Vanessa Bryant is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, and model. She is best known as the widow of Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players ever.
She has also worked as a model and appeared in music videos for various artists.
She is the president and CEO of Granity Studios, a multimedia company that produces content for young athletes.
She is also a board member of Bodyarmor SuperDrink, a sports beverage company that Kobe invested in.
Profile
- Full name: Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta Laine Bryant
- Date of birth: May 5, 1982
- Age: 42 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Businesswoman, philanthropist, model
- Height: 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
- Parents: Sofia Laine (mother), unknown biological father, Stephen Laine (stepfather)
- Siblings: Sophie Laine (sister)
- Spouse: Kobe Bryant (m. 2001-2020, his death)
- Children: Natalia Diamante Bryant, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant (deceased), Bianka Bella Bryant, Capri Kobe Bryant
- Relationship status: Widowed
- Net worth: $600 million
Early Life and Education
Vanessa Bryant, now 42, was born on May 5, 1982, in Los Angeles, California. She is of Mexican descent and speaks fluent Spanish.
Her biological father left her mother, Sofia Laine, when Vanessa was a baby. Sofia later remarried Stephen Laine, a middle manager at an electronics company.
Vanessa changed her last name to Laine in 2000 but was never legally adopted by her stepfather. She has an older sister, Sophie, who is also a model.
Vanessa attended St. Boniface Parochial School and Marina High School, where she was a cheerleader.
She graduated with honors in 2000. She did not attend college; she married Kobe Bryant shortly after finishing high school.
Personal Life
Vanessa Bryant met Kobe Bryant in November 1999 on the set of a music video that Kobe was making.
She was 17, and he was 21. They began dating and got engaged six months later. They married on April 18, 2001, without a prenuptial agreement.
Kobe’s parents disapproved of their relationship and did not attend the wedding. Vanessa and Kobe had four daughters: Natalia (born in 2003), Gianna (born in 2006), Bianka (born in 2016), and Capri (born in 2019).
Vanessa and Kobe’s marriage faced many challenges, including Kobe’s infidelity and a sexual assault allegation against him in 2003.
The case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify, but Kobe publicly apologized to Vanessa and gave her a $4 million ring.
They filed for divorce in 2011, citing irreconcilable differences, but reconciled in 2013. They remained married until Kobe died in 2020.
Vanessa and Kobe were very close and supportive of each other. They shared a love for basketball and their daughters.
Kobe often called Vanessa his “best friend” and “queen”. Vanessa was also involved in Kobe’s career and business ventures.
She helped him launch Granity Studios and Bodyarmor SuperDrink. She also accompanied him to various events and awards ceremonies.
Vanessa and Kobe’s second daughter, Gianna, was a promising basketball player who followed in her father’s footsteps.
She played for the Mamba Sports Academy, a youth basketball program that Kobe founded and coached.
She dreamed of playing in the WNBA and attending the University of Connecticut. She was very close to her father and often attended his games and practices.
On January 26, 2020, Vanessa lost her husband and daughter in a tragic helicopter crash that also killed seven other people.
They were going to a basketball tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California. Poor weather conditions and pilot error caused the crash.
Vanessa was devastated by the loss and sued the helicopter company and the pilot’s estate for wrongful death. She also sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for leaking unauthorized crash site photos.
Vanessa delivered a heartfelt eulogy for Kobe and Gianna at a public memorial service held at the Staples Center on February 24, 2020.
She expressed her love and gratitude for them and said they were “everything to me.” She also thanked the fans and the public for their support and prayers.
She said she would continue to honor their legacy and raise their daughters with the same love and passion that they had.
Career
Vanessa Bryant has worked as a model and appeared in music videos for artists such as Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Pharrell Williams, and Snoop Dogg.
She has also been featured in magazines such as Teen, People, and Latina. She is known for her beauty and style and has been a fashion icon for many women.
Vanessa is also a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the president and CEO of Granity Studios, a multimedia company founded by Kobe that produces content for young athletes.
Some of the projects that Granity Studios has created include the animated series The Punies, the podcast The Wizenard Series, and the books Legacy and the Queen and Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof.
Vanessa oversees the company’s creative direction and business strategy and aims to inspire the next generation of sports fans.
Vanessa is also a board member of Bodyarmor SuperDrink, a sports beverage company that Kobe invested in. She owns a 10% stake in the company, which is valued at over $1 billion.
She helps promote the brand and its products, which are endorsed by athletes such as James Harden, Mike Trout, and Naomi Osaka.
Vanessa is also a generous donor and supporter of various charitable causes. She has donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
She has also advocated for social justice and racial equality, especially after the death of George Floyd in 2020. She has participated in protests and campaigns such as Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name.
Awards
Vanessa Bryant has received several awards and honors for her achievements and contributions. Some of them are:
- In 2018, she and Kobe received the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Award for their excellence in sports and philanthropy.
- In 2020, she and Kobe were named among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for their impact and legacy.
- In 2020, she and Kobe were awarded the Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award for their work with Granity Studios and the Mamba Sports Academy.
- In 2020, she and Kobe were honored with the LA Sports Award for their dedication and service to the Los Angeles sports community.
- In 2021, she accepted the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction on behalf of Kobe, who was posthumously elected as part of the 2020 class.
Net Worth
Vanessa Bryant’s net worth is estimated to be around $600 million. She inherited most of her wealth from Kobe, who had a net worth of $600 million at his death.
She also earns income from her ventures, such as Granity Studios and Bodyarmor SuperDrink.
Controversy
Vanessa Bryant has been involved in several legal disputes, including:
- A lawsuit against the helicopter company and the pilot’s estate over the deaths of Kobe and Gianna. She claims they were negligent and reckless in operating the helicopter and failed to follow safety protocols. She seeks unspecified damages for emotional distress, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.
- A lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department over the unauthorized photos of the crash site. She claims that the deputies who took and shared the photos violated her privacy and caused her emotional harm. She seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent the photos from being further distributed.
- A feud with her mother, Sofia Laine, over financial support and property. Sofia claims that Vanessa cut her off and evicted her from a home that Kobe had bought for her. Vanessa denies this and says Sofia is trying to extort her reputation and tarnish her. She also accuses Sofia of being an absentee grandmother who did not help her raise her daughters.
Social Media
- Instagram: @vanessabryant
- Twitter: @VanessaBryant
