Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
Rudy Gobert’s family story stretches from Saint-Quentin in northern France to Guadeloupe and eventually the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves center is the son of Corinne Gobert and former professional basketball player Rudy Bourgarel. He was primarily raised by his mother alongside two older maternal half-siblings, Vanessa and Romain Goubet, after his parents separated when he was very young.
Gobert has also become a father himself. He shares two children with his former girlfriend Julia Bonilla: a son named Roméo and a daughter born in December 2025 whose name has not been publicly disclosed. Gobert and Bonilla ended their romantic relationship in 2025 and have since described their relationship in terms of co-parenting.
Who Is Rudy Gobert’s Girlfriend?
Rudy Gobert does not currently have a publicly confirmed girlfriend. His most recent publicly known relationship was with French creative professional Julia Bonilla, the mother of his two children.
Gobert and Bonilla kept much of their relationship private before publicly confirming their romance in February 2024, when they announced that they were expecting their first child together.
Bonilla is originally from Paris, France. She has worked as an artistic director and agent and has also created personal storytelling content through her podcast and online platform Journey.
During their relationship, Bonilla occasionally publicly supported Gobert. In 2024, she defended him after an anonymous NBA player poll labeled him one of the league’s most overrated players, describing the work and dedication she witnessed away from the court.
Why Did Rudy Gobert and Julia Bonilla Break Up?
Gobert and Bonilla separated in May 2025, while Bonilla was pregnant with their second child.
The breakup generated extensive media attention during Minnesota’s NBA playoff run. Several reports made claims about the circumstances surrounding the separation, but Gobert responded publicly by saying that inaccurate information was circulating.
What Gobert did confirm was that he and Bonilla were no longer romantically together and were going through the process of redefining their relationship as co-parents.
Bonilla separately described the separation as an extremely painful period and emphasized her dedication to protecting their children.
Later public reporting continued to describe Bonilla as Gobert’s former girlfriend. As of now, there has been no reliable confirmation that Rudy Gobert and Julia Bonilla have reconciled romantically.
Does Rudy Gobert Have Children?
Yes. Rudy Gobert has two publicly confirmed children with Julia Bonilla: a son named Roméo and a younger daughter whose name has remained private.
Roméo Gobert
Roméo is Rudy Gobert and Julia Bonilla’s first child. He was born in May 2024.
Gobert’s commitment to being present for his son’s birth became a major story during the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The Timberwolves center missed Game 2 of Minnesota’s Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets so that he could be with Bonilla for the birth.
Gobert later shared an emotional message welcoming his son and said that he intended to love and protect him while allowing Roméo eventually to create his own path in life.
Fatherhood quickly became an important part of Gobert’s life. Even following his separation from Bonilla, he publicly shared moments with Roméo and emphasized that his commitment to being a father had not changed.
Rudy Gobert’s Daughter
Rudy Gobert and Julia Bonilla welcomed their second child, a daughter, in December 2025.
Gobert announced her arrival by posting photographs of himself holding the newborn. In French, he welcomed his “princess” and promised that her father would always be there for her.
The birth made Gobert a father of two and marked the arrival of his first daughter.
Unlike their son Roméo, the couple have not publicly disclosed their daughter’s name through a reliable major-media source. Because Gobert and Bonilla have chosen to protect that information, claims circulating online assigning her a name should not be treated as confirmed.
How Many Children Does Rudy Gobert Have?
Rudy Gobert has two children. His son Roméo was born in May 2024, while his daughter was born in December 2025.
Both children are from his relationship with former girlfriend Julia Bonilla.
Who Are Rudy Gobert’s Parents?
Rudy Gobert was born on June 26, 1992, in Saint-Quentin, France, to Corinne Gobert and Rudy Bourgarel.
His parents came from very different backgrounds. His mother was from Saint-Quentin, while his father came from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and pursued a professional basketball career.
The relationship ended when Rudy was around three years old. Bourgarel eventually returned to Guadeloupe, while Corinne remained in France and raised Rudy with his older half-siblings.
