The financial disparity between supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her jiu-jitsu instructor partner Joaquim Valente has reportedly become a source of concern among those close to the Brazilian icon, with family members questioning the necessity of formalizing their relationship through marriage.
According to sources, Bündchen, who has been named the top-paid supermodel numerous times throughout her career, has accumulated a $400 million fortune according to industry estimates. Her wealth stands in stark contrast to the typical earnings of Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors, even those with extensive experience and their own academies.
“Her family told her to just live with him,” reveals a source close to the situation. “But between Valente’s pressure and her being a traditionalist, she felt since they have a child, they might as well marry.”
The economic realities of the jiu-jitsu profession shed light on the vast financial gap between the couple. Alexandre Altenburg Odebrecht, a black belt and head coach of the Tao Jiu-Jitsu Academy, recently discussed the compensation challenges facing martial arts instructors. Despite more than 21 years of practice and over a decade of coaching experience, Odebrecht earns approximately $4,000 per month in Dubai.
When asked whether this pay reflects fair compensation for his work, he replied simply: “No, no.”
He further explained the lengthy path to professional expertise: “If you really like what you do, that’s worth a lot. But if you start from zero, it takes a long time. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, so it’s not something you can just start for a few years and expect to get there.”
While the Valente brothers operate their own academy, their earnings remain nowhere near the financial stratosphere occupied by Bündchen.
The supermodel’s net worth did take a significant blow following the FTX collapse, yet her remaining fortune dwarfs what most martial arts professionals could expect to earn over multiple lifetimes.
Despite the compensation challenges, many instructors maintain their dedication to the craft. “When I wake up in the morning, I feel good. I don’t feel like I’m doing something I don’t like. I just feel like I’m doing something for myself,” Odebrecht shared, highlighting the passion that drives many in the profession despite modest financial returns.
