Diane Plese is best known as the first wife of businessman and Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec. But her story started long before their marriage became known to the public. Diane built her own career as an optometrist and later became a mother of three children.
Diane met Robert in 1988 during a visit to the eye clinic where she worked. At that time, Robert was still a young businessman with big plans. They dated for about two years before getting married in 1990 at a Croatian church in Ontario.
The couple stayed together for about 24 years and raised three children. Diane also stood beside Robert during the early years of his business career, when he was building BRAK Systems from their home. Their marriage later ended, and their divorce became widely reported because of its large financial settlement.
Today, Diane Plese lives a much quieter life than her famous former husband. In this article, we will look at her early life, career, marriage, children, divorce, reported net worth, and what is known about her life today.
Who Is Diane Plese?
Diane Plese is a Canadian optometrist and the former wife of Robert Herjavec. She was born in 1959 in Parkdale, Toronto, Canada. Her parents were reportedly Croatian immigrants who moved to Canada before her birth.
Diane grew up in Toronto and spent most of her life in Canada. Her Croatian family background was also an important part of her connection with Robert. The couple later married in a Croatian church in Ontario, keeping close to their family roots.
Although Diane became known because of Robert, she had her own career. She worked as an eye doctor and ran or worked at an eye clinic. It was actually through this job that she first met the man who would later become her husband.
Diane has always kept many parts of her life private. There is little public information about her childhood, siblings, or family life before marriage. She also stayed away from the media after her divorce, unlike Robert, who continued to appear on television and in business news.
Diane Plese’s Age and Early Life
Diane Plese was born in 1959, making her 66 years old in 2025. As of 2026, she is 66 or 67, depending on when her birthday falls. Her exact date and month of birth have not been widely reported by reliable sources.
She was born and raised in Parkdale, a well-known area of Toronto, Ontario. Her parents were Croatian immigrants, giving Diane a Croatian family background while she grew up as a Canadian.
Not much is known about Diane’s childhood. Public sources do not provide many details about her early school years, siblings, or home life. She has also not shared much about these parts of her story herself.
This private nature has continued for many years. Even after becoming connected to a well-known businessman, Diane did not try to build a public career around her family name. Most of what is known about her comes from reports about her career, marriage, and children.
Diane Plese’s Education
Diane Plese has kept her education private, so only limited details are publicly available. Reports say she completed college before studying optometry. She later completed her training and became a licensed optometrist, but the name of the school she attended and her exact graduation dates have not been clearly confirmed by reliable public sources.
Her education prepared her for a career in eye care. She later worked as an optometrist in Toronto, where she had her own professional life before becoming widely known through her marriage to Robert Herjavec.
Diane Plese’s Career
Diane Plese worked as an optometrist in Toronto. Her profession is also how she first met Robert Herjavec. He visited the eye clinic where Diane worked in 1988, and the two later began dating.
Diane reportedly practiced optometry for several years. After having three children with Robert, she is reported to have stepped away from her practice to focus on raising her family. There is limited reliable information about her work after that period.
Her current occupation has not been publicly confirmed. For that reason, it is safest to describe Diane as a former optometrist rather than claim that she still practices today.
How Diane Plese Met Robert Herjavec
Diane Plese met Robert Herjavec in 1988 at the eye clinic where she worked. Robert had gone there for an eye appointment, and the meeting soon became more than a normal visit between a doctor and a patient.
Diane later spoke positively about Robert’s personality. She was reportedly drawn to his energy and his excitement about life. Robert was already interested in business and had strong goals, although he was still far from becoming a well-known television star.
The two began dating after their first meeting. They spent about two years together before deciding to marry. Their relationship began during a very different period in Robert’s life, before his major business success and long before his Shark Tank fame.
Their meeting is an interesting part of Diane’s story because it shows how ordinary the beginning of their relationship was. Robert simply went for an eye appointment, while Diane was doing her job. Neither could have known how much their lives would change in the years that followed.
Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s Marriage
Diane and Robert married in 1990 at a Croatian church in Ontario, Canada. Their wedding reflected their shared Croatian family background. At the time, Robert was still building his career and had not yet become the famous investor seen on television today.
The couple went on to have three children. Their son Brendan was born in 1993, followed by their daughter Skye in 1996 and their youngest daughter Caprice in 1998. For many years, Diane and Robert focused on raising their family and building their lives together.
Diane also supported Robert while he worked toward business success. One of the biggest steps came when Robert started BRAK Systems, a company that worked in internet security. Reports say the business was started in the couple’s basement, during a time when Robert was still trying to grow his name in the technology world.
Their lives changed greatly after Robert sold BRAK Systems to AT&T Canada in 2000 for about $30.2 million. The sale gave the family much greater financial security and helped Robert move closer to the successful business career he later became known for.
During their marriage, Diane was also focused on her children and family. Reports say she helped create a home for the family and stood beside Robert during his early years in business. The couple later became known for their wealthy lifestyle and large homes.
Diane Supported Robert Before His Success
It is easy to look at Robert Herjavec today and forget that his career started on a much smaller scale. Before Shark Tank, major business deals, and television fame, he was working to build his own technology company.
Diane was with him during those early years. Robert started BRAK Systems, a Canadian company focused on internet security, and reports say the business began in the basement of their home. Diane supported him while he worked to turn his idea into a successful company.
That hard work eventually paid off. In 2000, Robert sold BRAK Systems to AT&T Canada for about $30.2 million. The deal was a major success and helped change the family’s financial position.
Robert later founded The Herjavec Group in 2003. The company grew into a major Canadian information technology and computer security business. He also became known through television shows such as Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank.