Corinne Gobert – Rudy Gobert’s Mother
Corinne Gobert is Rudy Gobert’s mother and one of the most influential people in his life.
She raised Rudy and his two older half-siblings, Vanessa and Romain, largely as a single mother in Saint-Quentin. Money was sometimes limited, and Gobert has spoken candidly about the sacrifices his mother made to provide for her children.
Corinne worked in jobs including hairdressing and beauty services. Gobert has recalled that she worked long hours while ensuring her children had food, housing and opportunities to pursue their interests.
For part of his childhood, Rudy even shared a bedroom with his mother because the family’s apartment had limited space.
Despite those difficulties, Corinne strongly supported her youngest son’s ambitions. She allowed him to participate in several sports before basketball eventually became his primary passion.
Gobert has repeatedly credited his mother with teaching him determination and resilience. Those qualities later became defining characteristics of his professional career.
Corinne has continued to be present at important moments in her son’s life. Their close relationship has been documented throughout Gobert’s NBA career, including visits to the United States and appearances at events connected to his basketball achievements.
Rudy Bourgarel – Rudy Gobert’s Father
Rudy Bourgarel is Rudy Gobert’s father and a former professional basketball player.
Bourgarel comes from Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the Caribbean. At 7 feet tall, he possessed many of the same physical characteristics his son would later display.
He played college basketball in the United States for Marist College from 1985 to 1988, where one of his teammates was future NBA center Rik Smits.
Bourgarel later returned to France and played professionally, including for Saint-Quentin. It was during his basketball career there that he met Corinne.
He also represented France internationally, making appearances for the French national team.
Rudy’s parents separated when he was approximately three years old, and Bourgarel eventually returned to Guadeloupe. As a result, father and son did not spend most of Rudy’s childhood living together.
Gobert nevertheless maintained a relationship with his father and traveled to Guadeloupe when circumstances allowed.
Bourgarel’s basketball background also influenced his son from a distance. Gobert has said that knowing his father had been a high-level basketball player contributed to his own desire to succeed in the sport.
Who Are Rudy Gobert’s Siblings?
Rudy Gobert has two older maternal half-siblings: a sister named Vanessa Goubet and a brother named Romain Goubet.
Vanessa and Romain were born from an earlier relationship involving their mother, Corinne. They therefore have a different father from Rudy.
The three siblings were raised together by Corinne in Saint-Quentin, although Vanessa and Romain are considerably older than their younger brother.
Vanessa Goubet – Rudy Gobert’s Older Sister
Vanessa Goubet is Rudy Gobert’s older half-sister and had an especially important role during his childhood.
Vanessa was already around adulthood when Rudy was born, meaning their relationship sometimes resembled that of a caregiver and child rather than simply two siblings close in age.
She has recalled helping care for Rudy when he was young and watching him grow from an energetic child playing around Saint-Quentin into one of the world’s most accomplished defensive basketball players.
Vanessa has remained connected to their hometown. In an interview ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, she spoke about Rudy’s childhood in Saint-Quentin and remembered him spending hours playing sports in local parks.
She also recalled that Rudy did not immediately dedicate himself exclusively to basketball. He participated in several activities before becoming serious about the sport around the age of 11 or 12.
Romain Goubet – Rudy Gobert’s Older Brother
Romain Goubet is Rudy Gobert’s older maternal half-brother.
Like Vanessa, Romain was born before Corinne’s relationship with Rudy Bourgarel and has a different father from the NBA star.
Romain has maintained a considerably more private public profile than his younger brother. Earlier French reporting about the family indicated that he pursued a professional career outside sports.
Gobert has generally discussed Vanessa and Romain together when describing the difficult financial circumstances his mother faced while raising three children.
Both siblings were part of the household that helped provide stability during Gobert’s childhood in Saint-Quentin.
Why Do Rudy Gobert and His Siblings Have Slightly Different Surnames?
Rudy’s older siblings are generally identified as Vanessa Goubet and Romain Goubet, while the NBA star uses the surname Gobert.
