Gabrielle Union is an American actress, producer, and activist, born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska.
She grew up in Pleasanton, California, where she was an all-star point guard and a year-round athlete in high school.
Union’s acting career began in the 1990s, with numerous TV sitcom appearances and supporting roles in films like She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You.
Her breakthrough role came in 2000’s Bring It On, leading to roles in films such as The Brothers, Deliver Us from Eva, and Daddy’s Little Girls.
Union has also been a series regular in CBS’s City of Angels, BET’s Being Mary Jane, and Spectrum’s L.A.’s Finest, and has written four books, including memoirs We’re Going to Need More Wine and You Got Anything Stronger?
Net worth | $40 million |
Profession | Actress, activist, producer |
Date of birth | October 29, 1972 |
Nationality | American |
Background
Union was born to Sylvester E. Union and Theresa Glass, both of Haitian descent.
Her father was a military sergeant, and her mother worked for a phone company.
Union is the middle child in a family of three daughters.
She was raised in a Roman Catholic household according to her parents’ beliefs.
Union’s family background has been a significant influence in her life and career, with her parents and sisters serving as a source of inspiration for her achievements.
Net worth
Union’s net worth is estimated to be $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth’s list of richest celebrities.
Her wealth is partly due to her marriage to NBA player Dwayne Wade.
Union’s career as an actress, model, advocate, and voice actor has also contributed to her net worth.
Her real estate holdings with Dwayne Wade, including properties in California, Sherman Oaks, Miami and Hidden Hills, are significant assets that make up a considerable portion of their overall net worth.
Real estate
Union and her husband, former NBA player Dwyane Wade, own a $20 million mansion in the Hidden Hills area of Los Angeles, which they purchased in February 2020.
The home spans 22,000 square feet over three floors and features a double-height rotunda entry, a state-of-the-art home theater, an open-plan kitchen, a wine storage and tasting room, a fitness suite with a spa and sauna, seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms and a dedicated dressing room for Union.
The backyard includes a zero-edge infinity swimming pool, a poolside cabana with a fireplace, numerous lounging areas and a 12-car garage with a turntable.
Additionally, Union and Wade previously owned a Mediterranean-style Sherman Oaks villa, which they sold for $5.5 million in 2021.
Acting career
Union began her acting career in the 1990s, appearing in various TV sitcoms before landing supporting roles in teen films like She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You.
She gained prominence with her breakthrough role in Bring It On.
Union is known for her strong and opinionated characters in films such as The Brothers, Deliver Us from Eva, Daddy’s Little Girls, Think Like a Man and Top Five.
She has also starred in TV series like City of Angels, Being Mary Jane and L.A.’s Finest.
Union has been an advocate for women’s health and LGBTQ+ equality and has written four books, including memoirs We’re Going to Need More Wine and You Got Anything Stronger?
Being Mary Jane salary
Union’s salary for Being Mary Jane was reportedly $150,000 per episode during Season 4.
The show, which aired on BET, was a drama series that followed the life of a successful news anchor, Mary Jane Paul, played by Union.
The series ran for four seasons, from 2013 to 2019, and Union’s performance was widely praised.
The show’s final season was a two-hour movie that aired in 2019.
Union’s salary for the show made her one of the highest-paid actresses on cable television at the time.
Activism
Union has been an outspoken advocate for issues involving women’s health, LGBTQ+ equality and violence against women.
Union and her husband have advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, including supporting their daughter, Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020.
Union has also been involved in social activism, being an ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and supporting the Young Survivor Coalition.
She has written two books, a memoir and a children’s book, and was included on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
Awards and accolades
Union was honored with the Young Hollywood Award One to Watch – Female in 2001 and the Rising Star Award at the Black Reel Awards in 2003.
In 2018, she received the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Award for Breakthrough Producer of the Year for her work on the film, The Inspection.
Union has also been nominated for several Black Reel Awards, including for her role in Being Mary Jane and her voice performance in Strange World.
Union has been nominated for a Gold Derby TV Award and an AARP Movies for Grownups Award for her role in The Inspection.
In addition to her acting career, she is an advocate for women’s health and LGBTQ+ equality, and she has written two books, including a memoir.
Additionally, Union and her husband have been honored with the prestigious President’s Award at the 54th NAACP Image Awards for their humanitarian work.
Philanthropic efforts
Union has supported charities such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Declare Yourself and the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
She has also been an activist for women’s issues, speaking out in particular about violence against women.
Union has partnered with Amazon to assist charitable organizations in getting what they need most during the holiday season, with a focus on organizations close to her and her husband Dwyane Wade’s hearts, such as Deborah’s Place in Chicago and the Women’s Center for Advancement in Omaha.
Union has used her platform to empower her kids to give back and has been a breast cancer advocate, working with Susan G. Komen after her best friend passed away from the disease.
Personal life
Union is married to former NBA player Dwyane Wade.
Together, they have one daughter named Kaavia James, born in November 2018 via surrogate.
Additionally, Union is a stepmother to Wade’s three children from previous relationships, Zaire, Zaya and Xavier.
Wade also has custody of his nephew, Dahveon Morris.
Union and Wade have been praised for their progressive parenting style and their support for Zaya when she came out as transgender.
Dwyane Wade net worth
Wade’s net worth is estimated to be $170 million, with significant earnings from his NBA career, endorsements and investments.
He had a remarkable career in the NBA, playing predominantly for the Miami Heat.
Wade was a 13-time NBA All-Star, an 8-time member of the All-NBA Team, and a 3-time member of the All-Defensive Team.
He led the Heat to their first NBA Championship in 2006, earning the NBA Finals MVP title.
Wade’s career included significant achievements like leading the league in scoring in the 2008-09 season and winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh.