Diane Plese: The Untold Story of Robert Herjavec’s First Wife, Her Optometry Career, 24-Year Marriage, Three Children, $25 Million Divorce Settlement, and Life in 2026

Diane Plese is a Canadian optometrist best known as the former wife of successful businessman and Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec. Long before Robert became a familiar face on television, Diane was building her own career in eye care. The couple married in 1990, raised three children, and shared more than two decades of family life. However, their marriage ended following a separation in 2014, leading to a widely discussed divorce and financial settlement. But who is Diane Plese beyond her famous marriage, and what happened to her after their relationship ended?

Unlike many people connected to television personalities, Diane never made fame the center of her life.

She worked as an optometrist, helped support her family during the early years of Robert’s business career, and later stepped away from her profession to concentrate on raising their children.

Her story became especially interesting when the details of their divorce reached the courts. The legal proceedings revealed how her contributions to the household had supported Robert’s growing business interests.

Today, Diane remains largely outside public attention, but her professional background and family history continue to attract curiosity.

Diane Plese Quick Bio

Who Is Diane Plese?

Diane Plese is a Canadian healthcare professional who became widely known because of her marriage to Robert Herjavec.

Robert is a businessman, investor, cybersecurity entrepreneur, and television personality.

He became especially famous through the Canadian business program Dragons’ Den and the American series Shark Tank.

However, Diane’s connection to Robert began long before his greatest television success.

During their early years together, she was already working as an optometrist.

She had completed professional training and developed a career focused on helping people with their eyesight.

Their relationship eventually developed into marriage, and the couple welcomed three children.

As Robert’s companies grew, Diane became increasingly involved in managing family responsibilities.

She eventually stopped practicing optometry full-time.

This decision became important years later when their marriage ended and the courts examined their financial circumstances.

Diane’s story therefore includes both professional achievement and the economic realities of a long marriage.

Diane Plese’s Early Life and Family Background

Diane Plese has strong connections to Toronto, Canada.

Several biographical profiles describe her as the daughter of Croatian immigrants.

Her family reportedly settled in Canada before she began her professional career.

However, the exact details of her birth and childhood have not been extensively documented.

Some websites claim she was born in 1959.

That date conflicts with later court records, which identify her as 56 years old at the time of her divorce trial in 2018.

Based on the court information, a birth year around 1961 or 1962 is more likely.

Her exact birthday remains unconfirmed.

Growing Up in a Croatian-Canadian Family

Diane’s reported Croatian family background forms an interesting part of her story.

Croatia is a European country with a long history of migration to North America.

Many Croatian families established new lives in Canada, particularly in cities such as Toronto.

Robert Herjavec also has Croatian roots.

He was born in what is now Croatia before immigrating to Canada with his parents.

This shared cultural background is often mentioned in accounts of their relationship.

However, there is limited reliable information about Diane’s childhood experiences or the traditions practiced in her family home.

Her parents’ names and the identities of any siblings are not firmly established in major public biographies.

Diane Plese’s Education

Diane pursued education in healthcare before becoming professionally established.

She trained in optometry, a field concerned with vision, eye examinations, and detecting certain eye-related conditions.

Her exact educational institution and graduation date are not clearly documented in reliable public sources.

Some celebrity websites provide specific academic details, but those claims are difficult to verify.

What is established through Canadian court records is that Diane became a qualified optometrist.

She later operated her own practice.

This means she had developed an independent professional career before taking on full-time family responsibilities.

Diane Plese’s Career as an Optometrist

One of the most important parts of Diane Plese’s biography is her professional work.

Before becoming known as Robert Herjavec’s wife, she had a career in eye care.

An optometrist examines patients’ vision and helps identify problems affecting eyesight.

They may prescribe glasses and contact lenses and assess eye health.

Depending on their qualifications and local regulations, optometrists can also diagnose and manage certain eye conditions.

Building Her Own Practice

Canadian court records confirm that Diane worked as a full-time optometrist during the early years of her marriage.

She also operated her own office.

This is an important detail because it shows that she was financially and professionally active while Robert was developing his businesses.

At the time, Robert was still establishing himself as an entrepreneur.

