Tyler Roby Pippen was the infant daughter of NBA legend Scottie Pippen and Sonya Roby. She was born on July 20, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, as a twin alongside her sister Taylor Pippen. Tyler passed away nine days later, on July 29, 1994, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Her birth came during her father’s rise with the Chicago Bulls, where he would go on to win six NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan. 

Scottie Pippen initially denied paternity of the twins, a dispute that led to a legal case and a DNA test before he accepted responsibility. Tyler’s short life remains part of the Pippen family history, and it explains why her name still appears in searches about Scottie Pippen’s children decades later.

Who Was Tyler Roby Pippen?

Tyler was one of two twin daughters born to Scottie Pippen and Sonya Roby, his girlfriend at the time. Her twin sister, Taylor, was the younger of the pair, born just minutes after Tyler. The girls arrived at Mercy Hospital in Chicago while Sonya Roby, who worked as a model, was in a relationship with Scottie Pippen that was never publicly confirmed until after the birth. 

Tyler’s life lasted only nine days. During that short window, she stayed in the hospital with her parents nearby. No public photos or personal details about her appearance were ever released, which is common for a newborn whose family chooses privacy.

Quick Bio

Early Life and Family Background

Tyler was born in Mundelein, Illinois, in the summer of 1994, right as her father was becoming one of the most recognized players in the NBA. Scottie Pippen had already helped lead the Chicago Bulls to multiple championships and was known worldwide alongside Michael Jordan. Sonya Roby gave birth to Tyler and Taylor while she and Scottie were still dating. 

At first, the arrival of twin daughters was not publicly announced the way most celebrity births are. Instead, it stayed private, partly because paternity had not yet been legally settled. The Pippen household already included children from earlier relationships, so Tyler’s birth added another branch to a family that was growing in different directions at once. 

Court and medical records confirm the basic facts of her birth, even though the family never discussed the pregnancy publicly at the time.

The Parents of Tyler Roby Pippen

Father: Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen was born on September 25, 1965, in Hamburg, Arkansas. He became one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history during his years with the Chicago Bulls, earning six NBA championships and seven All-Star selections. 

His partnership with Michael Jordan defined the Bulls dynasty of the 1990s, and he was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Away from the court, Scottie has fathered eight children across four relationships. Losing Tyler in 1994 was one of the first personal tragedies of his adult life, long before he lost his eldest son, Antron, in 2021. 

He has never spoken about Tyler’s death in detail publicly, which fits a pattern of keeping his most painful family moments private.

Mother: Conflicting Accounts

Sonya Roby is Tyler’s mother. She and Scottie Pippen had a relationship in the early 1990s that resulted in the birth of Tyler and Taylor. After Tyler’s death, Sonya raised Taylor largely on her own and was granted full custody following the paternity case. 

Some online sources incorrectly name Karen McCollum or Larsa Pippen as Tyler’s mother. Karen McCollum was Scottie’s first wife, married to him from 1988 to 1990, and she is the mother of his son Antron. Larsa Pippen was Scottie’s second wife. Neither woman is connected to Tyler’s birth. Sonya Roby is the verified mother listed in the paternity case records from 1994 and 1995.

The Paternity Case and Legal Timeline

When Sonya Roby gave birth to the twins in July 1994, Scottie Pippen did not immediately accept that he was their father. She filed a paternity suit against him, which moved through the Cook County court system in Illinois. A DNA test settled the question. On October 29, 1994, the test confirmed that Scottie Pippen was the biological father of both twins. 

The case did not end there. On June 17, 1995, Scottie appeared in a Chicago courtroom, where he formally acknowledged paternity, as reported by the Chicago Tribune at the time. The court ordered him to pay $15,000 in outstanding medical bills and to provide health insurance for Taylor, the surviving twin, through the NBA. Sonya Roby kept full custody of Taylor after the ruling.

Timeline of the Paternity Case

Birth, Short Life, and Passing

Tyler’s entire life took place inside Mercy Hospital in Chicago. She was born on July 20, 1994, and passed away on July 29, 1994, spending all nine days of her life in the hospital’s care. The exact cause of death has never been made public. 

The Pippen and Roby families chose not to release medical details, and that choice has been respected for more than thirty years. Losing a newborn is one of the hardest experiences a parent can go through, and Tyler’s passing marked the first major loss in Scottie Pippen’s life as a father. 

Scottie later addressed grief publicly after losing his son Antron in 2021, but he has kept his feelings about Tyler almost entirely private.

Resolving the Conflicting Narratives: Daughter vs. Son

Several websites describe a completely different version of this story, one where Tyler Roby Pippen is a son born on July 19, 1993, to Scottie Pippen and either Karen McCollum or Larsa Pippen, who lived into adulthood before an undisclosed passing. 

This version does not match the court record from the 1994 to 1995 paternity case, which lists Tyler as a female twin born on July 20, 1994, to Sonya Roby. Birth records, court documents, and the Chicago Tribune’s coverage of the paternity case all point to the same verified account: Tyler was Taylor’s twin sister, and she passed away nine days after birth. 

The son narrative appears to be a mix-up with other Pippen family members and should not be treated as accurate.

Taylor Pippen and the Pippen Family

Taylor Pippen’s Life and Career

Taylor Pippen, Tyler’s surviving twin, grew up mostly without a relationship with her father. In a 2016 interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, she said Scottie never tried to meet her. Despite that, Taylor built a strong life of her own. 

