Gabrielle Union, currently Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade, is an American actress and the ex-wife of the former running back for Jacksonville Jaguars, Chris Howard.
Chris was drafted in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
Union is currently married to the former Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade.
Did you know Gabrielle was raped at gunpoint at the age of 19? Read more on this below.
She began her career in the 90s, making appearances on several TV sitcoms before landing major roles in films.
Union rose to eminence after starring in the romantic sports drama film Love & Basketball.
Similarly, her breakthrough is considered the 2000 teen film Bring It On, in which she appeared as Isis alongside Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku.
Aside from her spectacular acting, Union is known for her unparalleled beauty and fashion sense.
In the 2022 Met Ball, Union made headlines when she graced the red carpet in a silver plunging Versace gown with a beautifully embroidered train and red floral accent around her waist.
For more information, please read the whole article. And do not forget to check out the quick facts table.
Chris Howard Wife | Quick Facts
| Full Name | Gabrielle Monique Union |
| Date of Birth | October 29, 1972 |
| Zodiac | Scorpio |
| Nicknames | Gabrielle, Gab |
| Age | 51 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Current Residence | Hidden Hills, California, United States |
| Education | University of Nebraska, Cuesta College, UCLA Judith Fontaine Modeling & Talent |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Height | 5 ft. 7½ in/171 cm/1.71 m |
| Weight | 126 lbs./57 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Tattoo | None |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Distinctive Features | Dimpled Cheeks |
| Body Measurements | 36-24-36 in/91.5-61-91.5 cm |
| Dress Size | 4 (U.S.)/36 (EU) |
| Shoe Size | 10 (U.S.)/7.5 (UK)/40.5 (EU) |
| Bra Size | 34B |
| Father’s Name | Sylvester E. Union |
| Mother’s Name | Theresa ‘Glass’ |
| Relatives | Sylvester Union, Sr. (Paternal Grandfather), Etta Helen Nails (Paternal Grandmother), John Glass (Maternal Grandfather), Gloria G. Davis (Maternal Grandmother) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Ex-Husband | Chris Howard (1999-2006) |
| Current Husband | Dwyane Wade (2009-Present) |
| Past Affairs | Jason Kidd, Ludacris, LL Cool J, Michael Jordan (Rumored) |
| Children | Kaavia James Union Wade |
| Profession | Actor, Model, Voice Actor, Producer, Author |
| Manager | Jeff Morrone Management, United Talent Agency, Management 360 , Primary Wave Entertainment |
| Best Known For | Bring It On (2000), Being the Wife of Running Back Chris Howard and NBA superstar Dwyane Wade |
| First Film | She’s All That (1999) |
| First TV Show | Family Matters (1993) |
| Personal Trainer | Ahmad Baari |
| Brand Deals | Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Solutions (2014), SensatioNail (2014) |
| Favorite Football Team | Nebraska Cornhuskers |
| Favorite Music | 50 Cent, Lil’ Kim |
| Favorite Food | Omaha Steaks, Cajun-style rib eyes |
| Favorite Animal | Dog |
| Favorite Film | Grease (1978) |
| Favorite Book | The Autobiography of Malcolm X |
| Net Worth | $40 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Merch | Signed Ebony Magazine, Signed Framed Topless Photo |
| Last Update | October 2022 |
Chris Howard Wife | Early Life & Education
Actress, author, and producer Gabrielle Union was born Gabrielle Monique Union in Omaha, Nebraska, on 29 October 1972.
She is a daughter of a military sergeant Sylvester E. Union and a phone company manager Theresa (née Glass).
Raised Catholic Union was taught to be an independent woman during her childhood. She and her family moved to Pleasanton, California, after she turned eight.
Gabrielle attended Foothill High School in Pleasanton.
Her parents divorced after thirty years of staying married.
And like most, Union grew up with self-esteem issues relating to her appearance. She always thought blonde was the ideal beauty and looked at herself as ugly.
After graduating high school, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA.
Chris Howard, Wife | Rape Victim
When Union was 19, she had a part-time job at a shoe store. One night when she and her co-worker were closing up, a man entered and robbed the shop.
In the process, the robber attacked Union and raped her at gunpoint at a Payless shoe store.
Union has credited Oprah Winfrey’s talk show for getting her through a tough time after the incident.
She later successfully sued Payless for negligence, claiming that the store failed to warn employees about the attacker, who had been identified as robbing the franchise’s other location prior to her rape.
Chris Howard Wife | Career
Gabrielle Union started her career in showbiz in the 90s, and after a few years of struggle in minor roles, she established herself as a household name in the industry.
When talking about Union, we just cannot oversee her role as Isis in the 2000 film series Bring It On, a movie that skyrocketed her fame and made her a well-recognized actress among global audiences.
