“The divorce was very upsetting, but she’s not bitter”: Gisele Bündchen opens up about Tom Brady divorce, revealing why she feels grateful despite the pain

Gisele Bündchen once believed she would spend the rest of her life married to Tom Brady. Their divorce in October 2022 brought an end to 13 years of marriage, leaving her struggling to understand how their relationship had reached that point. But the Brazilian model has no lingering bitterness toward the former NFL quarterback, according to a source close to her who spoke to PEOPLE. She is now grateful for the years they shared and the family they built, while embracing a new chapter with her husband, Joaquim Valente, and their growing family in Miami.Gisele Bündchen is grateful for her years with Tom Brady despite their painful divorce“She always thought she would be married to Tom for the rest of her life,” the source told PEOPLE. “The divorce was very upsetting, and she struggled to understand it at the time, but she’s not bitter.”That distinction offers a glimpse into how Bündchen views the end of their marriage today. The separation was difficult, but it has not erased the value she places on their life together. The source said she remains “grateful for their children and the years they shared.”Brady and Bündchen have two children together, son Benjamin, 16, and daughter Vivian, 13. Bündchen has also spoken publicly about wanting the best for Brady, even after their relationship ended.In a 2023 Vanity Fair cover interview, she pushed back against reports that their split came down to an ultimatum over Brady's football career. She called those claims “very hurtful” and “the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”“What’s been said is one piece of a much bigger puzzle. It’s not so black and white,” she said, acknowledging how painful it was to see the end of their marriage reduced to a single explanation.She also made her feelings toward Brady clear. “Listen, I have always cheered for [Tom], and I would continue forever… If there’s one person I want to be the happiest in the world, it’s him, believe me. I want him to achieve and to conquer. I want all his dreams to come true. That’s what I want, really, from the bottom of my heart.”A new family life with Joaquim ValenteBündchen's life has changed considerably since the divorce. She married jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente in December 2025. The couple welcomed a son in February 2025, though Bündchen has not publicly revealed his name.“She feels so blessed to have become a mom again,” the source told PEOPLE. “She loves the life she has with Joaquim and their family in Miami.”The source also described Bündchen as spiritual, saying she now believes “the universe had another plan for her.” Her new marriage appears to have brought happiness without requiring her to dismiss what came before.A source told PEOPLE in March that Bündchen was “really happy” with Valente. Their marriage, the insider said, had not dramatically changed their daily routine, but had made their relationship feel more meaningful.The latest comments come after the September 29 release of Lars Anderson's book, Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness. The book revisits the breakdown of Brady and Bündchen's marriage, including Brady's reported request for an extended leave from Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp in the summer of 2022 so the couple could work on their relationship privately in the Bahamas.Brady and Bündchen finalized their divorce on October 28, 2022, ending a 13-year marriage. The relationship did not end as Bündchen had hoped, but her reported comments suggest she is no longer measuring her life by that outcome. She has a new family, a different marriage and two children whose parents will remain connected long after their divorce.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.