As if being a supermodel isn’t wonderful enough they happen to earn quite a living too. Being a supermodel generally means you’ve hit the genetic jackpot. It also means work is traveling the world, wearing the most beautiful designer clothing imaginable on the runway, and gracing the pages of national magazines. It also means finding the perfect “summer” shot on the beach in the dead of winter, but it still means you’re gorgeous, wealthy and well-traveled. Read on to find out which of the worlds most famous, most beautiful supermodels are also the most well-paid, richest supermodels in the world.
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Kathy Ireland — $350 Million
The supermodel might not be as young now as she once was, but she’s still beautiful and she’s exceptionally wealthy. She is the wealthiest supermodel in the world, with a net worth of more than $350 million. Much of her money is from her days modeling in ads such as Budweiser and Fruit of the Loom, but she’s also a businesswoman. She’s graced the covers of Vogue and Sports Illustrated, been in several movies and television shows, and she a best-selling author, has her own fitness video, and she has her own business that grosses more annually than Martha Stewart.
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Gisele Bundchen — $250 Million
She’s been a Victoria’s Secret Angel, she’s in Louis Vuitton campaigns, she has a contract with American Express Red, she’s gorgeous, tall, Brazilian and married to one of the best football players in the world. She’s Gisele, and even without her husband’s football money in consideration, she’s worth an estimated $250 million thanks in large part to her modeling career. She’s been in movies such as, “The Devil Wears Prada,” in a small role alongside Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, and she’s the greenest celebrity in the world as of 2011. Her career has been a lucrative one.
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Cindy Crawford — $100 Million
She is one of the most iconic supermodels of all time. She was one of the biggest models in the world in the 80s and 90s, and now she earns a living with her own business ventures. Aside from gracing the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and W, she’ appeared on hit TV shows such as Frasier and According to Jim. She also has her own home goods and furniture line with major retailers such as JC Penney and Rooms To Go.
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Tyra Banks — $90 Million
Not only does she defy the norm with beauty, she’s also a business person who has launched many endeavors on her own. She was the host of America’s Next Top Model, she had her own talk show, she’s worked with Michael Jackson, Dolce & Gabbana, Victoria’s Secret, and Ralph Lauren. Her most famous role was Victoria’s Secret Angel, of course, since you have to be exceptionally beautiful, down to earth and likable for this job.
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Christie Brinkley — $80 Million
She’s a supermodel and a television host. The gorgeous blonde got started when she was very young, modeling for some of the biggest brands in the country. She spent her fair share of time on the catwalk before publishing a beauty and fitness book. She also had contracts with brands such as CoverGirl, Got Milk and even had a part in Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl music video – though she was married to him at the time. She’s been on the cover of just about every magazine imaginable and she even hosted her own show on CNN, as well as made appearances in several major motion pictures.
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Heidi Klum — $70 Million
There’s just something about Heidi Klum that everyone loves. She’s gorgeous, wealthy and has it all. She’s also one of the richest supermodels in the world. She’s the host of Project Runway, she’s been in Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada, she’s a former Victoria’s Secret Angel (anyone remember when she walked the runway at the fashion show six weeks after giving birth?) and she’s a model for H&M. There’s very few things that this supermodel hasn’t tried, and she’s one of the younger models on this list, which means she might make her way higher up the list as the years go on.
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Kate Moss — $50 Million
She’s one of the most controversial supermodels in the world. She’s struggled throughout her long career with addiction, being dropped from contracts she had with major designers such as Chanel and Burberry. However, she seems to have cleaned up and gotten herself back on track. She’s had contracts with Rimmel, Donna Karan, Prada, L’Oreal, and Versace. She’s walked in many fashion shows and been on the covers of most every magazine imaginable, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and W. Her career has been a long one, filled with controversy, but she’s managed to come through with $50 Million to her name.
(Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images for Rimmel)
Naomi Campbell — $48 Million
Despite her reputation of not being very nice, Naomi is one of the most famous and wealthiest supermodels in the world. She was always well-known, but she was in the news for many years as former assistants, police officers, employees and associates accused her of assault, but that doesn’t seem to have damaged her career too much. The gorgeous supermodel has been the face of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Ralph Lauren, and she was a Victoria’s Secret model. She’s also been in movies, on television and she published her own book.
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Elle Macpherson — $45 Million
She’s known most for the fact that she was on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition five, yes, five, times. She hosts NBC’s Fashion Star, models for brands like Finesse and even for Revlon. Sports Illustrated is not the only magazine cover she’s graced, however. Macpherson has been on the cover of several magazines, including Cosmo and Harper’s Bazaar. She has several businesses of her own. She’ salso known as “The Body” in the modeling industry.
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Claudia Schiffer — $40 Million
Rounding out the top 10 list of wealthiest supermodels in the world is Claudia Schiffer. She began her career modestly, modeling for brands such as the Gap. The Gap ad she did made her famous, and she’s since been seen on many magazine covers, television shows and movies. She’s also modeled for major designer brands such as Chanel and Ferragamo. She has been compared throughout her entire career to the late Brigette Bardot, one of the most beautiful women in history. Her work has made her successful enough to claim a spot on this list thanks to her effortless beauty and reputation for being easy to work with.
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