Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen officially file for divorce in rural Florida town of Moore Haven

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen officially filed their divorce papers in a small town in Florida where the population’s medium income is just one-sixtieth of what the NFL star makes every game. 

DailyMail.com has obtained the court papers filed Friday that reveal their marriage is ‘irretrievably broken’ after 13 years. This comes after the couple released separate statements confirming the split. 

Clerks in the classical revival style 1928 courthouse in Moore Haven, Florida, told DailyMail.com neither Brady nor Bündchen had ever personally been to the court to present their divorce papers.

‘I wish!’ one told DailyMail.com. ‘Everything was filed electronically.’

And Kelly Brantley, judicial assistant to Judge Jack Lundy, who handled the case, added: ‘We treated them the same as anyone else. 

‘Everything was on the up-and-up, we did nothing differently. Their attorneys handled everything so we were able to process everything in one day. 

‘If you came to me with all your things in order I could do you just the same.’

Moore Haven is a far cry from the glitzy life the superstar couple lived with their $17million Miami estate, a mansion in Costa Rica and a $3.6million Manhattan condo.

And Glades County is way removed from Miami-Dade or Hillsborough Counties, the Florida counties where the multi-millionaire couple might have been expected to have filed 

Their reported joint net worth of $733million is hard to fathom for the fewer than 1,600 inhabitants of the town – the county seat of rural Glades County. The median income in the county is a mere $30,744 according to the 2020 census – around one-sixtieth of what Tom makes every regular season game.

The town itself is known for little. It was once called Little Chicago because it was considered a boomtown close to Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee Canal, but those days are long gone.

Before Friday’s filing, its biggest claim to fame is that it had the first woman mayor south of the Mason-Dixon Line when Marian Newhall Horwitz was elected to the post in 1917.

It does have a historic district – but it only consists of seven buildings.

So why did the glamor couple pick Glades County, the fourth smallest in Florida, to file for divorce?

Under state law a couple can file in any county, not just the one I which they live, as long as both parties consent. So the relative secrecy of using a rural county without their lawyers having to travel to the Panhandle where most of the other tiny counties are, made it ideal.

Moore Haven resident Joe Marin, 60, tells DailyMail.com, ‘They got divorced here because it’s a small town and peaceful. 

‘Everybody knows everybody here and no one is going to make a big deal about it. It’s a good small little town. It was worse when I grew up here. I

‘If they did it in a bigger town a bigger deal would be made.’ 

Lifelong resident Sunny Austin told DailyMail.com: ‘It’s very rare you ever have celebrities come here. Joe Namath came by in his boat once and had some boat problems and he stayed in town when I was in school. That was a big deal.

‘Oh, and the Zac Brown Band came in filming their video. a year and a half ago, but other than that, no.’

‘It’s just a nice, small, sleepy little town.’ 

By all accounts the mechanics of the divorce were settled amicably. The very fact it was filed on Friday, the day after Tom had played Thursday Night Football for the Buccaneers, giving him a full 10 days before he has to appear in public again for his next game, suggests it was all carefully thought out.

The ex-couple only completed paperwork on Friday, the very day the divorce was granted. Tom took a mandatory four-hour parent education course for divorcing families on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Gisele completed hers – using a different company – on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In his statement, Brady, 45, said it had been a ‘difficult’ and ‘painful’ decision that the pair reached after ‘much consideration’. 

Gisele, 42, said: ‘To end a marriage is never easy… we have grown apart.’  

She said she ‘wishes the best’ for Brady. 

 

 

 ‘I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always,’ she said. 

Both said they would continue to co-parent their two children, Benjamin, 12, and Vivian, 9, together.

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.’ 

She spoke of wanting to produce a travel series and donate to environmental causes, likening her modeling ascension and then quiet descent into motherhood as like climbing a mountain and then walking into a valley. 

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.

‘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. 

‘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. 

‘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. 

‘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 also owns property in New York City, Montana and Costa Rica, where they have vacationed for years.  

