Vanessa Laine Bryant Wiki: 5 Facts To Know About Kobe Bryant's Wife

Vanessa Laine Bryant, who's birth name is actually Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta, was born on May 5th, 1982 in Los Angeles, California. She is not only the wife of 5-time NBA Championship and Multi-MVP legend Kobe Bryant, she's also a model, a media vixen, and businesswoman. She and Kobe Bryant have three children, together and all three happen to be girls. Their names are: Natalia Diamante, Bianka Bella, and Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant. She is also a graduate of Marina High school, located in Los Angeles, California, where her Kobe Bryant and their children reside at the time of this post.

Vanessa Laine would not meet Kobe Bryant until approximately 1999. At that time, Vanessa Laine was modeling and Kobe Bryant had been in the NBA for about three seasons. She had done enough modeling to be invited to the Teen Choice Awards even though she was still attending Marina High School at the time. The uproar about her dating NBA star Kobe Bryant was so intense, that she had to finish out her high school senior year being home-schooled. Ironically, Kobe Bryant would not win ANY awards or commendations until he met Vanessa in 1999, winning the NBA Championship a few months later.

After a year of dating, Kobe and Vanessa finally tie the knot on April 18th, 2001. They were joined together in a soulful union at the Saint Edwards Roman Catholic Church, located in Dana Point, California, not too far from Vanessa Laine Bryant's hometown. Kobe presented his bride a multi-carat diamond ring at the ceremony. The ring itself is a purple diamond ring featuring eight carats, estimated to have cost around $4 million dollars.

Unfortunately, the union between Vanessa Laine Bryant and Kobe Bryant would be one full of trials and tribulations. Just two years after they were married, Kobe Bryant would run into legal trouble in Colorado. He was accused of sexual assault by a woman though he remained staunch that the encounter was consensual. Unfortunately for his wife, the infidelity was assured. Kobe Bryant eventually beat the case of sexual assault, but the trust between Kobe and Vanessa Bryant was indeed fractured.

Moving forward approximately a decade later, Vanessa Bryant would file for divorce from Kobe Bryant on the grounds of infidelity. She discovered that Kobe just couldn't keep it in his pants but for the sake of her husband, (as well as his wallet...) Vanessa Bryant was open to reconciling the differences. The reconciliation came in the form of an apology ring with the ring swirling around adulterous circumstances. This ring has to be greater in value than her wedding ring, we can assume it tops her eight carat $4 million dollar wedding ring.

Being a model, vixen, businesswoman and wife of NBA future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant certainly attributes to Vanessa Bryant's net worth. According to 'Celebrity Net Worth,' Vanessa Laine Bryant is estimated to be worth a whopping $75 million dollars. The numbers take in to account the status of her husband as well her business ventures. It pays to be the rock of the relationship and the mother of his children.

'Dear Basketball,' an animated short film directed by Glen Keane and starring Kobe Bryant, is a short film molded after Kobe Bryant. After giving the NBA 20 years of his life, he announced his retirement from the game he loved. The short film won an Annie Award in 2017. 'Dear Basketball' has also been nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 2018 Oscars, set to air March 4th, 2018. If 'Dear Basketball' wins an Oscar, it will be the first Oscar for Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Laine Bryant, and any current or former NBA Player. We wish Vanessa and Kobe the best of luck at the Oscars!