Three years after her divorce from NFL star Tom Brady, catwalk legend Gisele Bündchen has remarried.
After having a baby together in February 2025, Bündchen wed her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valente, in an ultra-private ceremony on December 3rd.
A key difference between the two unions? The balance of wealth – and, possibly, the protections put in place.
Bündchen and Brady, both celebrities with their own separate fortunes in the hundreds of millions, reportedly had an “ironclad prenup.” When they split, it was uncontested, quickly finalized, and as Brady put it, “a very amicable situation.”
Valente, on the other hand, is a celebrity trainer and self-defense academy owner without his own significant wealth, who has married one of the highest-paid supermodels of all time. Now retired from the runway, Bündchen has had lucrative contracts with fashion, cosmetic, and technology brands. Her family has expressed concern that, this time around, the couple’s prenup isn’t strong enough — and leaves Bündchen vulnerable.
The family has reportedly called Valente “penniless” and the marriage a “mistake.” Page Six’s source says Bunchen’s family advised her to “just live with” Valente. They believe he pressured her to tie the knot, and that Bündchen, “being a traditionalist,” felt that once they had a child together, they “might as well marry”.
Page Six reports the couple “has a prenup, but it’s not the black-belt level protection her family would’ve wanted.” Their source says the agreement has “loopholes” that would give Valente a financial settlement if they split.
The couple did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Bündchen has described her close relationship with her family of origin, telling People Magazine in 2023, “My family is everything to me and my sisters are my best friends even if sometimes we disagree.”
What is a prenup, and how do you know if you need one?
Despite long-held misconceptions that prenuptial agreements are only for the rich, famous, and fabulous, today more and more “regular” couples recognize the practicality and wisdom of prenups.
Simply put, a prenup is a contract that soon-to-be-married couples craft and sign, outlining how their assets and debts will be characterized and divided in the event of divorce. It can also address issues such as spousal support. In drafting the agreement, each partner should have the guidance of a knowledgeable attorney, as a prenup must meet strict legal standards to be approved, enforceable, and lasting.
While it may feel distrustful, unromantic, or difficult to discuss, a prenup is really just a smart safety net. It’s a roadmap that clarifies each spouse’s financial rights and responsibilities, streamlining the dissolution process in case the marriage doesn’t work out as you hoped. It helps avoid painful, expensive, lengthy litigation and can reduce complexity and conflict when emotions are running high.
Undertaken with care and sensitivity, a prenup can be one brick in the process of building a strong, open, honest, healthy union. It can help couples align their values and goals.
Any couple can opt for a prenup, but it’s an especially wise move for anyone with a business, inheritance, significant and complex assets — or, as in the case of Bündchen and Valente, a major wealth gap between partners.
Nevertheless, this is a private and delicate topic, a decision and process unique to each couple. Naturally, family and close friends may have opinions about your choice of partner and other issues; what you feel comfortable discussing with loved ones is a personal matter. Ultimately, however, the decision whether to enter into a prenup belongs to you and your future spouse. Loving, transparent communication is the best path forward.
The experienced and caring family law attorneys at SFLG are here to support and guide you through the creation of an effective prenuptial agreement, or to help you navigate the next steps if you’ve decided to divorce.
By Debra Schoenberg
