Diane Plese is a Canadian optometrist who built a professional career while maintaining a quiet and private personal life in Toronto.
She became widely known through her long marriage to Robert Herjavec, the entrepreneur, investor, and television personality associated with Shark Tank.
Beyond her celebrity connection, Diane has her own professional background in optometry and spent years working as an experienced eye doctor.
Diane Plese is Robert Herjavec’s first wife and the mother of his three older children, Brendan, Skye, and Caprice Herjavec.
This article explores Diane Plese’s age, Canadian background, optometry career, marriage, divorce, children, wealth, and life after separating from Robert.
Quick Facts
| Name | Diane Plese |
| Birth Year | 1959 |
| Age | 66 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Parkdale, Toronto, Canada |
| Residence | Toronto, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Profession | Optometrist |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Former Husband | Robert Herjavec |
| Marriage Year | 1990 |
| Separation | 2014 |
| Divorce Filing | 2015 |
| Divorce Finalized | 2016 |
| Children | Brendan, Skye, and Caprice |
| Reported Net Worth | Around $100 million |
| Known For | Being Robert Herjavec’s former wife |
Who Is Diane Plese?
Diane Plese is a Canadian optometrist born in 1959 in Parkdale, Toronto. She spent much of her life living in Canada.
She developed her own professional identity in healthcare. After completing her education, Diane entered optometry and worked professionally as an eye doctor.
Many people know her because of Robert Herjavec. Their relationship lasted for decades and covered an important period of Robert’s business journey.
Away from marriage, Diane is also a mother. She and Robert welcomed three children named Brendan, Skye, and Caprice during their relationship.
Following the end of her marriage, Diane continued living in Toronto. Her life has remained centered more on family and privacy than publicity.
Her Early Years in Toronto
Diane Plese was born in 1959 in Parkdale, Toronto, Canada. She was raised in Canada and later continued building her life there.
Her family background has Croatian roots. Her parents were Croatian immigrants who established their lives in Canada, where Diane was eventually raised.
Growing up in Canada gave Diane a Canadian identity while her family background connected her to Croatian heritage and the traditions of her parents.
Diane later focused on education and professional development. Her studies eventually led her toward healthcare and, more specifically, the field of optometry.
Her early years remained separate from celebrity culture. Long before becoming associated with a famous businessman, Diane was preparing for her own professional career.
How Diane Became an Optometrist
Diane developed a professional career long before her personal life attracted widespread interest. Her chosen field was optometry, focusing on professional eye care.
She earned a college degree during the late 1970s. After finishing this stage of her education, she continued studying through an optometry program.
Diane completed her optometry training during the early 1980s. Her education provided the foundation she needed to begin working professionally as an eye doctor.
By the mid-1980s, she had started her career as an optometrist. She continued practicing in the profession for several years afterward.
Interestingly, her career would also play an important role in her personal story. Working at an eye clinic eventually brought her into contact with Robert Herjavec.
The Eye Appointment That Changed Her Life
Diane and Robert Herjavec first crossed paths in 1988. Their meeting happened in a professional environment rather than at a celebrity or business event.
Robert visited the eye clinic where Diane was working for an eye examination. This ordinary appointment became the beginning of their future relationship.
After meeting at the clinic, Diane and Robert developed a personal connection. Their relationship grew, and the couple dated for approximately two years.
Their story progressed from a patient meeting an optometrist to a serious relationship. By 1990, they were ready to make a lifelong commitment.
The couple married that year at a Croatian church in Mississauga, Ontario. Their wedding marked the beginning of a marriage lasting more than two decades.
Life With Robert Herjavec Before Fame
Diane’s marriage to Robert began years before his television fame made him widely recognizable. They were already building a family and future together.
During their early married years, Robert was working toward establishing himself as an entrepreneur. Diane witnessed important stages of his growing business career.
Robert established BRAK Systems, an internet security software integration company. The business initially operated from the basement of the couple’s home.
Diane remained alongside Robert during this early business period. Their family life therefore developed while his entrepreneurial ambitions were also taking shape.
Their financial circumstances changed dramatically as Robert became successful. His business achievements eventually brought considerable wealth into the family’s life.
The Success of BRAK Systems
BRAK Systems became an important part of Robert Herjavec’s rise as an entrepreneur. What began from the family basement developed into a valuable company.
The company focused on internet security software integration. Robert’s success with the business became an important foundation for his later reputation in entrepreneurship.
A major financial milestone arrived in 2000. Robert successfully sold BRAK Systems to AT&T Canada, which later became known as Allstream Inc.
The reported sale was worth $30.2 million. This successful business transaction significantly increased the wealth available to Robert and his family.
Diane had experienced Robert’s journey from the earlier stages of entrepreneurship through major financial success, making their marriage closely connected with his business-building years.
Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s Marriage
Diane and Robert married in 1990 after approximately two years of dating. Their marriage eventually lasted for more than two decades.
During those years, they built a family together and welcomed three children. Their lives also changed significantly as Robert became increasingly successful professionally.
Robert later became widely recognized as an entrepreneur, investor, and television personality. His appearances on Shark Tank brought another level of public attention.
Diane, however, remained better known for her family and optometry background. She did not build the same kind of public television presence as Robert.
After approximately 24 years together, their marriage reached its final stages. They separated in July 2014 before Diane later moved forward with divorce proceedings.
Why Diane and Robert Separated
Diane and Robert disclosed that they had separated on July 24, 2014. Their separation came after approximately 24 years of marriage.
The end of such a long marriage naturally attracted considerable public attention, particularly because Robert had become a recognizable businessman and television personality.
Their breakup was also connected with reports surrounding Robert’s alleged involvement with actress Danielle Vasinova during 2014, around the period of their separation.
Diane moved ahead with legal proceedings the following year. She filed for divorce in March 2015 after the couple had already separated.
Their divorce process continued beyond the initial filing. By 2016, the marriage between Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec had officially come to an end.
Diane Plese’s Divorce Settlement
The financial side of Diane and Robert’s divorce attracted significant attention because of the substantial wealth accumulated during their long marriage.
Their divorce was finalized in 2016. As part of the proceedings, Robert was ordered to provide substantial financial support following the end of their marriage.
The arrangement included $125,000 per month in spousal and child support. Diane also received an additional settlement reported at approximately $25 million.
Property was another significant part of the settlement. Diane reportedly received the family’s Caledon ski chalet as part of the financial arrangements.
She also received their Florida property. These assets, combined with the multimillion-dollar settlement, represented a substantial outcome from the divorce proceedings.
Diane Plese’s Net Worth
Diane Plese’s net worth has been estimated at approximately $100 million. Her financial position is connected with both her professional and marital history.
Before becoming known through Robert, Diane already had her own profession. She worked as an optometrist after completing the necessary education and training.
Her divorce settlement also had a major financial impact. She reportedly received approximately $25 million following the end of her marriage to Robert.
The settlement involved more than a direct financial payment. Valuable properties, including the Caledon ski chalet and a Florida property, were also included.
Diane therefore emerged from the divorce with considerable financial resources while continuing a lifestyle largely removed from the public attention surrounding her former husband.
Diane Plese’s Three Children
Family has been an important part of Diane’s story. During her marriage to Robert Herjavec, the couple welcomed three children into their family.
Their eldest child is Brendan Herjavec, who was born in 1993. As an adult, Brendan entered the world of business and professional development.
He has worked in business strategy and development. His professional direction reflects a connection with the business environment familiar within the Herjavec family.
Diane and Robert also have two daughters, Skye and Caprice. Both daughters eventually developed professional lives of their own as they reached adulthood.
Although their parents’ marriage ended, Brendan, Skye, and Caprice remain an important connection between Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec after their divorce.
Brendan Herjavec
Brendan is the eldest of Diane and Robert’s three children. He was born in 1993, a few years after his parents married.
Growing up, Brendan experienced his father’s transformation from an entrepreneur building a company into a wealthy businessman and recognizable television personality.
As an adult, Brendan established a professional career of his own. His work has centered on business strategy and development rather than entertainment.
