Vanessa Villanueva is an American actress who is best known for being the ex-wife of Chris Perez, the lead guitarist of the Tejano band Selena y Los Dinos. She has appeared in a few films, such as Memphis Rising: Elvis Returns and Forgotten Memories. As of 2023, her net worth is estimated to be over $100,000.
Vanessa Villanueva’s Bio and Early Life
- Full name: Vanessa Villanueva
- Date of birth: 1971
- Place of birth: United States of America
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Mexican-American
- Zodiac sign: Gemini
- Occupation: Actress, former celebrity wife
- Spouse: Chris Perez (m. 2001 – div. 2008)
- Children: Cassie Perez and Noah Perez
Vanessa Villanueva was born in 1971 in the United States of America to Jay Villanueva and Virginia Villanueva. Her parents migrated from Mexico to the USA in search of a better life. She has two brothers, John Villanueva and Jay Villanueva. She grew up in Texas and attended a local school.
Vanessa Villanueva’s Career
Vanessa Villanueva became famous after marrying Chris Perez, the widower of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. She supported him during his depression and personal issues after Selena’s death in 1995.
Vanessa also pursued a career in acting and appeared in a few films. Her first project was Memphis Rising: Elvis Returns, released in 2011, which tells the story of Elvis returning from another galaxy and desiring to live a normal life. Her second and last project was Forgotten Memories, released in 2015, where she played the role of Gaby Valdez.
Vanessa Villanueva’s Relationship and Divorce
Marriage to Chris Perez
John Garza introduced Vanessa Villanueva to Chris Perez in 1996. They started dating in 1998 and got married in 2001. They have two children together: a daughter named Cassie Perez and a son named Noah Perez.
Reasons for Divorce
Vanessa and Chris divorced in 2008 after seven years of marriage. The reasons for their divorce are not clear, but some sources claim that they had irreconcilable differences and grew apart over time. Some also speculate that Chris was still not over Selena and that Vanessa felt neglected by him.
Chris has remained close to Selena’s family after the divorce, while Vanessa has stayed away from the media spotlight. She has not remarried or dated anyone publicly since then.
Vanessa Villanueva’s Net Worth (2023)
Estimated Wealth
As of 2023, Vanessa Villanueva’s net worth is estimated to be over $100,000. She has earned some income from her acting career and probably also received some alimony from Chris after their divorce.
Sources of Income
Vanessa’s main source of income is her acting career, although she has not been active in the industry since 2015. She may also have some other investments or businesses that are not known to the public.