Vanessa and Romain are Rudy’s maternal half-siblings from their mother’s earlier relationship and have a different father. Reliable profiles of the family have noted the slightly different spelling of their surnames.
Rudy Gobert’s French and Guadeloupean Heritage
Gobert’s family background reflects both mainland France and the French Caribbean.
His mother, Corinne, is from Saint-Quentin in northern France, while his father, Rudy Bourgarel, is Black and comes from Guadeloupe.
Gobert spent most of his childhood in France but maintained a connection with his father’s homeland. When he was young, visits to Guadeloupe were less frequent because of the distance and the family’s financial circumstances, but he continued his relationship with his father.
That multicultural background has remained part of Gobert’s identity throughout his basketball career.
How Did Rudy Gobert’s Family Influence His Basketball Career?
Both of Rudy Gobert’s parents influenced his career in different ways.
His mother provided the day-to-day foundation. Corinne worked hard to raise three children and gave Rudy the freedom to explore different sports while insisting on discipline and education.
His father’s impact was more closely connected to basketball. Bourgarel had already experienced high-level college, professional and international basketball, giving Rudy an example of what was possible for a player with similar physical gifts.
Gobert has acknowledged that his father’s absence during much of his childhood also became a source of motivation. He wanted to succeed in the same sport his father had played at a high level.
Rudy initially tried activities including judo, boxing, athletics and other sports. Basketball did not become his main focus until he was around 11 years old.
He eventually joined the Cholet Basket development system and developed into one of France’s most promising young centers.
The Denver Nuggets selected Gobert with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft before immediately trading his rights to the Utah Jazz.
Gobert went on to become one of the greatest defensive players of his generation, winning multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards before continuing his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rudy Gobert’s Family
Who is Rudy Gobert’s girlfriend?
Rudy Gobert does not currently have a publicly confirmed girlfriend. His most recent known partner was Julia Bonilla, but the couple separated in May 2025.
Who is Julia Bonilla?
Julia Bonilla is Rudy Gobert’s former girlfriend and the mother of his two children. She is a French artistic director, agent and podcast host originally from Paris.
Is Rudy Gobert married?
No marriage has been publicly confirmed for Rudy Gobert. He and Julia Bonilla were partners but did not publicly announce that they had married before their separation.
Does Rudy Gobert have children?
Yes. Rudy Gobert has two children with Julia Bonilla: a son named Roméo and a daughter whose name has not been publicly disclosed.
Who is Rudy Gobert’s son?
Rudy Gobert’s son is Roméo, who was born in May 2024. Gobert missed an NBA playoff game to be present for his birth.
Does Rudy Gobert have a daughter?
Yes. Gobert welcomed his first daughter in December 2025. Her name has not been publicly confirmed.
Who is Rudy Gobert’s mother?
Rudy Gobert’s mother is Corinne Gobert. She raised Rudy and his two older half-siblings in Saint-Quentin, France, largely as a single mother.
Who is Rudy Gobert’s father?
Rudy Gobert’s father is Rudy Bourgarel, a former basketball player from Guadeloupe who played at Marist College, professionally in France and for the French national team.
Did Rudy Gobert’s father play basketball?
Yes. Rudy Bourgarel played NCAA basketball at Marist College before pursuing a professional career in France and representing the French national team.
How many siblings does Rudy Gobert have?
Rudy Gobert has two older maternal half-siblings: Vanessa Goubet and Romain Goubet.
Who is Rudy Gobert’s sister?
Rudy Gobert’s older half-sister is Vanessa Goubet. She helped care for him when he was young and has spoken publicly about his childhood in Saint-Quentin.
Who is Rudy Gobert’s brother?
Rudy Gobert’s older half-brother is Romain Goubet. He has maintained a relatively private life outside his younger brother’s NBA career.
Where is Rudy Gobert’s father from?
Rudy Gobert’s father, Rudy Bourgarel, is from Guadeloupe, the French Caribbean archipelago.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
