An unsolicited Instagram direct message in January 2016 sparked one of sport's most talked-about love stories. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III — better known as RG3 — reached out to Estonian heptathlete Grete Šadeiko, and the pair have been inseparable ever since. Today they are married with three daughters, co-host a podcast, and remain a fixture in the sports media world.
Who is Grete Šadeiko?
Grete Griffin (née Šadeiko) was born on 29 May 1993 in Türi, Estonia. She is a former competitive heptathlete who grew up in a sporting family — her older sister, Grit Šadeiko, is also a heptathlete. In the autumn of 2012, Grete joined Florida State University, where she studied Psychology. She had been on the Seminoles track team since 2013 and returned from injury in 2014 by breaking a 24-year-old FSU heptathlon record.
At the 2010 World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, she placed fourth with a personal-record 5,705 points, just one point behind Helga Margrét Thorsteinsdóttir. By the time RG3 discovered her profile, Šadeiko was a redshirt junior and had been named second-team All-American for two consecutive years.
How did RG3 and Grete meet?
Sources close to the couple say RG3 first met Florida State track star Grete Šadeiko on Instagram in January — roughly seven months after his wife, Rebecca Liddicoat, gave birth to their daughter. As RG3 himself has shared, he reached out to Grete through an Instagram direct message, and they quickly bonded over shared interests in fitness, family, and faith.
The social media relationship turned real, and when Rebecca found out about it in April, the couple separated shortly after. It was only in August 2016 that the new couple were seen together holding hands in public, as reported by the New York Daily News, and a month after that RG3 started posting about her on his Instagram account.
The timeline of RG3's marriages
RG3 has been married twice. He married Rebecca Liddicoat on 6 July 2013, until their divorce. RG3 and Rebecca Liddicoat got divorced in 2016, three years after their marriage, and less than a year after the birth of their daughter.
Šadeiko and Griffin became engaged on 13 May 2017. Their first daughter was born on 2 July 2017, and the couple married on 10 March 2018. The wedding took place in a ceremony in Miami, Florida, with around 100 guests.
How many kids does Robert Griffin III have?
Robert is married to Grete Griffin, and together they have three daughters (Gloria, Gameya, and Gia), while Robert has four daughters in total, including his eldest from his previous marriage: Reese Ann Griffin — born in 2015 with ex-wife Rebecca Liddicoat.
- Gloria Griffin — born 2 July 2017, Robert and Grete's first daughter together.
- Gameya Griffin — born in September 2019.
- Gia Griffin — born in January 2023.
The night before Gia's arrival, Robert was covering the Fiesta Bowl between TCU and Michigan for ESPN when he received a call that Grete had gone into labour. Grete Griffin shared on Instagram in January 2023: "First off let's start by saying that even though baby girl tried to make a dramatic entrance last night into 2023, she decided it wasn't time yet."
Robert Griffin III publicly celebrated his wife of over seven years on social media in late 2024. When some online commenters questioned whether his daughters were Black, he responded on X: "Black women telling my four daughters that they aren't Black is beyond wrong."
RG3's career and net worth
Robert Lee Griffin III is a former professional football quarterback who played in the NFL for eight seasons, most notably with the Washington Redskins. Griffin played college football for the Baylor Bears, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2011, and was selected second overall by the Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft. His rookie contract with the Washington Redskins, signed in 2012, was valued at $21.1 million over four years. Injuries, however, cut his playing career short.
After retiring from the NFL, Fox Sports welcomed Griffin III to its college football analyst roster for the 2025 season. In addition to his booth work, Griffin's podcast Outta Pocket with RGIII is featured on Fox Sports/Red Seat Ventures — co-hosted with his wife, Grete, the podcast explores the hottest topics in sports and features interviews with major names.
Robert Griffin III's estimated net worth stands at approximately $13 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This valuation reflects his main income sources: his professional playing career, media ventures, and personal business investments. His income streams include total NFL career earnings of $33 million across eight seasons, according to Spotrac, broadcasting salary from Fox Sports, various endorsement deals secured throughout his career, and business ventures and the Glow Fitness brand run by Grete.
Recent developments and next steps
In October 2025, Robert Griffin III shared that he and his family had been involved in a serious car crash in Fort Worth, Texas. He wrote on X: "Just got in the worst car accident of our lives with my wife and kids in Fort Worth, Texas. Scary crash, ricocheted off the highway divider multiple times, blown both front tires. Thankful to God that my wife and kids are safe." Griffin had been travelling from Houston to Fort Worth for work when the accident occurred. Grete later shared a photo of two of the couple's daughters in the back of an ambulance, confirming the children were well and healthy.
Earlier in 2025, Ryan Clark publicly apologised to Griffin after bringing Grete into a race-based dispute on The Pivot podcast. Clark had made comments about Grete during a feud with Griffin over the Caitlin Clark–Angel Reese rivalry.
Most recently, Robert Griffin III is reportedly preparing for an NFL comeback, with his daughters cited as part of his motivation. He has also pursued a spot in USA Football's national team programme with an eye towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Olympic debut.
