Diane Plese: The Career, Family Life and Private Story Behind Robert Herjavec’s Former Wife
Diane Plese is widely recognised as the former wife of businessman and Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec. However, her life cannot be understood only through that marriage. Before Herjavec became a wealthy entrepreneur and television personality, Plese had already trained as an optometrist and established a professional career in Ontario, Canada.
Their relationship lasted for more than two decades and covered a period of major change. Together, they raised three children while Herjavec built successful technology companies. Plese gradually reduced her working hours before leaving her career to focus on the family. When their marriage ended, the divorce attracted attention because of the assets and support payments involved. Since then, she has remained largely outside the public eye, avoiding the celebrity lifestyle connected with her former husband.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Diane Plese |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Birthplace | Ontario, Canada |
| Profession | Optometrist |
| Education | University of Western Ontario |
| Known For | Former wife of Robert Herjavec |
| Former Husband | Robert Herjavec |
| Marriage Year | 1990 |
| Children | Brendan, Skye and Caprice |
| Current Status | Maintains a private life |
Early Life and Education in Ontario
Diane Plese was born and raised in Ontario. Her family had Croatian roots, but she grew up in Canada and completed her education there. Very little verified information is available about her childhood because she has never shared many personal details publicly.
Her decision to study optometry placed her on a demanding professional path. She attended the University of Western Ontario and completed several years of education and practical training before qualifying. Optometry requires an understanding of vision, eye health and the diagnosis of common sight-related conditions.
Completing the programme was a significant personal achievement. It prepared her for a stable career in healthcare and gave her an identity that was completely separate from the fame later attached to her marriage.
After qualifying, Plese worked in different optometry practices. She eventually began running her own office, where she treated patients and managed the responsibilities of a healthcare business. At this stage, she was working full-time and earning an independent income.
Her professional history is sometimes overlooked by online profiles that describe her only as a celebrity’s former wife. In reality, she was already an educated and working healthcare professional before Robert Herjavec became known to television audiences.
Meeting Robert Herjavec and Starting a Marriage
Diane Plese reportedly met Robert Herjavec through her work as an optometrist. He became one of her patients when they were both in their late twenties. Their first meeting was professional, but the two later formed a personal relationship.
They married in June 1990. At that time, Herjavec had not yet built the business fortune that would later make him famous. He was still trying to establish himself professionally and faced the uncertainty that comes with starting a new company.
Shortly after their honeymoon, Herjavec lost his job. He then began developing Brak Enterprises, a company focused on internet security software. The business was launched during a period when the couple did not have the financial position they would enjoy in later years.
Plese’s optometry income helped provide stability while Herjavec pursued his business plans. Her established career meant the household still had a dependable source of money if one of his projects failed. This gave the couple an important safety net during the early years of their marriage.
As Herjavec’s business activities expanded, the family’s financial circumstances changed considerably. Brak Enterprises became successful, and his later work in technology and cybersecurity helped create substantial wealth. He also gained public recognition through Canadian television’s Dragons’ Den before joining the American investment programme Shark Tank.
Motherhood and the Decision to Leave Her Career
The couple welcomed three children during their marriage: Brendan, Skye and Caprice. Their son was born first, followed by their two daughters. Raising three children brought major changes to Plese’s working life.
Following the birth of their first child in 1993, she reduced her hours and began working part-time. She continued returning to optometry between later maternity leaves, attempting to balance her patients with the growing needs of her family.
Eventually, this balance became difficult to maintain. Around 2003, Plese stopped working outside the home. Her attention moved towards caring for the children and managing the household while her husband continued expanding his businesses.
Leaving optometry was not a small change. She gave up her independent earnings, everyday professional experience and opportunities to develop her practice further. The longer she remained away from the profession, the harder it became to return at the same level.
At home, however, her contribution allowed Herjavec to place greater focus on his companies. He could travel, take business risks and pursue new opportunities while Plese handled much of the family’s daily life.
This arrangement continued during the years when his wealth and public profile grew. Their children attended respected schools, while the family gained access to expensive properties, international holidays and a lifestyle far removed from the uncertainty of their early marriage.
The End of a 24-Year Partnership
Despite their long history together, the marriage did not last. Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec separated in July 2014 after approximately 24 years as husband and wife. News of the separation became public in 2015.
The announcement attracted significant media attention because Herjavec was already a well-known television investor. Many reports focused on the unexpected end of such a lengthy marriage and the possible division of the couple’s wealth.
Plese did not publicly discuss the breakdown in detail. Herjavec acknowledged that the period was difficult and said that he wished peace for the family. The absence of extensive comments from Plese reflected the private approach she had maintained throughout most of her adult life.
