Diane Plese became widely known through her long marriage to Robert Herjavec, the entrepreneur and television personality from Shark Tank. Yet she had built a professional life of her own long before Robert became wealthy or famous.

As a Canadian optometrist, she earned a stable income while Robert was still building his early technology businesses. He later said her earnings gave the family a financial safety net when his business projects carried more risk.

Their marriage lasted about 24 years. During that time, they raised three children and moved from a middle class Toronto life into great wealth. Their separation in 2014 later led to a major Canadian family law case involving property, business wealth, and spousal support.

Quick Bio

Diane Plese’s Early Life

Diane Plese grew up in the Parkdale area of Toronto, Ontario. Her parents were Croatian immigrants who settled in Canada.

That background connected her with Robert Herjavec, whose family also came from Croatia. Robert was born in Croatia before moving to Canada with his parents when he was young.

Diane chose a medical career. She trained in optometry and later worked as a practicing optometrist in Toronto.

She also operated her own office. Her profession gave her a steady source of income years before Robert built the business fortune that later made him famous.

How Did Diane Plese Meet Robert Herjavec?

Their first meeting was linked to Diane’s work.

Robert reportedly met her when he visited her office for an eye appointment. Their relationship developed before he became a television star or a major name in cybersecurity.

The couple married in 1990. Their wedding was connected to Toronto’s Croatian community and reflected the heritage shared by both families.

Diane once described herself as the more practical person in the relationship. She said Robert called her “Miss Negative,” while she viewed herself as his “reality check.”

The comment showed a clear contrast between them. Robert was known for his optimism and appetite for business risk, while Diane often took a more measured view.

Diane Plese’s Career as an Optometrist

Before leaving paid work, Diane Plese had an established career in eye care.

She worked full time as an optometrist and ran her own office during the early years of the marriage. Her earnings helped support the household while Robert worked on his business ventures.

Robert later acknowledged the value of that income. Her salary gave the family a dependable source of money when his own projects were less certain.

His early technology career carried financial risk. Diane’s professional income helped reduce that pressure at home.

Her career also gave her financial independence during the first years of their marriage.

Robert Herjavec Became Famous

The couple did not begin married life with the wealth later linked to the Herjavec name.

Robert spent years working in technology and building businesses. Diane continued working in optometry.

One of Robert’s biggest early successes came through BRAK Systems, an internet security company he founded in Canada.

In 2000, AT&T Canada bought BRAK Systems in a deal valued at about $30 million. The transaction changed the family’s finances.

Robert later founded The Herjavec Group, a cybersecurity company that expanded his wealth and reputation.

His television career followed. He became a Canadian television personality through Dragon’s Den before joining the American series Shark Tank.

Motherhood

Diane Plese and Robert became parents while his business career was growing.

Their son Brendan Herjavec was born in 1993. Diane reduced her professional work after becoming a mother.

Their daughter Skye Herjavec was born in 1996, followed by Caprice Herjavec in 1998.

Diane continued some part time work between maternity periods. But her professional role changed as the needs of the family increased.

Around 2003, she stopped working outside the home. She then focused on raising the children and managing family life.

Robert continued to spend long hours building his companies.

Her exit from paid work later became an important issue in their divorce case. The court considered the income and career opportunities she had given up during the marriage.

Robert Herjavec’s Success

Robert’s wealth grew sharply during the marriage.

The sale of BRAK Systems brought millions of dollars into the family. His later cybersecurity businesses added to that wealth.

Television also made him a public figure.

He appeared on Dragon’s Den in Canada and later became one of the investors on Shark Tank in the United States.

By then, the family lived at a level far removed from their early years.

They owned valuable real estate, including a large home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood.

The property had been purchased for about $7 million. It later sold for more than $17 million after the couple separated.

Their assets also included vacation properties in Florida, Muskoka, and Caledon.

What Happened to Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec’s Marriage?

The couple separated in July 2014 after roughly 24 years of marriage.

The split became public in 2015, when Robert was already well known through Shark Tank.

Their legal divorce was completed in early 2016.

The end of the marriage did not settle every financial issue. Disputes continued over business interests, property values, support payments, and other assets.