His companies had not yet achieved the level of success that later made him wealthy.

Diane’s professional income formed part of the couple’s early financial circumstances.

Moving From Full-Time to Part-Time Work

After welcoming their first child in 1993, Diane began reducing her professional working hours.

She continued practicing optometry on a part-time basis between periods of maternity leave.

Over time, the couple’s family responsibilities increased.

They welcomed two more children in 1996 and 1998.

By approximately 2003, Robert encouraged Diane to stop working outside the home.

She agreed.

This decision allowed her to focus more fully on raising their children and managing household responsibilities.

It also allowed Robert to concentrate on expanding his business activities.

Years later, these arrangements became central to the court’s assessment of Diane’s financial contributions to the marriage.

How Did Diane Plese Meet Robert Herjavec?

Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec met before their marriage in 1990.

Several biographical accounts claim they first met when Robert visited an eye clinic where Diane worked.

According to these stories, Robert became interested in Diane during an appointment.

However, the exact circumstances of their first meeting have not been firmly confirmed by contemporary reporting.

The couple’s relationship developed during the late 1980s.

At the time, Robert was still building his career in technology and business.

Diane was already working in healthcare.

Their relationship eventually became serious, and they married in 1990.

Their Relationship Before Robert Became Famous

One interesting part of their story is the timing.

Robert Herjavec did not become a major television personality until years after their marriage.

During the early 1990s, he was focused primarily on business.

He worked in technology and began developing companies.

Diane was already part of his life during this period.

Their relationship therefore existed long before the public recognition that came through Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank.

Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s Wedding in 1990

Diane and Robert married in 1990.

Their wedding marked the beginning of a relationship that lasted approximately 24 years before they separated.

During those years, the couple experienced major changes.

Robert’s businesses expanded.

Their family grew to include three children.

They also acquired valuable properties and developed a wealthy lifestyle.

However, this financial success came gradually.

In the beginning, both spouses contributed through different forms of work.

Diane practiced optometry, while Robert focused on entrepreneurship.

Later, Diane concentrated on household and childcare responsibilities as Robert’s business commitments increased.

Who Is Robert Herjavec?

Robert Herjavec is a Canadian businessman, investor, author, and television personality.

He was born on September 14, 1962, in Varaždin, in what was then Yugoslavia.

His family later immigrated to Canada.

Robert grew up in Toronto and began developing an interest in business and technology.

He eventually worked in computer-related industries before launching his own companies.

His success helped establish him as a prominent entrepreneur.

Robert’s Early Business Career

Robert became involved in the technology industry during the 1980s.

He eventually founded BRAK Systems, an internet security company.

The business grew and attracted attention from larger technology organizations.

In 2000, AT&T Canada acquired BRAK Systems.

Robert later established the Herjavec Group, another cybersecurity business.

The company expanded internationally and became a recognizable name in enterprise security services.

These achievements contributed substantially to his wealth.

Becoming Famous on Dragons’ Den

Robert entered television through the Canadian program Dragons’ Den.

The show featured entrepreneurs presenting business ideas to wealthy investors.

Robert became one of its recognizable personalities.

His television career later expanded to the United States.

In 2009, he joined Shark Tank.

The series introduced him to millions of American viewers.

Through the show, Robert became known for evaluating business ideas and investing in entrepreneurs.

During this growing period of fame, Diane was still his wife.

Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s Three Children

Diane and Robert have three children together.

They are Brendan, Skye, and Caprice Herjavec.

All three were born during the couple’s marriage.

The children grew up while Robert’s business career was expanding.

Despite their father’s fame, much of their private family life has remained outside public attention.

Brendan Herjavec

Brendan Herjavec is the couple’s oldest child.

He was born in 1993.

As of October 2026, he is approximately 32 or 33 years old.

Brendan completed university studies and entered professional life.

Court records from 2015 described him as having finished his undergraduate degree and begun working full-time.

His professional interests have been associated with business and technology.

However, his exact current occupation is not reliably established.

Skye Herjavec

Skye Herjavec is one of Diane and Robert’s daughters.

She was born in June 1996.

