Gabrielle Union has never been one to shy away from candid conversations about her personal life. Back in 2023, she made headlines when she revealed that she and her husband, Dwyane Wade, split their finances evenly. Her comments, made during an appearance on Idea Generation, sparked intense online debate, with many questioning why she was going 50/50 with a partner whose net worth was significantly higher than hers. At the time, Wade was reportedly worth around $170 million, while Union’s net worth was estimated at $40 million.
Despite the backlash, Gabrielle stood by her decision, explaining in an Instagram post that while Wade had offered to cover their expenses numerous times, she preferred to contribute her share. Wade later defended their financial arrangement during an appearance on Club Shay Shay, emphasizing that their marriage functioned on mutual respect and choice rather than traditional gender roles.
Fast forward to today, and Gabrielle has shifted her stance. Speaking on the Balanced Black Girl podcast, she reflected on the public reaction to her previous comments and how her understanding of partnership has evolved.
“I famously said, ‘50/50 or bust,’ right? I meant that in every way—financially, spiritually, emotionally,” she explained. “And there’s just a lot of days that I have 10%, and I need him to be 90. There are days I don’t have anything, and I need him to be 100.”
She went on to reveal that her need to maintain control in all aspects of life was deeply tied to her past trauma. After being sexually assaulted at 19, Gabrielle was diagnosed with PTSD. She shared that her extreme anxiety, efficiency-focused mindset, and fierce independence were all trauma responses.
“Something in me broke when I was filming Truth Be Told in 2019,” she said, referencing the Apple TV+ series that tackled the issue of child trafficking. “I am a very controlled person, and I was going home every day crying to my husband, and he’s like, ‘Who is this person?’”
Gabrielle explained that her past experiences made it difficult for her to fully trust anyone with 100% of anything—her heart, her finances, or her energy. However, after beginning to address her trauma, she had an open conversation with Wade about shifting the financial balance in their household.
“I was like, ‘Do you want to pay the whole mortgage?’ I thought I was about to die. I had such anxiety; I was crying, I was shaking,” she recalled. To her surprise, Wade responded calmly, reminding her that it had been her choice to split the mortgage in the first place. “I was like, ‘It did make me feel better, but right now I want to take it back. Let’s just try it for a month.’”
For Gabrielle, relinquishing control over finances wasn’t about whether Wade could afford it—it was about learning to trust, to be vulnerable, and to believe that she deserved the security and support of her family.
“Now it sounds crazy to be like, ‘You, Mr. NBA Superstar who made a bazillion amount of money more than I do, you can pay the mortgage,’ because I hate the feeling of releasing that to someone,” she admitted. “You release that to someone, chaos can happen. So, these are baby steps.”
She eventually compromised, adjusting her financial contribution to 35% instead of 50%. It may not seem like a drastic shift, but for Gabrielle, it represented something deeper—a willingness to let go, to trust, and to recognize that she is worthy of love and care.
“And it’s brought us closer,” she said. “Because he knows it’s not about whether he can afford it. It’s about being vulnerable enough to be open enough to know that I’m OK. I’m OK as his wife, he’s OK as my husband, I’m OK in this family, I’m OK in this home, I deserve it.”
Gabrielle’s journey is a reminder that relationships aren’t just about financial decisions—they are about trust, healing, and growth. Through this process, she has found a balance that works for her, one step at a time.