Who Is Joel Embiid Wife
Joel Embiid’s wife is Anne de Paula, a Brazilian model born on March 31, 1995, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is best known for her work with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and has built a modeling career that stretches across major fashion campaigns worldwide. Joel Embiid himself is one of the NBA’s most dominant centers, a former MVP, and a longtime star for the Philadelphia 76ers.
When it comes to Joel Embiid’s wife, fans want to know more than just her name — they want the full story of how she and Embiid met, fell in love, and built a family together. This article covers everything about Anne de Paula, from her early life and modeling career to her marriage, motherhood, and social media presence.
Who Is Anne de Paula?
Anne de Paula was born on March 31, 1995, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She grew up in a country known for its passion for soccer, and as a child, de Paula was no exception. Long before modeling agencies came calling, she spent years playing soccer as a goalkeeper, starting around age 8 or 9. That early athletic discipline stayed with her even after she left the sport behind to pursue a modeling career full-time.
De Paula is fluent in French, a detail that later became one of the things she bonded over with Joel Embiid, who also speaks French due to his upbringing in Cameroon. Her Brazilian background remains a big part of her identity, and she frequently returns to Rio de Janeiro to visit family, even during Embiid’s NBA season.
While detailed information about her formal education is not widely publicized, de Paula’s path shows a clear shift from competitive youth sports to the fashion and modeling world during her teenage years. This transition set the stage for the international modeling career that would eventually introduce her to Joel Embiid.
Anne de Paula’s Career & Professional Life
Anne de Paula built her name in the modeling industry well before she became known as Joel Embiid’s wife. Her breakout moment came when she won Sports Illustrated’s Swim Search competition, a major national talent search that helped launch her into the SI Swimsuit spotlight. That win opened doors to international campaigns and cemented her status as one of the more recognizable faces in swimsuit and fashion modeling.
Since her SI debut, de Paula has continued modeling for major brands and fashion campaigns, building a career that exists entirely separate from her husband’s basketball fame. She has appeared in multiple editorial spreads and maintained an active modeling presence for several years running.
Alongside her modeling work, de Paula has become a familiar figure at Philadelphia 76ers games and NBA events, frequently seen supporting Embiid during high-pressure moments of his career — including his 2023 NBA MVP season. While her exact net worth has not been publicly confirmed, her modeling contracts and long-running SI Swimsuit association suggest a successful, independent career built well before her relationship with Embiid became public.
How Did Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula Meet?
Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula first crossed paths in 2018 at a dinner party in New York City, arranged by a mutual friend. According to accounts of the meeting, the two didn’t talk much during the meal itself. De Paula later said she didn’t even realize Embiid was a professional basketball player until he stood up at the end of dinner and she saw how tall he was.
What started as an unplanned meeting slowly grew into a real friendship. The two discovered they had a lot in common — both were passionate about soccer, both spoke French fluently, and both wanted to build a family. De Paula has described their connection as starting off as “a beautiful friendship” before it turned romantic. The couple reportedly FaceTimed daily in the early stages of getting to know each other, with de Paula noting that Embiid’s motivating, larger-than-life personality drew her in.
Their relationship grew steadily and privately over the following years, avoiding the spotlight even as Embiid’s NBA career took off. In September 2020, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son named Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid, ahead of any public engagement announcement.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula got married in July 2023 in the Hamptons, New York. The ceremony brought together family from both sides of the world — Embiid’s family traveled from Cameroon, while de Paula’s family came from Brazil, alongside close friends and several of Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers teammates, including Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, and Georges Niang.
The wedding included memorable musical moments: the couple danced to Brian McKnight’s “We At One,” and Embiid sang along to Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” during a FaceTime call with the rapper himself. The celebration reflected the couple’s years-long private relationship finally becoming an official, joyful milestone in front of the people closest to them.
Children & Family Life
Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula share one child together: a son named Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid, born in September 2020. The name carries deep personal meaning — Arthur was named in honor of Joel Embiid’s younger brother, also named Arthur, who tragically died in a car accident in Cameroon in 2014 at just 13 years old.
Embiid has spoken openly about how becoming a father reshaped his life, both on and off the basketball court. During his 2023 NBA MVP acceptance speech, he described naming his son after his late brother as one of the most meaningful moments of his life, giving him renewed purpose.
Despite Embiid’s massive public profile, the family keeps much of their day-to-day life private. De Paula and Embiid rarely post detailed content about their relationship or son online, choosing instead to share only occasional glimpses of their family life during major events, like playoff runs or award ceremonies.
Anne de Paula on Social Media
Anne de Paula maintains an active presence on social media, primarily through Instagram, where she shares modeling work, travel photos, and glimpses of her life in Brazil and the United States. Her following reflects her standing as an established SI Swimsuit model with an international fan base.
True to the couple’s private nature, de Paula rarely posts personal photos with Joel Embiid or their son. Most of her content centers on her modeling career and personal interests rather than her marriage, which has occasionally sparked comments from followers curious about the low-key nature of her relationship posts.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anne de Paula |
| Date of Birth | March 31, 1995 |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Profession | Model (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit) |
| Married to | Joel Embiid |
| Marriage Year | 2023 |
| Children | 1 son (Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid, born 2020) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Joel Embiid’s wife’s name? A: Joel Embiid’s wife is Anne de Paula, a Brazilian model known for her work with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. The couple married in July 2023 in the Hamptons.
Q: How old is Anne de Paula? A: Anne de Paula was born on March 31, 1995, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That makes her one year younger than Joel Embiid.
Q: What does Anne de Paula do for a living? A: Anne de Paula is a professional model, best known for competing in and winning Sports Illustrated’s Swim Search competition. She has continued modeling for major fashion campaigns since then.
Q: When did Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula get married? A: Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula got married in July 2023 in a ceremony held in the Hamptons, New York, surrounded by family and 76ers teammates.
Q: How many kids do Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula have? A: Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula have one child together, a son named Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid, born in September 2020.
Conclusion
Anne de Paula is far more than just Joel Embiid’s wife — she’s a successful Brazilian model with a career built on her own terms, long before she became a familiar face at 76ers games. From their unassuming first meeting at a 2018 dinner party to their intimate 2023 Hamptons wedding, Embiid and de Paula have built a private, grounded family life centered around their son, Arthur. As Joel Embiid’s wife, Anne de Paula continues to support his career quietly while pursuing her own path in the modeling world, making their story one of genuine partnership both on and off the court.
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