Who Is Mariano Rivera's Wife? All About Clara Rivera — and Why the Couple Is Being Accused of Covering Up Child Abuse

Mar. 15, 2025

Mariano Rivera and wife Clara during a ceremony in his honor before a game at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2019 in New York City.Photo:Jim McIsaac/Getty

Jim McIsaac/Getty

Mariano Riveraand his wife, Clara Rivera, are embroiled in legal turmoil.

The former Yankees player and Clara wed in 1991 and have since welcomed three children: Mariano Rivera III, Jaziel Rivera and Jafet Rivera. Since retiring from baseball, Mariano has focused his energy on pursuits in philanthropy, politics and religion.

In 2014, Mariano bought an old church in New Rochelle, N.Y., which he made the home of his Refuge of Hope church. Clara started serving as the head pastor of the institution after it opened.

The Riveras' lawyer, Joseph A. Ruta,called the allegations “completely false"in a statement toUSA Today Sports.

So who is Mariano Rivera’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Clara Rivera and her relationship with the former baseball player.

Clara and Mariano met in elementary school

Mariano Rivera speaks to the crowd as he stands with his wife Clara next to his Hall of Fame plaque during a ceremony in his honor before a game between the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2019 in New York City.Jim McIsaac/Getty

Mariano grew up in Puerto Caimito, Panama, where he met Clara when they were both students at the same elementary school, he toldThe New York Timesin June 2010.

Referring to Clara as his “anchor,” the retired baseball star added that Clara has been his closest companion as they grew up together — and she was the only person he let see him suffer.

They got married in 1991

Mariano Rivera and wife Clara pose for a photo together in November 2022.Mariano Rivera/ Instagram

Mariano Rivera/ Instagram

“Your love for God, for me, and for our family wins me over every day,” he wrote in the caption. “A million ‘I love you’s’ could never express what you truly mean to me. Here’s to a life time together.”

Clara and Mariano share three children together

Mariano Rivera, wife Clara, sons Mariano Jr, Jafet, and Jaziel pose before the game on September 29, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in New York City.Jared Wickerham/Getty

Jared Wickerham/Getty

The couple welcomed three sons together: Mariano Rivera III, Jaziel Rivera and Jafet Rivera. In May 2021, Jaziel graduated high school, with Mariano announcing onInstagramthat his son was next set to attend Manhattan University where he hadsigned to play lacrosse.

In September 2020, Mariano and Clara became grandparents with thebirth of Mariano III’s daughter, Leilani Marie Rivera. In 2022, he welcomed his second daughter, Mia.

“Of all the accolades and titles I’ve been given throughout my life, none compare to “Abuelo” aka Grandpa!” Mariano wrote onInstagramin January 2022.

In 2019, Mariano was named in a lawsuit that alleged he fathered two children, aged 11 and 15 at the time of filing, out of wedlock for whom he stopped paying child support.

Mariano denied the allegations, perESPN, and the two sides ultimately settled.

Clara is the head pastor at the Riveras' church

Clara Rivera and Mariano Rivera attend an NBA game at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 2012 in New York City.James Devaney/WireImage

James Devaney/WireImage

In 2009, Mariano and Clara opened their own church, Refuge of Hope, that they ran from their home. Five years later, the couple decided to expand and bought an old church building in Westchester, N.Y., where Clara now serves as head pastor.

According to herbioon the organization’s website, Clara grew up religious, but it wasn’t until she was 25 that she had a “personal encounter with God.”

Clara and Mariano were accused of covering up child sexual abuse

On Jan. 16, a lawsuit was filed against the couple alleging that they covered up child sexual abuse that took place at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Fla., during a 2018 summer internship program affiliated with Refuge of Hope.

The minor, who was born in 2007, was referred to as Jane Doe and named “MG,” an older female minor as the alleged abuser.

The lawsuit also identified another alleged abuse incident that occurred at a summer 2018 BBQ at the Riveras' Brook View home, per the complaint.

“Mariano and Clara Rivera do not tolerate child abuse of any kind and allegations that they knew about or failed to act on reports of child abuse are completely false,” the couple’s lawyer, Joseph A. Ruta, said in the statement toUSA Today Sports.

source: people.com