She attended Carmel Catholic High School in Illinois before playing volleyball at Southern Illinois University, where she earned All-MVC Scholar honors and MVC Scholar-Athlete recognition. She later played professional volleyball in Spain. 

Taylor graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and worked her way up to Assistant Vice President at Wintrust Commercial Bank in Chicago before becoming a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase, where she works today. She has also supported young athletes through the Beyond Sports foundation.

Half-Siblings Overview

Tyler had six half-siblings from her father’s other relationships. Antron Pippen, born to Karen McCollum, played college basketball before passing away in April 2021 at age 33 after battling chronic asthma. 

Scotty Pippen Jr., born November 10, 2000, to Larsa Pippen, plays professional basketball and has appeared in the NBA Summer League with the Lakers. Sophia Pippen, born December 26, 2008, pursued dance and television, competing on Dancing With the Stars Juniors. 

Sierra Pippen, born February 17, 1995, to Yvette DeLeone, works as a model and media personality. Preston and Justin Pippen have stayed largely out of the public eye, focusing on sports and academics rather than media attention.

Public Response, Media Coverage, and Privacy

Coverage of Tyler’s short life has always been limited, since her death happened in 1994, before social media and constant celebrity news coverage existed. What little was reported came from court filings tied to the paternity case rather than direct family statements. 

Scottie Pippen has occasionally addressed the loss publicly, especially after Antron died in 2021, when he shared his grief with fans online. Those messages have not specifically named Tyler, and the family has kept details about her passing out of interviews and books. 

This pattern reflects a broader trend among public figures who separate their private grief from their public image, even decades after the fact.

The Broader Context of Infant Loss

Tyler’s death was not an isolated case for families in the mid-1990s. In 1994, the neonatal mortality rate in the United States was about 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning thousands of families experienced a loss similar to the Pippens’ that same year. Neonatal care has improved significantly since then, but in the early 1990s, many hospitals had more limited monitoring tools for high-risk newborns, including twins. 

Families who lose an infant in the first days of life often choose to keep medical details private, both to protect their own grieving process and because sharing specifics rarely changes the outcome for others.

Common Misconceptions and Verified Facts

The most common mistake online is treating Tyler as a son who lived to adulthood. Court records from the 1994-1995 paternity case confirm she was a daughter who died nine days after birth. Another common error names Larsa Pippen or Karen McCollum as her mother. Sonya Roby is the verified mother listed in those same records. 

No confirmed photos of Tyler have ever been published, and any claims describing her physical appearance or personality are not based on documented information. The most accurate facts available come from the paternity case filings and contemporary Chicago Tribune reporting, not from later articles that repeat unverified details.

Legacy and Why This Story Still Matters

Tyler Roby Pippen’s name continues to surface in searches about Scottie Pippen’s children because her story adds a human layer to a career often remembered only for championships and rivalries. Her twin sister Taylor has carried her memory into adulthood, building a career at JPMorgan Chase while rarely discussing Tyler publicly. 

The Pippen family has faced loss twice, first with Tyler in 1994 and again with Antron in 2021, and both losses show that fame does not shield a family from grief. Tyler lived only nine days, but the legal case tied to her birth remains a documented part of Scottie Pippen’s personal history.

Financial Background

Tyler did not live long enough to have any personal income, career, or net worth. Her father’s wealth came from his NBA salary, endorsement deals, and business ventures built over a long professional career. 

The $15,000 medical bill payment and NBA-provided health insurance ordered in the 1995 paternity case were tied to Taylor’s ongoing care, not to Tyler, since she had already passed away. No financial records exist for Tyler herself, which is expected given her age at the time of her death.

Conclusion

Tyler Roby Pippen was the twin daughter of Scottie Pippen and Sonya Roby, born July 20, 1994, and she passed away nine days later on July 29, 1994. The paternity case that followed her birth, settled through a DNA test and a Cook County courtroom, remains one of the clearest documented parts of her story. 

Her twin sister Taylor has gone on to build a successful career, while her father’s basketball legacy continues to overshadow this quieter chapter of his family life. Separating verified court records from the conflicting online accounts gives the most accurate picture of who Tyler was and what her family experienced.

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FAQs

Who was Tyler Roby Pippen?

Tyler Roby Pippen was the twin daughter of NBA legend Scottie Pippen and Sonya Roby, born on July 20, 1994, and the twin sister of Taylor Pippen.

When was Tyler Roby Pippen born? She was born on July 20, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois. Some sources incorrectly list July 19, 1993, but court records confirm the 1994 date.

How did Tyler Roby Pippen die? 

Tyler passed away on July 29, 1994, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, nine days after her birth. Her family has kept the cause of death private.

Who is Tyler Roby Pippen’s mother? 

Sonya Roby is Tyler’s verified mother, confirmed through the 1994-1995 paternity case records involving Scottie Pippen.

Was Tyler Roby Pippen a boy or a girl? 

Tyler was a girl. Court and paternity records list her as Taylor Pippen’s twin sister, not a son.

Did Scottie Pippen accept Tyler as his daughter?

 Yes. A DNA test on October 29, 1994, confirmed his paternity, and he formally acknowledged it in a Cook County court on June 17, 1995.

How many children does Scottie Pippen have?

Scottie Pippen has eight children, including Tyler, Taylor, Antron, Sierra, Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia.

Why is Tyler Roby Pippen’s story still talked about today? 

Her story adds a personal, verified chapter to Scottie Pippen’s public legacy and clarifies long-standing confusion about her identity online.