Those issues later became part of Plese v. Herjavec, a major Ontario family law case.

Diane Plese Divorce Settlement

The financial dispute attracted wide attention because of the size of the family fortune.

After a lengthy trial, the court ordered Robert to make an equalization payment of $2,689,558.

The ruling also required him to pay $125,000 per month in spousal support.

The support order had no fixed end date.

The court also dealt with the value and division of several family properties.

Reports on the case placed Diane’s overall property position after the marriage at about $25 million when different assets and payments were considered.

That figure should not be confused with a single $25 million cash payment. The court ordered specific payments while other property interests had already been divided.

Why Did Diane Plese Receive $125,000 a Month?

The size of the spousal support award reflected several factors.

The marriage lasted more than two decades. The couple had also lived at a very high standard during Robert’s most successful business years.

The court considered Diane’s early financial contribution to the family.

Her income as an optometrist had helped support the household while Robert developed his businesses.

It also considered what happened later.

Diane left the workforce around 2003 and spent years focused on the family while Robert continued building his companies.

By the time of the trial, both former spouses were in their mid 50s. She had been away from regular professional work for many years.

The court found that the marriage had created a large economic difference between them.

Robert Herjavec’s Appeal

Robert challenged the spousal support ruling.

The case reached the Ontario Court of Appeal.

In December 2020, the appeal court dismissed his challenge.

The judges left the $125,000 monthly spousal support order in place.

The decision confirmed the trial court’s findings about the length of the marriage, Diane’s contributions, and the financial effect of leaving her career.

Diane Plese and Her Three Children

Diane Plese shares three adult children with Robert.

Brendan Herjavec

Brendan Herjavec was born in 1993.

He studied business and later moved into corporate and entrepreneurial work. He also completed graduate business education.

His professional interests have included strategy, investment, and entrepreneurship.

Skye Herjavec

Skye Herjavec was born in 1996.

She attended the University of Southern California.

Her professional background has included work connected to business, finance, and analytics.

She has also been linked to JPMorgan Chase through her career.

Caprice Herjavec

Caprice Herjavec was born in 1998.

She attended Barnard College in New York and competed in rowing.

She later entered the business world and worked in consulting.

All three children were raised during the years when their father’s companies and television career expanded.

Life After Her Divorce

After the marriage ended, Diane Plese stayed mostly outside the entertainment press.

She did not become a television personality or build a public brand around her former marriage.

Robert continued to live a more public life.

He appeared on television and continued his business work. He also competed on Dancing with the Stars, where he met professional dancer Kym Johnson.

Robert and Kym married in July 2016.

They later welcomed twins Hudson Robert Herjavec and Haven Mae Herjavec on April 23, 2018.

Diane’s public appearances remained limited while the legal disputes connected to her first marriage continued through the courts.

Facts About Diane Plese

• Parkdale, Toronto was part of her early life.
• Croatian immigrant parents raised her in Canada.
• Optometry became her main profession.
• A private optometry office formed part of her early career.
• 1990 was the year she married Robert Herjavec.
• Brendan, Skye, and Caprice are her three children.
• Brendan was born in 1993.
• Skye was born in 1996.
• Caprice was born in 1998.
• Paid professional work ended around 2003.
• July 2014 marked the couple’s separation.
• Their divorce became final in early 2016.
• Robert was ordered to pay $125,000 per month in spousal support.
• The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the support ruling in 2020.

FAQs

What does Diane Plese do for a living?

Diane Plese trained and worked as a Canadian optometrist. She ran her own office and worked full time during the early years of her marriage before reducing her hours after having children and later leaving paid work around 2003.

How long was Diane Plese married to Robert Herjavec?

She married Robert Herjavec in 1990. They separated in July 2014 after about 24 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized in early 2016.

How many children does Diane Plese have?

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

How much spousal support did Diane Plese receive?

The court ordered Robert Herjavec to pay $125,000 per month in spousal support. The Ontario Court of Appeal later upheld that order in December 2020.

Why did Diane Plese and Robert Herjavec go to court after their divorce?

Their court dispute involved the division of property, the value of business interests, equalization payments, and spousal support after a marriage that lasted more than two decades.