Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, wife Jennifer announce divorce after 30 years

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and his wife Jennifer announced Friday they are ending their marriage after three decades together.

“After 30 meaningful years filled with love and gratitude, we have together made the difficult decision to end our marriage,” the Gilberts said in a joint statement, via the Detroit News. “Our journey has been profoundly shaped by our love and devotion to our children — including the enduring memory of our beloved son Nick, in addition to our commitments to Detroit and Cleveland.

“As our relationship evolves, our friendship and partnership remain steadfast. In this next chapter, we will continue working on our fight to eliminate neurofibromatosis and uplift the communities we both cherish. As we move through this transition, we ask for understanding and respect for our family’s privacy.”

The divorce was filed in Oakland County Circuit Court and finalized through a post-nuptial agreement dating back to April. Court documents show that neither Dan nor Jennifer Gilbert will owe spousal support, and all issues of property division and related matters were previously resolved.

Gilbert, 62, is founder and chairman of Rocket Companies and majority owner of the Cavaliers. He also owns the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.

Beyond basketball, Gilbert has been one of the most influential figures in Detroit, where he controls more than 100 downtown properties and spearheaded the redevelopment of the city’s core. Forbes currently values his wealth at more than $20 billion.

Together, Dan and Jennifer Gilbert have been active philanthropists, particularly in funding research into neurofibromatosis following the passing of their son Nick in 2023. The Gilbert Family Foundation has pledged tens of millions of dollars toward research and outreach, and in June, the couple pledged $800,000 to help underserved entrepreneurs through a program at Lawrence Technological University.

Gilbert suffered a stroke in 2019 that has limited his public appearances in recent years. Jennifer Gilbert serves on the board of Rocket Holdings Inc. and co-founded the family foundation in 2015.

The Gilberts, who have four surviving children, said they remain committed to both Cleveland and Detroit in this next chapter.

Dan Gilbert at a glance

• Age: 62

• NBA role: Cavaliers majority owner since 2005

• Arena: Rocket Arena, home of the Cavs and Monsters

• Other teams: Cleveland Monsters (AHL), Cleveland Charge (NBA G League)

• Business: Founder and chairman of Rocket Companies; co-founder of Rocket Mortgage and Rock Ventures

• Philanthropy: Gilbert Family Foundation, focused on neurofibromatosis research

• Net worth: Estimated between $22.5B (Forbes) and $27.4B (Bloomberg)