As of October 2026, she is 30 years old.

Skye has pursued education and business-related activities.

During the family’s divorce proceedings, she was attending university in California.

She has also been connected to entrepreneurial interests.

However, many details about her current work and personal life remain private.

Caprice Herjavec

Caprice Herjavec is the couple’s youngest child.

She was born in February 1998.

As of October 2026, she is 28 years old.

During the family’s separation, Caprice was still attending school in Toronto.

She later continued her education.

Like her siblings, she has generally maintained a lower public profile than her father.

Diane’s Role in Raising Her Children

Diane’s role as a mother became especially important in her divorce case.

Court records show that she gradually reduced her optometry work after becoming a parent.

By 2003, she had left the workforce entirely.

This allowed her to manage the household while Robert focused on business.

The court later recognized that these family responsibilities formed an important contribution to their marriage.

This is a central part of Diane’s story.

Her work was not limited to earning a salary.

It also included responsibilities that supported the family’s everyday life.

Why Did Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec Separate?

Diane and Robert separated in July 2014.

Their marriage had lasted approximately 24 years.

The couple’s separation became public in March 2015.

However, the complete reasons behind their breakup have not been established through a single confirmed explanation.

Reports about relationship problems appeared around this period.

Robert later became romantically involved with professional dancer Kym Johnson.

Some entertainment coverage connected the divorce with speculation about other relationships.

However, the couple’s private reasons for separating should not be reduced to unverified rumors.

The established facts are that their separation occurred in July 2014 and their divorce was finalized in 2016.

Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s Divorce in 2016

The couple’s divorce attracted considerable attention.

By the time their marriage ended, Robert had become a successful entrepreneur and television investor.

Their household held substantial assets.

The divorce therefore involved complicated questions about financial support, property ownership, and the value of business interests.

Diane began family-law proceedings in March 2015.

The legal process continued for several years.

A Complicated Financial Separation

During the marriage, Robert accumulated substantial wealth through his companies.

The couple owned several valuable properties.

Court records described a luxury home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood.

They also owned a cottage in Muskoka, recreational property in Florida, and a ski chalet.

The couple had access to private-aircraft travel through Robert’s company.

Their children attended private schools.

These details became relevant when the courts examined the family’s standard of living.

The Toronto Family Home

One of the most valuable properties connected to the marriage was the family’s Toronto home.

Court documents indicate that it had been purchased for approximately $7 million.

After the separation, the property was sold in 2018 for approximately $17.395 million.

This represented a substantial increase in value.

The sale became one of several important financial matters in the divorce proceedings.

Diane Plese’s $25 Million Divorce Settlement

The financial outcome became one of the most widely discussed parts of Diane’s story.

In 2019, reporting about the proceedings described Diane as receiving approximately $25 million through the division of assets and related financial awards.

However, the exact structure of the judgment was more complicated than a single payment.

The court considered property division, spousal support, child support, and the couple’s previous financial arrangements.

What Did the Court Order?

Following a lengthy trial, an Ontario judge ordered Robert to make an equalization payment of approximately $2.69 million.

The court also ordered monthly spousal support of $125,000.

There were additional child-support arrangements connected to their youngest daughter’s university education.

These figures were part of a broader legal judgment.

They should not be confused with a single $25 million cash payment.

Why Did Diane Receive Spousal Support?

The court examined the different roles Diane and Robert had played during their marriage.

Diane had begun the relationship with an established healthcare career.

She worked full-time as an optometrist and operated her own practice.

After becoming a mother, she gradually reduced her working hours.

She eventually stopped working altogether.

Meanwhile, Robert continued growing his businesses.

The court recognized that Diane’s decision to focus on household responsibilities had supported Robert’s professional development.

Her absence from the workforce also affected her ability to return to an equivalent professional position.

These circumstances were important in determining spousal support.

The 2020 Appeal

Robert challenged the spousal-support decision.

However, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on December 16, 2020.

The court upheld the $125,000 monthly support award.

Its decision emphasized the importance of examining the couple’s actual circumstances.

The judgment also recognized the economic effects of Diane’s long absence from professional employment.

This became one of the most significant legal developments connected to their divorce.

