao Paulo, Brazil, while on a school trip. After this, she was thrust into the fast-paced world of modeling.
Gisele’s first taste of the modeling world was the Elite Look of the Year, a national modeling contest. She placed second in the contest. Gisele was eager to continue modeling and moved to Sao Paulo when she was 14.
Career: Rising to the Top (1998-2004)
After her first Fashion Week in New York City, Gisele traveled to London in 1997. She auditioned for 42 shows in London but was surprisingly rejected because her nose was too big. However, the young model remained determined and eventually landed a gig.
Her first big show was Alexander McQueen’s 1998 spring show. She was picked mainly due to her ability to walk in high heels on a slippery runway. McQueen gushed over Gisele, nicknaming her “The Body.” Due to this, Gisele’s popularity instantly skyrocketed.
Gisele was featured in various advertisements the following year, including those for Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Valentino. She also landed on the cover of France’s Vogue magazine. Gisele was the hot Brazilian commodity that companies and magazines could not get enough of.
Vogue Magazine Appearances
Back in the United States, Gisele’s popularity soared as she gained more exposure. She was on the cover of Vogue in July, November, and December 1999. She also won the VH1/Vogue Model of the Year that year.
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
When the year 2000 hit, Gisele’s career did not slow down. During 2000, she appeared on three additional Vogue covers. She was also named “The most beautiful girl in the world” by Rolling Stone magazine.
Gisele was credited with ending the “heroin chic” era in modeling. This was an era where the models looked frail and had pale skin with dark circles under their eyes. As Gisele walked out with tan skin and curves, Vogue announced that Gisele was “The Return of the Sexy Model.”
Earning Her Wings
Gisele also earned her “wings” in 2000 by becoming Victoria’s Secret angel. In Victoria’s Secret fashion show, she wore the most expensive bra of all time. The “Red Hot Fantasy Bra” that she wore was estimated to be worth $15 million.
In 2003, Gisele was offered a gig to host the Brazilian version of “America’s Next Top Model.” After consulting with her mother, she turned it down as she did not want to start a career in television. At the time, she was focused on modeling and modeling only.
“The Brazilian Bombshell” (2004-2014)
Throughout the decade, Gisele continued to walk the runway and grace fashion magazine covers. By 2006, she was ranked #2 in the number of magazine covers ever. Princess Diana was #1. Model Claudia Schiffer said that Gisele was the last of the “supermodels” to walk the runway.
In addition to modeling, Gisele got her feet wet in the movie world. She had small roles in Taxi (2004) and The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Gisele was offered a movie role in Charlie’s Angels but declined due to her busy schedule. She briefly appeared on a 2006 episode of the TV show, The O.C. Since then. She has not appeared in any additional movies or television shows, except for documentaries.
Victoria Secret Model
For several years, Gisele was the face of Victoria’s Secret. She starred in many fashion shows and advertisements. However, she decided to part ways with the company in 2007. She began to feel uncomfortable wearing only lingerie on the runway.
Years later, Gisele admitted she made the final decision by writing the words “yes” and “no” on two pieces of paper. She crumpled up the papers and picked one – No. When Gisele parted ways with the company, their stock tumbled by 31.5%.
Biggest Fashion Star
In 2009, Gisele was named the “biggest fashion star globally” by a British newspaper. The public agreed, as women everywhere desired to look just like the model. Her name often popped up in plastic surgeon offices and hair salons.
As a new decade was ushered in, Gisele continued to be a force in the fashion industry. In 2012, Gisele was the face of three campaigns – Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Givenchy.
Over the next couple of years, Gisele also landed contracts with Pantene, Chanel, Carolina Herrera, and Marc Jacobs. In 2014, she was named the new face of the perfume Chanel No. 5. As 2014 came to an end, Gisele had appeared in over 6,000 commercial spots in Brazil.
Runway Model Retirement
After twenty years in the fashion industry, Gisele retired as a runway model in 2014. (However, she quickly came out of retirement during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.)
Throughout her 20-year career, Gisele was on the cover of 2,000 magazine covers, 3,500 magazine editorials, and featured in 800 fashion shows.