Their divorce involved more than the formal ending of the relationship. The courts had to consider business valuations, valuable properties, family assets, child support and the financial impact of the choices made during the marriage.
These questions became complicated because their financial position had changed so greatly. Plese had entered the marriage with a full-time profession, but she had spent many years outside the workforce by the time the couple separated. Herjavec, meanwhile, had become a highly successful businessman with a strong earning capacity.
Divorce Settlement and Spousal Support
The legal proceedings lasted several years and included a four-week trial. Financial experts examined the couple’s property and business interests, while the court considered how their assets should be divided.
Herjavec was ordered to make an equalisation payment of approximately $2.69 million. This payment was connected to the difference between the former couple’s net family property rather than being the total amount Plese received following the marriage.
The court also ordered monthly spousal support of $125,000 for an indefinite period. Child support was awarded for specific months while their youngest daughter remained at university.
The size of the monthly payment created headlines, but the court’s reasoning went beyond the family’s expensive lifestyle. It considered Plese’s contribution during the early years of Herjavec’s business career and the professional income she had sacrificed after becoming the main caregiver.
Her withdrawal from optometry had reduced her long-term earning ability. At the same time, her work at home allowed Herjavec’s career and business assets to continue growing. The support order was therefore intended to recognise both her financial needs and the economic disadvantage connected with the marriage.
Herjavec appealed the spousal-support decision. In 2020, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed his main arguments and allowed the original order to remain in place. The appeal court agreed that Plese’s family responsibilities and lost career opportunities provided a strong basis for compensation.
An indefinite support order does not necessarily mean that it can never change. It means that the court did not set a fixed ending date. Either former spouse may still request a review if there is a significant change in financial or personal circumstances.
Diane Plese’s Life After Divorce
Following the divorce, Diane Plese continued to avoid television appearances and regular media interviews. She did not attempt to use public interest in the case to become a celebrity or social-media personality.
There are also few reliable reports about her current profession, relationships or daily routine. Some websites provide exact claims about her age, home and personal wealth, but many of those details cannot be confirmed through dependable public records.
Her limited public presence separates her from many people connected with famous personalities. Although she attended events with Herjavec during their marriage, she never appeared interested in building her own entertainment career.
Her three adult children have also generally maintained quieter lives than their father. Information about their education and professional interests has occasionally appeared publicly, but the family does not regularly discuss Plese’s private affairs.
This lack of information should be respected rather than filled with assumptions. A responsible biography must separate documented facts from rumours that have been repeated across entertainment websites.
Why Her Story Remains Important
The story of Diane Plese is not simply about an expensive celebrity divorce. It raises wider questions about what happens when one spouse reduces or abandons a career to support children and the household.
Paid employment can be measured through salaries, promotions and business ownership. Domestic responsibilities are more difficult to calculate, even though they often allow the other partner to work longer hours and pursue greater professional opportunities.
Plese entered her marriage with a recognised healthcare qualification and an operating optometry office. Her later decision to leave that work changed her financial future. The divorce court treated that change as an important consequence of the family arrangement rather than ignoring it.
Her experience also shows that public fame does not always reflect the full story of a successful family. Herjavec became the visible entrepreneur, but the legal record recognised that his former wife had provided professional income, childcare and household support during important stages of his career.
Conclusion
Diane Plese built a healthcare career before becoming connected with Robert Herjavec’s public success. She worked as an optometrist, operated her own office and provided financial stability during the uncertain beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
As their family grew, she gradually stepped away from professional work to raise their three children. That decision became central to the financial outcome of their divorce because it affected her independent income and future career opportunities.
Although the court proceedings brought her name into the headlines, Plese has continued to live privately. Her story is best understood not through rumours about wealth or celebrity relationships, but through the documented roles she held as a healthcare professional, mother and long-term partner.
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(FAQs)
Who is Diane Plese?
Diane Plese is a Canadian optometrist best known as the former wife of businessman and Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec.
How did Diane Plese meet Robert Herjavec?
They reportedly met when Herjavec visited her as an optometry patient. Their professional meeting later developed into a relationship.
When did the couple get married?
They married in June 1990 and separated in July 2014 after approximately 24 years of marriage.
How many children do they have?
They have three children together: one son, Brendan, and two daughters, Skye and Caprice.
Why did Plese leave her optometry career?
She reduced her working hours after becoming a mother and eventually left the profession to care for the children and manage the household.
How much spousal support was awarded?
The court ordered Herjavec to pay $125,000 per month in spousal support for an indefinite period. The order was later upheld on appeal.