For Diane, those early years were not only about money. She was also raising their three children while Robert built his career. Her role in the family was an important part of their life before the couple’s marriage later came to an end.
Diane Plese’s Children
Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec have three children: son Brendan Herjavec and daughters Skye Herjavec and Caprice Herjavec. All three grew up in Canada and have mostly kept their personal lives away from the public eye.
Brendan was born in 1993. He studied marketing at Wilfrid Laurier University and later attended the Yale School of Management. He also earned a master’s degree in business from the University of British Columbia. His career has focused on business plans, growth, and company work.
Brendan has worked in strategy and revenue work at Inkblot Therapy and later at GreenShield, a Canadian health and benefits company. He also hosts Building Blocks With Brendan Herjavec, a podcast where he talks with business owners. In 2022, he shared news of his engagement to Jessica Herjavec.
Skye was born in 1996. She attended Havergal College in Toronto and was involved in cross-country running. She later went to the University of Southern California, where she earned a degree in business administration and management. She was also a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Skye later worked as an investment banking analyst at JPMorgan Chase. Like her brother, she has kept most details of her personal life private. Caprice, the youngest, was born in 1998 and became known locally after being named Toronto’s “Mayor for a Day” at age 14.
Caprice also took part in rowing while attending Havergal College. After graduating in 2016, she joined Barnard College of Columbia University’s women’s rowing team as a coxswain. Reports say she later became a consultant at Frederic W. Cook & Co. in New York City.
Diane Plese and Robert’s Divorce
After about 24 years of marriage, Diane and Robert separated in 2014. They announced the separation in July of that year. Diane reportedly spoke kindly about Robert during this period and described him as a caring husband and responsible person.
Diane filed for divorce in March 2015, and the divorce was finalized in 2016. The split received a lot of attention because Robert was already a well-known businessman and television personality. Their children were also affected by the breakup.
The couple did not publicly give one clear reason for their divorce. However, reports later linked Robert to actress Danielle Vasinova and alleged that he had an affair while still married to Diane. This should be treated as a reported claim, not as a confirmed reason for the divorce.
Robert later spoke openly about how hard the separation was for him. He said that he and Diane had been good parents and a strong team, but they had slowly grown apart. He also said that his children were deeply important to him during that difficult period.
Diane Plese’s Divorce Settlement
The financial side of the divorce became one of the most talked-about parts of Diane’s story. Reports say she received about $25 million as part of the settlement with Robert.
The reported settlement also included property. Diane was said to have received the family’s Caledon ski chalet and a property in Florida. These homes were part of the couple’s wealth after years of Robert’s business success.
Reports also say Robert was ordered to pay about $125,000 per month in spousal and child support. However, that monthly support order did not continue forever. A later court decision in 2021 ended the ongoing spousal support arrangement.
Another report says Diane received a $2.5 million equalization payment. There was also reportedly no prenuptial agreement between Diane and Robert. Because divorce records and financial terms can be complex, exact figures should be viewed as reported amounts rather than a simple picture of the full settlement.
The divorce also involved some of the couple’s valuable homes. Their former Toronto house became well known and was reportedly featured on MTV Cribs. The property also hosted celebrities such as Michael Bublé and John Travolta.
Where Is Diane Plese Today?
After her divorce from Robert Herjavec, Diane Plese chose to live a private life away from the media. Reports have linked her to Toronto, Canada, but she has not shared many details about her current home or daily life.
There are no reliable public reports that Diane remarried after her divorce. Her current relationship status is also private. She has largely stayed out of interviews, television, and other public appearances.
Diane does not appear to have a known active social media presence. An old account using her name has been mentioned online, but there is no clear proof that it was an official account.
Today, Diane is best known for her former career as an optometrist, her role as a mother of three, and her long marriage to Robert Herjavec. Much of her life after the divorce remains private, which is something she has clearly chosen to protect.
Diane Plese’s Net Worth
Diane Plese’s net worth is often estimated at around $100 million by celebrity wealth websites. However, there is no public financial record that confirms this exact amount. So, it is better to call it an estimate rather than a proven figure.
Her reported wealth is linked to several things. She had her own career as an optometrist, but the large divorce settlement is believed to be the biggest reason she is now associated with a high net worth.
The settlement reportedly included cash, property, and other financial benefits. Some reports also connect her wealth to the sale of properties after the divorce. Still, the exact value of her current assets is not publicly known.
Robert’s own wealth grew much larger through his technology companies and television work. His success came from businesses such as BRAK Systems and The Herjavec Group. This financial background helps explain why Diane’s reported divorce settlement was so large.
Final Thoughts
Diane Plese lived much of her life away from the spotlight. She was an optometrist, a mother of three, and Robert Herjavec’s first wife. She supported her family during Robert’s early business years before their marriage eventually came to an end.
Today, Diane keeps her life private. Her story is not only about her famous ex-husband, but also about her career, family, and the quiet life she chose after their divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Diane Plese?
Diane Plese was born in 1959. She is 66 or 67 years old in 2026, depending on her birthday, which has not been widely reported.
Who was Diane Plese married to?
Diane Plese was married to businessman and television personality Robert Herjavec. They married in 1990 and separated in 2014 before their divorce was finalized in 2016.
How many children does Diane Plese have?
Diane has three children with Robert Herjavec: son Brendan and daughters Skye and Caprice.
How much money did Diane Plese get from the divorce?
Reports say Diane received about $25 million in the divorce settlement. She was also linked to property and a reported $2.5 million equalization payment.
Is Diane Plese on social media?
Diane does not appear to have a known active social media account. An old X account using her name has been reported, but it has been inactive for many years and is not clearly verified.
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