Gisele Bundchen Age
How old is Gisele? Born July 20, 1980, Gisele is 42 years of age.
Gisele Bundchen Net Worth
Gisele’s fashion popularity caused her net worth to rise. For 15 years, Gisele was the world’s highest-paid supermodel. (Kendall Jenner dethroned her in 2017.) She was the top-earning model in the world for 10 consecutive years. Gisele retired from modeling in 2015.
So just what is Gisele Bundchen’s net worth? Gisele has a net worth of $400 million. She also reportedly makes an additional $40 million annually. However, Gisele publicly denied the number in the Wall Street Journal, questioning how the numbers were calculated.
Gisele’s Dating History
Despite being a popular supermodel, Gisele still made time for her love life. She dated fellow model Scott Barnhill from 1998-1999. She also had a fling with American actor Josh Hartnett in 2000. After this, she entered a five-year relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio. The duo was named 2004’s most Beautiful Couple in People Magazine.
After her relationship with DiCaprio ended in 2005, Gisele dated other men, but nothing was very serious until she met her future husband, Tom Brady, in 2006. Gisele and Brady went on a blind date set up by a mutual friend in December 2006.
Check out Gisele’s book: Lessons – My Path to a Meaningful Life.
Tom Brady’s Wife
In a Vanity Fair interview, she talked about meeting Brady, “We met through a friend. The moment I saw him, he smiled, and I was like, That is the most beautiful, charismatic smile I’ve ever seen! We sat and talked for three hours. I had to go home for Christmas, but I didn’t want to leave. Do you know that feeling of, like, you can’t get enough? From the first day we met, we’ve never spent one day without speaking to each other.”
Hall of Fame Fantasy Football Team Names Video
Tom Brady on Gisele
“I am so happy and excited for others to read such an inspirational story. You have overcome so much adversity, and you take every challenge head-on.
Thank you for being such an incredible example of what is possible in this world. Your humility, empathy, and love for life are evident now more than ever. I am lucky to have you as my wife, and our kids are lucky to have you as their mother and protector!”
Tom Brady (Instagram)
Gisele Bundchen Instagram = Gisele
Here’s she captures a happy moment after a big win for the Patriots over the Chiefs.
Gisele Bundchen Kids
Later that year, Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen welcomed their first child together, Benjamin Rein Brady. Their daughter, Vivian Lake, was born in December 2012.
Gisele is also the stepmother to Brady’s first son, John Edward Thomas Moynahan. John is the son of actress Bridget Moynahan. Moynahan is a Hollywood actress known for her role as Erin Reagen on CBS’s hit show, Blue Bloods.
There was some controversy at the beginning of John’s life, as Moynahan was pregnant when Brady and Gisele started dating. However, the three adults have been able to put differences aside for John’s sake. Moynahan has reportedly said she is happy that Brady and Gisele built a “stable family life” for her son. Moynahan has been happily married to Andrew Frankel since 2015.
Gisele’s Healthy Lifestyle
Gisele is very passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Her family eats a primarily plant-based diet. However, they do still consume lean meats, such as chicken, duck, and salmon.
She also does not allow white sugar or white flour in her house. Gisele also believes in detoxing two times a year along with a silent retreat. She believes this regiment boosts her immune system.
Gisele is a big believer in meditation and yoga. After cleaning up her diet and ditching the daily bottle of wine, Gisele noticed that she still suffered from anxiety attacks. After beginning a daily meditation routine, her anxiety decreased. Gisele still practices meditation daily in the early morning hours before her children are awake.
Workout Routine
Gisele also works out daily. She loves practicing yoga, surfing, and riding horses. She will stop in Brady’s TB12 facility in Boston to work out with the resistance bands two times per week. She also had previously practiced Kung Fu for seven years, including when she was pregnant with Benjamin and Vivian.
In addition to health, Gisele is also environmentally conscious. The family house in Los Angeles has a rainwater recovery system, a gray water system, and solar energy. 80% of the products used in building the house were made from recycled or reused material.
