Dwyane Wade’s Wife – Gabrielle Union Bio: Ex-Husband & Career

Dwyane Wade‘s wife, Gabrielle Union, has her own identity and doesn’t need him to Wade’s popularity to gain fame. She is already an established American actress who has starred in different blockbuster movies. 

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade have been together for over a decade and married for six years. Throughout their romantic journey, they’ve learned a lot about how to live and love together.

NBA legend Dwyane Wade enjoyed a terrific basketball career that lasted 17 seasons.  While Wade is now venturing into a different job, his wife is always alongside him.

In this article, we will learn about Dwyane Wade’s wife. But, before anything, let’s get into the quick facts about Gabrielle Union. 

Dwyane Wade’s Wife: Quick Facts 

Brief Details About Dwayne Wade 

On January 17, 1982, is a former American professional basketball player. In his 16 year career, Dwyane spent most of his basketball journey playing for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 

In addition, he won three NBA championships, was an 8-time member of the All-NBA Team, was a 13-time NBA All-Star. He is currently the host of The Cube. 

He also was a 3-time member of the All-Defensive Team. During his third season playing for Miami Heat, he led the undervalued team to a much honorable position.

Finally, the team won their very first championship title since the beginning of the franchise.

Wade is Miami’s all-time leader in games, points, shots made, steals, and assists. In the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing, Wade represented his national team and played a crucial role in obtaining his team the gold medal.

He had escorted the Miami Heat team through his unique and extraordinary skills and led his team to go in for four consecutive finals in 2011 to 2014 in the NBA league. 

Dwayne Wade’s Wife: Gabrielle Union 

Gabrielle Union, born on October 29, 1972, is a Haitian American actress. She commenced her career in the 1990s. Then, for the first time, she appeared on television sitcoms.

Finally, she landed supporting roles in teen comedy films “She’s All That” and “10 Things I Hate About You (1999).” However, Union’s career took a leap when she did a role in the 2000 film Bring It On.  

Union affiliated with Neutrogena in 2004 and is a spokeswoman for the company. In addition, she became the first creative advisor and celebrity ambassador for the nail polish company called SensatioNail. 

Likewise, Union launched a clothing line for plus-sized women called Love & Blessings in 2010. She introduced the line because her full-figured sister inspired it.

In addition, she introduced her first wine Vanilla Puddin in march 2014. Apart from being an actress, we can say that Union has her hands everywhere. 

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Gabrielle Union: Early Life 

Born to Theresa, a social worker, phone company manager, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant, Union was raised Catholic. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska. 

In her childhood, she was taught to be an independent woman, standing on her own feet. But, according to her, she has permanently opted to take that road.

Later the family shifted to Pleasanton, California, and there she attended Foothill High School. Gabrielle has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA.

Unfortunately, her parents got separated after thirty years of marriage. However, according to Union, her parents handled their separation with grace, respect, and dignity by always keeping their kids first. 

Like most teenagers, Union also grew up with issues like self-esteem related to her appearance. As growing up, she believed that blonde was the ideal beauty and always observed herself as ugly. 

Gabrielle Union Enrollment in Politics

In 2008, Union was a proponent of Barack Obama in his presidential campaign. After her enrollment in the unsuccessful pilot for Army Wives, she was appointed by former President Obama to work with the NAC for Violence Against Women. 

In addition, Obama approached her specifically after knowing that the pilot had come to nothing. In 2012, Union was a member of Obama’s campaign Greater Together as part of his re-election campaign. 

Union turned to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to publicize his birth certificate and tax returns.

Moreover, she referenced that his father, George W. Romney revealed his tax returns during a presidential campaign. 

The office of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed declared a campaign called “Take a Stand” and made a short film featuring Tika Sumpter and Union. 

Moreover, in the 2020 presidential election, she encouraged social media users to make sure that they had everything to make their vote count by seeking out VoteRiders.

VoteRiders is a non-profit organization devoted to ensuring that all citizens can exercise their voting right. In addition, Gabrielle Union was named in the Time 100 lost of most influential people worldwide in 2020. 

Dwyane Wade’s Wife Gabrielle Union was the Victim of Rape 

Sadly Union was raped and attacked at her part-time job at Payless shoe store by a robber. The tragic incident happened in 1991 when she was only 19 years old. 

She has said that she wouldn’t have pull-through the attack if it had not been for lessons she grasped by watching Oprah Winfrey’s talk show. 

Union’s mother has always taught her to have a world perspective and even took her to a gay pride ceremony at eight. So she always fights against wrong and demands justice. 

Therefore she later sued the company for carelessness. She alleged that the store failed to warn employees about the assailant who had been identified robbing another Payless location precedes to her rape. 

Gabrielle Union: Career 

Union commenced her career in acting with minor roles. She first auditioned for “Saved by the Bell.” She has appeared in several series and TV shows like 7th Heaven, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 

In fact, Union has also appeared on the episode of Friends, “The One with the Cheap Wedding Dress,” as Kristen. 