This role also booked her a slew of other acting opportunities on silver and small screens.
Similarly, Gabrielle starred in a lead role on the BET drama series Being Mary Jane in 2013, for which she bagged an NAACP Image Award.
Some of her other well-known projects include The Birth of a Nation, Almost Christmas, Sleepless, Cradle 2 the Grave, Cadillac Records, and Breaking In.
All in all, the actress has more than 90 film credits, according to IMDb.
Similarly, her films White Dave, Strange World, The Perfect Find, and Space Cadet are still in pre and post-production and are set to hit theaters soon.
Chris Howard Wife | Outside of Acting
Aside from acting, Union is also known for her activism and written works.
Union has been vocal against violence against women, given the fact that she herself is a rape survivor.
In 2020, she collaborated with JusticeLA to voice #SuingToSaveLives about the health of people in L.A. County jails amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Likewise, for her contribution to the plethora of social causes and activism Union was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2020.
In addition, she has also made a name for herself in the world of words. She has to date, published four books.
Her first work, We’re Going to Need More Wine, was published in 2017, and her most recent work, Shady Baby, was published in 2021.
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Chris Howard Wife | Relationships, Marriages & Children
Gabrielle Union met NFL running back Chris Howard at a party in 1999.
After a few years of dating, the couple exchanged vows on May 5, 2001. However, their marriage was short-lived, as the couple decided to part ways in October 2005.
However, the divorce was not finalized until 2006.
Before Howard, Union had dated well-known celebrities and sports personalities, including Jason Kidd, rapper Ludacris, NBA legend Michael Jordan, and legendary rapper LL Cool J.
Similarly, after parting ways with Howard, her name was romantically linked to ball players such as Juan Dixon and Darren Sharper.
And after a few unsuccessful relationships, she began dating NBA shooting guard Dwyane Wade in 2008.
After six years of dating, the couple tied the knot on August 20, 2014, in Miami, Florida.
With that, Union became stepmother to Wade’s three children.
Interestingly, in an interview before their marriage, Gabrielle stated that they had agreed to sign a prenup to protect their individual assets.
The two spent their honeymoon in Tanzania and Maldives.
In 2018, the couple welcomed Kaavia, their daughter born via surrogacy.
About Chris Howard
The former American football running back Chris Howard was born Christopher L. Howard on May 5, 1975, in Kenner, Louisiana, United States.
Chris attended John Curtis Christian High School and then the University of Michigan.
He played for the Michigan football team from 1994 to 1997 and totaled 1976 yards rushing on 418 carries.
After graduation, he was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
However, in September 1998, because of the difficult pre-season, the Broncos released Howard from their practice squad.
He was soon signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Howard retired in 2000, and in the first two games of the season, he fumbled twice on only 21 carries.
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Chris Howard Wife | Net Worth
Chris Howard’s ex-wife Gabrielle Union has a net worth of a staggering $40 million as of 2024.
She has earned the majority of her fortune from her super successful acting career, endorsement deals, and business pursuits.
Similarly, Union is a known name in the real estate game and has traded several pieces of properties over the years.
As mentioned before, Union and Dwyane Wade signed a prenuptial agreement before getting married to protect their individual assets.
The couple has a $20 million mansion in Hidden Hills, California, which they purchased in February 2020.
Similarly, they also have a $6 million property in Sherman Oaks, which they acquired in 2018.
Chris, on the other hand, has a net worth of $3 million as of 2024.
Social Media Presence
Given her super successful acting career, Gabriel Union has amassed a significant following in social media.
She has over 20.7 million followers on her Instagram handle.
View this post on Instagram
And aside from her selfies, Union posts her workout videos, vacation pictures, and other personal life updates on the platform. Certainly a treat for her followers!
She also shares sponsored posts every now and then, earning her a sizable income.
Popularity Graph
Unknown Facts About Gabrielle Union
- Gabrielle has admitted to being obsessed with Janet Jackson.
- Union and Oprah are good friends.
- Moreover, in 2010, Gabrielle launched her own clothing line for plus-sized females called Love & Blessings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
What happened between Chris Howard and Gabrielle Union?
Soon after Chris had proposed Union, she found hints of Howard cheating which persisted throughout their marriage.
A day after getting engaged, Union got onto Chris’s laptop and found out about his equation with another Greek girl.
This infidelity ultimately ended their marriage.
How much is Dwyane Wade worth?
One of the most successful basketball players in the world, Dwyane has a net worth of a whopping $170 million as of 2024.
Does Chris Howard have children?
No. Gabrielle and Chris did not have any children together. The reason could have been due to Gabrielle feeling like she “rushed to get that ring” when she wedded at age 28.
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