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 of 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 drink company in which Kobe invested.
File
- Full name: Vanessa Cornejo Urbieta Laine Bryant
- Date of birth: May 5, 1982
- Age: 42 years old
- Female
- Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: 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, passed away)
- Children: Natalia Diamante Bryant, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant (deceased), Bianka Bella Bryant, Capri Kobe Bryant
- Relationship status: Widowed
- Net worth: 600 million USD
Early life and education
Vanessa Bryant, now 42 years old, 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 young. Sofia later remarried Stephen Laine, a middle manager of 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 and Marina High School, where she was a cheerleader.
She graduated with honors in 2000. She did not go to college; She married Kobe Bryant right after finishing high school.
Personal life
Vanessa Bryant met Kobe Bryant in November 1999 on the set of a music video Kobe was working on.
She was 17 years old, and he was 21. They started 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 have 4 daughters: Natalia (born 2003), Gianna (born 2006), Bianka (born 2016) and Capri (born 2019).
Vanessa and Kobe’s marriage faced many challenges, including Kobe’s infidelity and sexual assault allegations 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’s death in 2020.
Vanessa and Kobe are very close and always support each other. They share a love of basketball and their daughters.
Kobe often called Vanessa “his”best friend” And “queen”. Vanessa is also involved in Kobe’s career and business ventures.
She helped him found Granity Studios and Bodyarmor SuperDrink. She also accompanied him to various events and award ceremonies.
Vanessa and Kobe’s second daughter, Gianna, is a promising basketball player, following in her father’s footsteps.
She played for Mamba Sports Academy, a youth basketball program founded and coached by Kobe.
She dreams of playing in the WNBA and studying at the University of Connecticut. She is very close to her father and often attends his matches and training sessions.
On January 26, 2020, Vanessa lost her husband and daughter in a tragic helicopter crash that killed seven others.
They were about to attend a basketball tournament at Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California. Bad weather conditions and pilot error caused the accident.
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 photos of the crash site.
Vanessa delivered a heartfelt eulogy for Kobe and Gianna at a public memorial service held at Staples Center on February 24, 2020.
She expressed her love and gratitude towards them and said that they “everything to me.She also thanked her fans and the public for their support and prayers.
She said she will continue to honor their legacy and raise their daughters with the same love and passion 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 is 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, 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 drink company that Kobe invested in. She owns 10% of the company’s shares, which are valued at more than $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 supports many different 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 also advocates 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.
prize
Vanessa Bryant has received many awards and honors for her achievements and contributions. Some of them are:
- In 2018, she and Kobe received the Illustrated Sports Personality of the Year Award for 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 Governor’s Emmy Award for their work with Granity Studios and 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 award on behalf of Kobe, who was posthumously elected a member of the 2020 class.
Net value
Vanessa Bryant’s net worth is estimated to be around $600 million. She inherited the majority of her fortune from Kobe, who had a net worth of $600 million when he passed away.
She also earns income from her business ventures, such as Granity Studios and Bodyarmor SuperDrink.
Argumentative
Vanessa Bryant has been involved in several legal disputes, including:
- The lawsuit is against the helicopter company and the pilot’s estate for the deaths of Kobe and Gianna. She said they were negligent and reckless in operating the helicopter and did not follow safety procedures. She seeks unspecified damages for emotional distress, loss of companionship and funeral expenses.
- A lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department over unauthorized photos of the crash site. She claimed 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 distributed further.
- Feuding with her mother, Sofia Laine, over financial support and assets. Sofia claimed that Vanessa interrupted her and kicked her out of the house that Kobe bought for her. Vanessa denies this and says that Sofia is trying to blackmail her reputation and tarnish her. She also accused Sofia of being an absent grandmother who did not help her raise her daughter.
Social Media
- Instagram: @vanessabryant
- Twitter: @VanessaBryant