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. 

The divorce comes only a few months after they were seen vacationing together with their children in Italy. 

They looked every inch the loved-up couple, holding hands as they strolled through Portofino, and sharing cones of gelato.

Exactly what changed afterwards remains unclear. 

And it also remains unclear what Gisele, who said she was ‘fulfilled as a wife and mother’ plans to do next. 

Inside Tom Brady and Gisele’s $733 MILLION divorce: As couple confirm their split after 13 years of marriage, FEMAIL reveals everything at stake in their ‘amicable’ settlement – from custody of two kids to their $26 MILLION+ property portfolio 

By Charlie Lankston, Femail editor  

After weeks of rumors and speculation about brutal turmoil in Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s relationship, the pair finally revealed today that they are divorcing after 13 years of marriage – confirming that they have reached an ‘amicable’ settlement regarding their vast fortune, custody arrangement, and division of their incredible property portfolio. 

At the time of their wedding, both Tom, 45, and Gisele, 42, were shining beacons of success – and high-earning potential – in their respective field. Although the NFL star was injured and had just lost his first Super Bowl, he was still widely considered one of the best players in the sport, while his supermodel wife was one of the most recognizable faces in fashion. 

Gisele has starred in more than 550 ad campaigns, posed for 2,000 magazine covers, and walked in 800 fashion shows, while Tom has played 22 seasons in the NFL, helping his teams win seven Super Bowl titles and breaking numerous records along the way. 

Together, the pair amassed a staggering fortune – even as Gisele put her fashion career on the backburner in order to support her husband’s quest for continued Super Bowl glory – and today, amid their split, they are estimated to be worth a combined $733 million. 

While the couple’s divorce confirmation has finally answered several lingering questions about the status of their marriage – it has also raised fresh intrigue over how they will divide their massive fortune, including their $26 million property portfolio, and who will get custody of their two children.  

As the pair speak out about their decision to split for the first time, FEMAIL has revealed everything that’s at stake in their divorce settlement – including their $733 million joint net worth and four different mansion around the world (which are reportedly worth more than $26 million in total).

Tom and Gisele’s net worth’s: How the two stars earned millions from their careers even before they got together

Before getting married, both Tom and Gisele had already launched major careers for themselves, with Gisele working as a successful model and Tom becoming one of the most acclaimed footballers in the country.

Born in Brazil, Gisele was discovered by Elite Model Management at a shopping mall when she was just 13; the company then invited her to compete in its Elite Model Look contest, where she came in second place.

The fashion icon made her modeling debut at New York Fashion week in 1996, but for two years after that she struggled to book another job. 

However, her lucky break came in 1998 when she was cast in an Alexander McQueen runway show. Following that, she was propelled into stardom practically over night, and went on to star in campaigns for Dolce & Gabanna, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, and Versace, and walk the catwalk for Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Christian Dior, more big brands all within three years.

Throughout the early 2000s, Gisele’s career continued to flourish. She appeared on a whopping 37 international Vogue covers, including three for the US version of the outlet, and she also posed for W, Allure, GQ, Forbes, Marie Claire, Time, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and Eqsuire. 

On top of that, the model also signed a five-year contract with Victoria’s Secret in 2000 for $25 million, and dove into acting – starring in the 2004 remake of the movie Taxi and appearing in the popular 2006 flick The Devil Wears Prada.

As for Tom, originally from California, he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1999, and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000. He became the team’s starting quarterback during his second season, which saw the Patriots win their first Super Bowl. 

In 2006, while her work as a model was coming in fast and he was soaring in the NFL, the two started dating after they were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend; and neither of their careers slowed down once they got together.

The former couple got married in 2009 during an intimate ceremony in Santa Monica, California, before they jetted off to Costa Rica to celebrate with a lavish party attended by a slew of famous faces. 