His career gives him a professional connection to the broader business world that played such an important role in his father’s public identity.
For Diane, Brendan represents the first chapter of motherhood. His birth was followed by two daughters, completing her family of three children.
Skye Herjavec
Skye is Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s second child. She was born in 1996, approximately six years after her parents married.
Like her older brother, Skye grew up during an important period in her father’s career as his business interests continued developing successfully.
Skye later established her own professional direction. She became involved in business and is described as both a business executive and entrepreneur.
Her professional interests mean that business has continued across another generation of the family rather than remaining limited to her famous father.
Skye is one of Diane Plese’s two daughters. Together with Brendan and Caprice, she forms the family Diane and Robert built during their marriage.
Caprice Herjavec
Caprice is the youngest child of Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec. She was born in 1998, completing their family of three children.
Unlike her siblings’ immediate business connections, Caprice also demonstrated athletic ability. She became a successful athlete during her years in college.
Her professional path later moved into consulting. She works as a consultant at a firm specializing in executive compensation consulting.
Caprice therefore created a career combining professional business services with the discipline that had previously been visible through her college athletic experience.
As Diane’s youngest daughter, Caprice completes a family that includes three adult children who have each developed their own careers and interests.
Robert Herjavec’s Life After Their Divorce
Robert eventually entered another serious relationship following the breakdown of his marriage to Diane. His new partner was professional dancer Kym Johnson.
Kym is from Sydney, Australia, and became known through Dancing with the Stars. Robert and Kym eventually developed their relationship beyond the television world.
The couple married in 2016, the same year that Robert’s divorce from Diane was finalized. This began another chapter in Robert’s family life.
Robert and Kym later expanded their family together. In April 2018, they welcomed twins named Haven and Hudson.
Robert therefore has children from both marriages. Diane remains the mother of his three older children: Brendan, Skye, and Caprice.
Where Is Diane Plese Now?
Diane Plese continued living in Toronto, Canada, following the major changes in her personal life. Toronto has remained closely connected with her personal history.
The city is particularly meaningful because Diane was born in Parkdale, Toronto. Canada was also where she built her education and optometry career.
Her marriage brought considerable public attention, especially as Robert’s business success and television profile grew during their years together.
Following their separation and divorce, Diane did not build a new public identity around celebrity appearances or television. Her life remained comparatively private.
Today, her story is mainly connected with her professional background, Croatian family roots, three children, long marriage, and life following a high-profile divorce.
Bottom Line
Diane Plese has a story that extends beyond simply being Robert Herjavec’s former wife. She established a professional career in optometry before their marriage.
Born in Toronto to Croatian immigrant parents, she built her life in Canada and later became a mother to three children with Robert.
Her 1990 marriage covered an important period in Robert’s journey, including the creation and multimillion-dollar sale of his company BRAK Systems.
Their relationship eventually ended after more than two decades together. Separation came in 2014, followed by divorce proceedings and a substantial financial settlement.
Diane Plese subsequently returned to a quieter life in Toronto, leaving her best known for her optometry career, family, and long relationship with Robert Herjavec.
Interesting Facts
- Diane Plese was born in Parkdale, Toronto, Canada, in 1959.
- Her parents were Croatian immigrants, giving her family strong Croatian roots despite her Canadian upbringing.
- Diane worked as an optometrist, making her professional career completely separate from television and entertainment.
- She first met Robert Herjavec in 1988 when he visited the eye clinic where she worked for an eye examination.
- Diane Plese and Robert dated for around two years before marrying at a Croatian church in Mississauga, Ontario, in 1990.
- Diane witnessed Robert build BRAK Systems from their basement before the company developed into a multimillion-dollar business.
- Robert sold BRAK Systems to AT&T Canada in 2000 for a reported $30.2 million.
- Diane Plese and Robert have three children together: Brendan, Skye, and Caprice, born in 1993, 1996, and 1998 respectively.
- Diane reportedly received a $25 million divorce settlement, along with properties that included a Caledon ski chalet and Florida property.
- Despite her connection to a famous investor and television personality, Diane has continued living a comparatively private life in Toronto, Canada.
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