In 2000, Union appeared in the role of Isis in the movie “Bring It On,” which led her into the mainstream. After that, however, Gabrielle landed her first lead role in the 2003 film “Deliver Us From Eva.”

The role demanded an actress to be able to change from funny to dramatic and caustic. And according to director Gary Hardwick, Union was perfect for that role.

Union landed a supporting actress in Bad Boys II, a blockbuster movie that grossed more than $273 million worldwide. After that movie, she felt that it elevated her career. 

Gabrielle has a faced a lot of obstacles from the commencement of her career till now. In addition, she has also opened about the differences she encountered due to racism.

For instance, when she was a judge for America’s Got Talent, the show didn’t renew her contract for another season in 2019, reportedly after speaking out against racism.

However, she filed a case against discrimination done by the show’s producers recognizing prejudice and racism. 

Gabrielle Union: Books 

Union declared her first book entitled “We’re Going to Need More Wine” in April 2017. The book depicts personal tales and contemplation on a range of topics like womanhood, friendship, race, marriage, sexuality, and beauty. 

She narrated the book as “the bad, the good, and the WTF.” Dey Street Books, an imprint f HarperCollins, published the book on October 17, 2017. 

Furthermore, A Black Author by the Root Magazine named the book a Best Book of the Year in December 2017. 

In May 2020, Union announced her first children’s book, a verse to non-traditional families and newborns, entitled “Welcome to the Party.” Her daughter inspired the book. 

In 2021, she has written two books: a memoir entitled “You Got Anything Stronger?” and another children’s book entitled “Shady Baby.”

Gabrielle Union: Activist 

Gabrielle is an advocator for survivors of assault. She has always raised her voice against violence. For example, she bolstered the case against sexual assault where a Texas teenager Jada was assaulted after passing out at a party.

The poor girl’s intimating video has been leaked out online and mocked by others on social media. However, Union has also talked about the importance of therapy and how her family was supportive of it. 

Union has addressed various social concerns like the murder of Trayvon Martin and the murder of the aunt of NBA player Matt Barnes.

After the few months following Travyon’s death, she supported a petition that demanded Florida District Attorney Norman Wolfinger to bring forth charges against George Zimmerman. 

Union was furious by Todd Akin’s outlook on abortion, which he described as a woman not being able to get pregnant in the event of “lawful rape.” 

Gabrielle is an ambassador in Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Circle of Promise. In addition, she became a representative for Planned Parenthood’s breast health initiative and initiated the Women Are Watching campaign along with other actresses in 2012. 

In 2020, Union cooperated with JusticeLA to generate a public service announcement #SuingToSaveLives about people’s health in L.A. County jails amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Gabrielle Union: Previous Marriage 

In 1999, Gabrielle met NFL player Chris Howard at a party. Eventually, they started dating and tied a knot on May 5, 2001. Unfortunately, they got separated in October 2005. However, the divorce was finalized in 2006. 

According to Union, when she got divorced, she realized that she hadn’t been making moral choices that were the finest for her to pursue her dreams, hope, passions, and aspiration. 

In a 2014 interview, Union admitted that she may have rushed into the relationship for the wrong reasons. According to her, in her 20s, she was all about getting the ring. 

Later Union acknowledged that she spent much of the marriage upset and worried and merely happy. But, in addition, she also felt at that moment that men in her life were just human.  

Gabrielle Union: Net Worth 

A successful actress and best-selling author Gabrielle Union has anet worth of $40 million as of 2021. Much of her wealth is accumulated from her job as an actress.

Apart from that, much of her newfound wealth comes from being the wife of former NBA star Dwyane Wade. However, she made abundant money before marrying Dwyane. 

Union explained in an interview before the marriage that she and Wade would be signing a prenuptial agreement to safeguard their individual assets.

In 2017, Forbes announced her husband the sixth highest-paid basketball player with total earnings of $36.2 million and a salary of $23.2 million. Wade’s net worth is estimated to be $120 million.

Gabrielle Union: Social Media 

Gabrielle Union is very active on various social media platforms. It is apparent that Union knows the power of social media, so she always addresses multiple social problems through her online media. 

Besides that, her social media profile is full of overwhelming pictures of her family. She has a massive fan following. Below is the link to her various social media profile if you want to follow; 

Instagram– 18.9m followers

Facebook– 4.6m followers

Twitter– 4.4m followers

Dwyane Wade’s Views on His Marriage to Gabrielle Union 

Dwyane and Gabrielle have completed six years of marriage. This is both their second marriage, and they have always been transparent about it.

According to Dwyane, the couple didn’t do it right at their first marriage, but they learned what it takes to last a relationship.

He said, “There’s another way — to be more equitable and collaborative. We humble ourselves, listen, and we meet in the middle.”

Dwayne also said, “In this relationship, there are times when I have to step back, sometimes when I have to lead, and times where we are side by side. And I know when to keep shut!”

They have worked on each other. Dwayne wants to support his wife by learning what she wants for her career and life. 

Furthermore, he also said that she was successful before Dwayne met with her. And he doesn’t want to change her; instead, he wants to be part of the evolution.

He revealed that there are times when Union will not talk to him for a week, but he thinks that they have a good combination despite all. However, they have always been there for each other to lay their head on each other shoulders. 

How did Dwyane Wade & Gabrielle Union meet?

Wade and Union first met at a Super Bowl party in 2007. At that time, Dwyane was still married to his ex-wife. However, Union had just divorced her ex, former NFL player Chris Howard. 

At first meet, she thought that she would never wind up with him and his resume never made her feel the pair would have a long-lasting relationship. 

Union also said that his resume looked like crap as he was going through a divorce and was nine years younger than her. However, all that proved wrong as they dated later and even got married.

At the party, she barely remembered Dwyane because he didn’t drink while Union and her friends liked to have fun. Nevertheless, the two kept in touch with each other and gradually flourished a relationship.  

The couple went official in January 2012. They appeared on the front page of Essence Magazine. However, they went through a transitory breakup in 2013 due to time constraints and scheduling. 

Fortunately, they came back together, and Wade proposed to her in 2013. The duo tied the knot just a year later of engagement in South Beach. 

Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union: Kids 

Dwayne and Gabrielle have four kids whom they’re raising together. However, not all the kids are from both of them. The couple is blessed with their daughter named Kaavia.

The sweet couple gave birth to their first child via surrogate in 2018. Sadly, Union couldn’t give birth to a child due to adenomyosis.

The other kids they are raising are Zaya, Zaire (From Wade’s first marriage), Xavier (Wade’s from an ex-girlfriend), and Dahveon (his nephew). 

The pair are very busy being parents to four children along with their adventures in their careers. But we can see that they’ve both balanced their work and personal life in a good way. They’re only happy as ever and shining like a brilliant couple. 

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Gabrielle Union: Surrogacy Journey 

In 2016, Union’s doctor, Kelly Baek, a reproductive endocrinologist in L.A., told her that her best chance for a healthy baby would be surrogacy. It was excruciatingly painful for Union not to have the experience of being pregnant. 

She wanted to see her body expand and accommodate the little miracle inside her. Moreover, she wanted to experience being publicly pregnant. 

Union had been through an adenomyosis diagnosis and numerous miscarriages that she could barely count. Finally, she went so desperate and bleak that she considered taking Lupron, which quiets the adenomyosis. 

But the side effects of Lupron are devastating as she could experience early menopause and can break bones very easily. However, Dwyane was not ready to see his wife enduring such pain. 

As their relationship was already drooling, Dwyane only wanted things to be right between them, and he changed her mind to go through surrogation.  

In 2013, when they were on a break, Dwyane had a baby with another woman. Their relationship was falling apart, and she was devasted. However, later the couple worked out their differences. 

Dwyane Wade’s First Wife: Siohvaughn Funches

Dwyane and Siohvaughn were high school couples. They both attended Harold L. Richards High School in Illinois. Unfortunately, Dwayne didn’t have a good bond with his family, due to which he was sent to live with his father. 

 He moved in with Siohvaughn and her family to escape home. They married in 2002 when he was attending college and playing basketball at Marquette University in Wisconsin. However, they had their first son before they were married. 

While Dwyane played in NBA, Siohvaughn settled into a simple life where she took care of her family, including two sons and Wade’s nephew. In addition, she accompanied him to red carpets events and games. 

As Wade was gaining fame and popularity in his career, but his marriage was slowly falling apart. The couple admitted that the pressure of fame affected their relationship.

Moreover, Siohvaughn reported that Dwyane became physically and verbally abusive and was a serial cheater.

Dwyane Wade & Siohvaughn Funches: Divorce 

Wade and Funches were married in 2002 but separated bitterly five years later. In 2007, he filed for divorce, which gave rise to contentious and public battle. Siohvaughn added to her previously made allegations that Dwyane abandoned her and their children destitute. 

He claimed that Sivoughn was mentally unstable. Wade sued his ex-wife for defamation. In addition, she was also arrested twice during the process of divorce.

The constant arguments between the two led Siohvaughn to be ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Moreover, she also publicly revealed that she was penniless, homeless, and living on the street. 

Later, Dwyane won the case and earned sole legal and physical custody of their children in 2011.

However, he has escorted his ex-wife financially by providing her with income over $25000 per month, timely paid for her home maintenance, mortgage and security, insurance, taxes, and all of her attorney fees throughout the process. 

Siohvaughn Funches: Social Media 

The ex-wife of Dwyane Wade, Siohvaughn, is pretty active on social media, where she shares pictures with her sons and podcasts that she does. 

You can find her on Instagram, where she goes by the username @siohvaughnfuncheswade. She has more than 34k followers on Instagram. 

FAQs About Dwyane Wade’s Wife 

Are Dwyane Wane and Gabrielle Union still married? 

The famous American actress and former NBL star have been dating since 2008. However, they got married on August 30, 2014, in Miami, Florida. They spent their honeymoon in Tanzania and the Maldives. 

Does Gabrielle Union have kids?

Gabrielle and Wade welcomed their daughter Kaavia on November 7, 2018, via surrogate. The couple struggled a lot and finally decided on surrogation after Union was not able to become pregnant. 

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