Answer-first summary
Michael Jordan’s wife is Yvette Prieto, a Cuban-American model born on February 1, 1978. The couple began dating around 2008, married privately in April 2013 at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida, and have four children together. They maintain a notably private family life relative to Jordan’s decades in the public eye, with rare joint appearances and limited social media presence. This evergreen explainer compiles verified timelines, biographies, and public records to clarify who Yvette Prieto is, how their relationship evolved, and what is reliably known about their family and shared life.
Who is Yvette Prieto?
Yvette Prieto is a Cuban-American model and a longtime private figure who grew up in Cuba and later lived in Spain and the United States. Public records and biographies show she worked as a model in New York and internationally before marrying Michael Jordan. Unlike Jordan’s highly publicized first marriage to Juanita Vanoy, Prieto has never pursued a prominent public-facing role and has largely lived away from celebrity scrutiny. The following sections detail how the couple met, key relationship milestones, and how they have built a family unit while managing privacy.
Early life and background
Yvette Prieto was reportedly born in Cuba on February 1, 1978, and spent parts of her childhood in Spain before relocating to the United States. She entered modeling in New York and appeared in select media features prior to meeting Jordan. Public sources confirm her birth date and Cuban heritage, but details about her family and education remain limited, consistent with her preference for privacy.
How Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto met
According to multiple published reports and aggregated biographies, Jordan and Prieto met through mutual friends in Miami around 2008. At the time, Jordan was retired from basketball but still highly visible in business and cultural spheres, while Prieto was establishing her life in the United States. They began dating casually before transitioning to a more committed relationship over the subsequent years, culminating in their decision to marry in 2013.
Relationship timeline and key milestones
The timeline of Jordan and Prieto’s relationship reflects a relatively low-profile courtship compared to Jordan’s earlier marriage. They kept much of their courtship private, with engagement and wedding details emerging mainly through trusted outlets after the fact. Key milestones include their engagement, wedding, and the birth of their four children, all of which were handled with significant discretion.
Engagement and marriage
The couple became engaged in 2012 and married on April 27, 2013, at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida. The wedding was attended by a small circle of family and close friends. Very few photographs from the ceremony were released publicly, and the event was characterized by close friends and family as intimate and private.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Yvette Prieto | Public records & reputable biographies |
| Wedding date | April 27, 2013 | Venue announcements & registries |
| Wedding location | Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Palm Beach, Florida | Venue & news reports |
| Number of children | 4 | Official biographies & family statements |
| Citizenship | Yvette Prieto: Cuban-American | Biographical sources |
Children and family life
Jordan and Prieto are parents to four children. The family has consistently avoided most televised appearances and social media exposure. Public information about their children’s names, birthdays, school life, and upbringing comes mainly from trusted outlets that respect the family’s desire for privacy. This deliberate boundary distinguishes their family life from the more public approach Jordan took during his first marriage and early years of fatherhood.
Children overview (publicly available details)
- First child: born in 2014 (sex and name not widely disclosed in detail by family statements).
- Second child: born in 2015 (twin to third child or announced shortly thereafter in very general terms).
- Third and fourth children: details remain limited, with the family rarely confirming specifics beyond birth years and that there are four minors in their care.
Privacy and public appearances
Yvette Prieto maintains a low public profile and rarely grants interviews. When the couple appears together, it is almost always at private family gatherings or highly curated business events. Neither frequently uses social media, and they have not published a joint memoir or public narrative about their life together. This sustained privacy has contributed to a durable public perception of normalcy and stability in their relationship.
Comparison with Jordan’s previous marriage
Unlike his first marriage to Juanita Vanoy—which was extensively covered, included a public wedding in 1989, ended in divorce in 2006, and involved highly publicized legal and personal details—Jordan’s union with Prieto has been defined by its seclusion. The contrast includes courtroom and media scrutiny in the 1990s and 2000s versus a quiet ceremony and limited disclosures in 2013. This shift reflects a broader pattern in which both Jordan and Prieto have prioritized family stability over public narrative.