Joel Embiid and his wife, Anne de Paul, have been together for over seven years. Here's how they met and eventually fell in love.
Joel Embiid is currently playing in the matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2026. After being listed as questionable for playing in the game due to his right knee injury, Joel was cleared to play shortly before tip-off. As of the second quarter, he has been highly efficient, going 7-for-10 from the field, 2-for-2 on crucial assists, and 4-for-4 on free throws. Notably, the match is his team's final regular-season meeting with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season, making it a thrilling bout. Amid the buzz around the game, here's a look at Joel Embiid's constant support in his gameplay and injury management, his wife, model, Anne de Paula.
Joel Embiid and Anne de Paula first met in 2018 at a dinner party in New York City hosted by a mutual friend. Anne noted that they didn't interact much during the meal, and she initially had no idea he was a professional basketball player. She only realised his stature, and likely his profession, when the 7-foot-tall, Embiid finally stood up at the end of the night. Speaking with ESPN, Anne shared that they quickly bonded over common ground, including their love for soccer, their shared French language, and their experiences as immigrants pursuing their dreams in the U.S.
Anne and Joel's relationship began as a platonic friendship. They spent significant time FaceTiming every day before eventually starting a romantic relationship in 2018. Anne told ESPN that she was drawn to Philadelphia 76ers center's personality and admired that he tried to make the people around him better individuals. According to Anne, Joel did his best and pushed others to do the same. She stated:
"It started off as a beautiful friendship. We FaceTimed every day for a while. He just has this personality where he wants to motivate you. His friends, his family and now with [his son] Arthur—he pushes all of us to be the best of ourselves."
Joel and Anne officially tied the knot on July 22, 2023, in a lavish ceremony in Southampton, New York. They exchanged vows in a church, followed by a reception featuring high-profile performances by Meek Mill and Brian McKnight. The couple kept their nuptials under wraps, and PEOPLE reported that they married in a hush-hush ceremony with close friends and family. The exact details of their Christian wedding are not publicly known.
About three years before their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child, a son, Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid, on September 17, 2020. Joel shared his joy of fatherhood through an Instagram post. Joel wants Arthur to see him at his best, just like he saw his own dad. He told ESPN that he wanted his son to think of him as the "best player in the world." He thanked his wife for making him a parent and called their son the "Greatest Gift" of their lives. Expressing his desires of having a big family with multiple children, Jeol stated:
"First of 11 [kids] or more? Trying to convince her but I'm not winning so far. I'm just trying to build a soccer team but for real I'm so excited for the future and my life has a new meaning. Kudos to @annedepaula_ for being so strong and giving me the Greatest Gift our life can offer."
NBA superstar Joel Embiid and his wife, Anne de Paula, named their son Arthur Elijah de Paula Embiid in honour of Embiid's younger brother, Arthur Embiid. Joel's brother tragically died in a car accident in Cameroon in 2014 at the age of 13. The accident occurred shortly after Joel was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. The NBA star has frequently stated that his son is his primary motivation on and off the court. During his 2023 NBA MVP acceptance speech, he shared that losing his brother and then naming his son after him was a profoundly meaningful experience that gave his life new purpose.
Anne de Paula is a Brazilian Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. Born on March 31, 1995, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she is 30 years old as of February 2026, which makes her one year younger than her husband, Joel Embiid. Anne began modelling at age 13 and gained international fame after winning the 2017 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search. After that, she won the fan vote and made her debut as a SI Swimsuit rookie model in the 2018 edition.
Before modelling, Anne was a passionate soccer player and goalkeeper for about 6 years. Notably, she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field; however, as she grew up, soccer interested her more. According to PEOPLE, Anne de Paula is trilingual, speaking English, French, and Portuguese, and practices Muay Thai. She is widely considered one of the hottest NBA WAGs at present.
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