Gisele’s Charitable Cause
Besides being known as an international supermodel, Gisele is also known for giving to numerous charities. In 2012, she landed at #15 on Forbes’ most generous celebrities list. Gisele gives to charities big and small, including the Zero Hunger program in her native Brazil.
When natural disasters strike, Gisele has been known to open her checkbook. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, she donated $1.5 million to the Red Cross. She also wrote a check for $1 million after the tsunami hit Japan in 2011.
In addition to donating to worldwide catastrophic events, Gisele also gives back locally. She has made visits to the Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston to visit patients. In 2013, she also surprised a Boston teen who was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Product Red Initiative
The supermodel is also a famous face in the Product Red Initiative. She was the spokesperson for American Express Red. Portions of the credit card earnings were given to those with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gisele was on the cover of 30 Elle magazines worldwide in 2009. In each edition, she wore Product Red gear.
Gisele created her own foundation in 2007. The Luz Foundation promotes the empowerment of young women. The program helps girls to develop better self-esteem. Gisele donates a percentage of her earnings to the foundation.
In the past, Gisele has also donated items such as diamond jewelry and an autographed iPod with a personalized playlist. In 2007, she auctioned off some items on eBay as part of the eBay Giving Works program. All of the proceeds went to the World Wildlife Fund, including climate change causes.
Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Environmental Programme
In 2009, Gisele was named the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). She visited Africa in 2012 as her first visit as the UNEP Ambassador. Since then, Gisele has visited countries such as Kenya and Brazil on behalf of UNEP.
Best Gisele Bundchen Quotes
1.) I feel like when people judge me, they’re not judging me because they don’t know who I am.
2.) I’m not afraid of working hard at anything, whatever it is. I always want to be the best that I can be.
3.) I’ve always played a sport, ever since I was little. I played volleyball, and I believe sport teaches you a lot, such as teamwork, respect, and discipline.
4.) I’m not a potato sack; I’ve never sat on my couch. If I’m home, I’m cleaning, feeding my dogs, doing stuff. Life is too precious to waste time.
5.) The more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, and the happier you become.
6.) I’m one of these people that likes adrenaline and new things, like extreme sports. It makes me feel alive.
7.) As long as I’m a good person and do things from the heart, that’s all that matters.
Gisele Wrote
8.) Having the strength to tune out negativity and remain focused on what I want — gives me the will and confidence to achieve my goals.
9.) I’m a woman trying to balance family, work, and friends like so many others out there.
10.) Everyone has an hour in their day to go and do something for somebody else; I don’t care how busy they are.
11.) I’m a workaholic. I’ve been doing my job for a long time.
12.) I think sometimes you have high expectations for people because you have high expectations for yourself.
13.) Gossip is poison.
14.) As a mother, you’re always giving. It’s important to give something to yourself, so you can give from a place of being full, instead of giving from a place of being depleted – which isn’t healthy for you or the family.
Brady’s Quotes (Men’s Health)
Gisele is not really into sports. She’s like a kite flying in the sky, and I’m kind of tethering her. Sometimes I have to hold on hard. But she knows I’m always there for her.
Gisele’s life has been very nontraditional. She left home when she was 14; she lived in Japan at 16 in an era with no cell phones. And she lived in New York at 17 without speaking English. In her mind, there are no boundaries. ‘Why can’t you do that? Why do you have to go to school? Why can’t you just leave and live in a different country?’
No one has to be Tom Brady. I just get to be Tom Brady. You get to be you. Everyone has a choice. But if you want to be good at sports, you have to work hard at it. If you want to be healthy, you have to work at it. But you can’t say, ‘I want to be healthy,’ then eat s***ty food and do crappy workouts.
What’s Next?
While less known in sporting circles, as you can see from her accomplishments, Gisele more than holds her own.
With raising children and supporting a husband on his way to yet another Super Bowl, in addition to all of her other activities, one has to imagine that the household is seldom quiet.
What lies ahead for Gisele? Hard to say. But if past performance is an indicator of future success, one has to think she’ll be playing at a very high level.
By Kati Jewell
Kati is a Michigan native who has been freelance writing for over 14 years. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found watching games or practicing yoga.
Further Reading