One year into their romance, Forbes named Gisele as the World’s Richest Supermodel. She launched her own line of flip-flop line with Ipanema in 2010, and it was reported at the time that she sold more than 250 million pairs – earning her an estimated $197 million.

She also started her own eco-friendly skin care line, called Sejaa Pure Skincare, and in 2013, she became the face of Chanel’s makeup line Les Beiges and Pantene’s ambassador – in a deal that reportedly paid her $4 million.

Over the years, Gisele also released a memoir, called Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, in 2018, which landed a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

In recent years, the star had largely put her modeling career on the back burner in order to travel with Tom while he pursued NFL stardom. Even so, according to Celebrity Net Worth, she is now worth roughly $400 million from all her endeavors.

As for Tom, he lead the Patriots to 17 division titles, 13 AFC Championship Games, nine Super Bowl appearances, and six Super Bowl wins during his 19 seasons with the team

The football pro, who switched to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and helped them win the Super Bowl in 2021, now holds nearly every major quarterback record including passing yards, completions, touchdown passes, and games started; he is also the NFL leader in: career quarterback wins, quarterback regular season wins, quarterback playoff wins, and Super Bowl MVP awards. 

Celebrity Net Worth reported that he makes $30 million annually from the NFL, and that his total net worth is around $250 million, while a conflicting report from Spotrac stated that his net worth is closer to $333 million.

Tom and Gisele’s expansive property portfolio: A look at their stunning four mansions, including $17 million estate in Miami that was in the midst of being rebuilt  

Together, the former couple own numerous properties across the country – including a $3.6 million apartment in New York City, a $17 million mansion located on Miami’s Indian Creek Island, a lavish estate in Yellowstone, Montana, and a stunning home in Costa Rica.

Two years before going their separate ways, Tom and Gisele had purchased the 5,772-square-foot home in Miami, and tore it down – with plans to build a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly mansion in its place, forking out an additional $10.12 million in construction costs.

It was meant to be the family’s forever home, and once construction was complete, they were going to be neighbors with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, hotel magnate Jeffrey Soffer, and billionaire investor Carl Icahn.

It’s unclear what’s going to come of the home now, but construction has not been halted amid the split, as DailyMail.com obtained exclusive photos that showed workers continuing to work on the mega mansion last month.

The 1.8-acre property encompasses three buildings – a main house, a security post, and a gym. Floor plans of the main home obtained by the Post show that it will span across an enormous 17,000-square-feet, and include five bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, along with an elevator, a movie theatre, and a guest suite. 

It is also set to ironically include his-and-hers bathroom suites, which may never get to be used by both, as well as an organic garden, a pickleball court, yoga terrace, and three kitchens – a prep kitchen, main kitchen, and outdoor kitchen.

It is not known who will take ownership of Tom and Gisele’s many properties.

The fate of Tom and Gisele’s two children: Florida law used to favor mothers in custody hearings but is now dedicated to ending ‘bias against gender’ 

Together, Tom and Gisele welcomed two children over the years – Benjamin Brady, now 12, and Vivian Lake Brady, now nine – so who will get custody of the kids? 

For many years, Florida used something known as the ‘tender years’ doctrine, which is a belief that the mother should have custody of her children during their ‘tender years.’ 

This resulted in 91 per cent of custody cases favoring the mother.

However, in 2020, the state replaced the doctrine with a new law that said children must have ‘frequent and continuing contact’ with both parents.

‘The 2020 law is not biased against any gender, nor does it recommend any specific timesharing schedule for the mother or father when awarding child custody,’ Donna Hung Law reported.

‘In fact, Florida’s state law prohibits any form of gender bias in custody cases. Also, it has become challenging for one parent to be awarded sole custody.’

Throughout their 13-year-long marriage, Gisele took on the stepmom role to Tom’s son from his previous marriage to Bridget Moynahan, now-15-year-old John Edward Thomas Moynahan, and was often seen spending time with the teen; but since he was never legally adopted by Gisele and has no blood relation to her, he is not involved in the custody case.