Did Diane Plese Stop Working Because of Robert Herjavec?

Court records provide a clear explanation of Diane’s career decisions.

She initially worked full-time as an optometrist.

After the birth of their first child, she reduced her hours.

She continued working part-time during the following years.

Around 2003, Robert encouraged her to stop working.

Diane agreed and concentrated on managing the household and caring for their children.

Robert was able to focus on expanding his business interests.

Both later described themselves as a good team during the marriage.

This arrangement mattered because Diane had given up professional opportunities while the family’s wealth increased.

The court considered that sacrifice when determining the financial consequences of their separation.

Robert Herjavec’s Marriage to Kym Johnson

After separating from Diane, Robert became involved with Australian professional dancer Kym Johnson.

They met through the television competition Dancing with the Stars.

Robert appeared as a contestant during the show’s twentieth season in 2015.

Kym was his professional dancing partner.

Their partnership eventually developed into a romantic relationship.

Their Wedding in 2016

Robert and Kym became engaged in February 2016.

They married on July 31, 2016, in Los Angeles.

The wedding took place shortly after Robert’s divorce from Diane was finalized.

The couple later welcomed twins.

Their son, Hudson Robert Herjavec, and daughter, Haven Mae Herjavec, were born on April 23, 2018.

These children are younger half-siblings of Brendan, Skye, and Caprice.

Did Diane Plese Remarry?

There is no reliable public confirmation that Diane remarried following her divorce.

Her current relationship status remains private.

Although Robert’s second marriage received substantial entertainment coverage, Diane did not develop a comparable public celebrity presence.

Diane Plese’s Net Worth in 2026

Many readers want to know Diane Plese’s net worth.

Online estimates vary considerably.

Some websites suggest she is worth tens of millions of dollars.

However, her exact financial position in October 2026 is not publicly established.

The divorce proceedings documented substantial assets and financial awards.

But those historical figures do not automatically reveal her present net worth.

Personal wealth can change because of taxes, investments, property transactions, spending, and other financial decisions.

For this reason, Diane Plese’s exact net worth in 2026 remains unverified.

The roughly $25 million figure associated with the divorce should be understood as a historical financial outcome rather than a confirmed current wealth estimate.

How Old Is Diane Plese in 2026?

Diane’s age has sometimes been incorrectly reported.

Numerous celebrity biographies claim she was born in 1959.

However, Canadian appeal-court records state that both Diane and Robert were 56 years old at the time of their 2018 trial.

This suggests Diane was born around 1961 or 1962.

Based on that information, she is approximately 64 or 65 years old in October 2026.

Her exact birthday has not been independently verified.

Where Is Diane Plese Today in 2026?

As of October 2026, Diane Plese maintains a relatively private lifestyle.

Her public identity remains connected to her former optometry career, her children, and her marriage to Robert Herjavec.

However, there is little trustworthy recent reporting about her everyday activities.

Her current residence, employment status, and personal relationships have not been clearly established.

Some biographies claim she continues living in Toronto.

Although she has strong connections to the city, her precise present residence cannot be confirmed from reliable public information.

Is Diane Still Practicing Optometry?

There is no widely verified recent information confirming that Diane returned to professional optometry after her divorce.

Court records show that she had left the workforce around 2003.

A return to practice would potentially require meeting professional registration and continuing education requirements.

However, there is no reason to assume she resumed work without evidence.

Her current occupation remains unknown.

Does Diane Plese Have Social Media?

There is no widely verified public Instagram, Facebook, or X account that can confidently be identified as Diane Plese’s official profile.

Accounts using similar names may belong to unrelated individuals.

She has not become a major social media personality.

This limited online presence helps explain why much of her recent personal life remains outside public reporting.

Interesting Facts About Diane Plese

• She was an established optometrist. Diane worked full-time and operated her own practice before leaving professional employment.

• She married Robert Herjavec in 1990. Their marriage began before his greatest television success.

• She has three children. Brendan, Skye, and Caprice were born between 1993 and 1998.

• She left the workforce around 2003. The decision allowed her to concentrate on family responsibilities.

• Her marriage lasted approximately 24 years before separation. The couple separated in July 2014.

• Her divorce became a major financial case. The proceedings involved valuable properties and business interests.

• The court ordered substantial spousal support. A $125,000 monthly award was upheld on appeal.

• Her former husband remarried in 2016. Robert married dancer Kym Johnson.

• Her exact net worth is unknown. Divorce-related financial figures should not be confused with current wealth.

• She remains largely private. Reliable recent details about her personal life are limited.

Why Is Diane Plese Still Famous?

Diane Plese continues attracting attention because Robert Herjavec remains a popular television personality.

His appearances on Shark Tank introduced millions of viewers to his business career.

Fans became curious about his family, previous marriage, and children.

Diane’s name also attracted attention because of their complicated financial separation.

The court proceedings involved substantial assets and raised questions about the financial contributions of spouses who leave professional careers to manage a family.

Her story is therefore interesting beyond celebrity gossip.

It also provides an example of how family responsibilities can affect financial independence during a long marriage.

What Makes Diane Plese’s Story Different?

Diane’s story is unusual because her personal contributions were examined in considerable detail through legal proceedings.

She was not simply someone who married a wealthy television personality.

She had an established career before Robert achieved his greatest success.

During the early years of their marriage, she earned income through optometry.

Later, she reduced her professional work to raise their children.

Eventually, she left the workforce entirely.

Her former husband’s business interests continued expanding during that period.

When their marriage ended, these different responsibilities became important to the court.

The resulting judgment recognized that contributions to a marriage can take different forms.

For Diane, the years devoted to raising children and maintaining the household had lasting financial consequences.

This makes her biography relevant to discussions about marriage, careers, family responsibilities, and economic independence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diane Plese

1. Who is Diane Plese?

Diane Plese is a Canadian former practicing optometrist best known as the first wife of businessman and Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec.

2. How old is Diane Plese in 2026?

Court records suggest Diane was born around 1961 or 1962. She is therefore approximately 64 or 65 years old in October 2026, although her exact birthday is not confirmed.

3. When did Diane Plese marry Robert Herjavec?

Diane and Robert married in 1990. They remained together for approximately 24 years before separating in July 2014.

4. Why did Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec divorce?

Their exact personal reasons for separating have not been fully established. Their separation occurred in 2014, and the divorce was finalized in 2016.

5. How many children does Diane Plese have?

Diane has three children with Robert Herjavec: Brendan, Skye, and Caprice Herjavec.

6. What did Diane Plese do for a living?

Diane worked as an optometrist and operated her own practice. She later reduced her professional work and stopped practicing around 2003 to focus on family responsibilities.

7. How much did Diane Plese receive in her divorce settlement?

Reporting about the divorce described approximately $25 million in financial assets and awards. Court decisions also included an equalization payment and monthly spousal support.

8. Did Diane Plese remarry?

There is no reliable public confirmation that Diane remarried following her divorce from Robert Herjavec.

9. What is Diane Plese’s net worth?

Her current net worth has not been independently verified. The divorce-related figures do not establish her exact wealth in 2026.

10. Where is Diane Plese now?

Diane maintains a private lifestyle. Her exact current residence and professional activities have not been reliably documented.

Final Thoughts

Diane Plese’s life is closely connected to Robert Herjavec’s success, but her story extends far beyond their marriage.

She developed a professional career in optometry before Robert became famous as a businessman and television investor.

Their relationship began during an earlier period of his career, and they married in 1990.

Over the following years, they welcomed three children and built a financially successful family life.

Diane gradually moved away from her healthcare career to concentrate on raising their children.

When their relationship ended, those decisions became central to the financial proceedings.

Their divorce was finalized in 2016, and later court decisions addressed property division and long-term support.

Although the case attracted major public interest, Diane eventually returned to a quieter life.

Today, her story remains significant because it combines professional ambition, family responsibilities, a long marriage, and the financial realities of divorce.

Diane Plese is best understood not only as Robert Herjavec’s former wife but also as a woman whose independent career and contributions to her family played an important role in her personal history.

For more television, cast and entertainment stories, visit Carter Magazine.