For years, supermodels were defined by their appearances on glossy magazine covers, dramatic runway walks, and fleeting moments under bright lights. Today, that definition feels outdated. The industry has shifted, and so has the power structure behind it. The highest-paid models in the world no longer rely solely on fashion weeks for their income. They build long-term value through beauty brands, lifestyle ventures, and digital influence that extends far beyond the catwalk. Modeling has evolved into a serious business, one that can rival the earnings of elite athletes and film stars.
The highest-paid models in the world now balance global campaigns, brand ambassadorships, and content creation for audiences that number in the millions. A single post, launch, or partnership can generate headlines and revenue overnight. At the same time, the industry is opening up. New faces are emerging across cultures, body types, and regions, reflecting a market that values relevance, reach, and authenticity more than tradition alone.
If you have ever wondered who earns the most, where that money really comes from, and why specific names dominate year after year, this guide breaks it down clearly. In this article, you’ll meet the models leading the industry in 2026 and understand how they turned visibility into lasting wealth.
The 15 Highest-Paid Models in the World
This ranking presents estimated annual earnings for the highest-paid models worldwide, focusing on active income from modeling-related work. Each profile includes age, net worth, nationality, height, and key revenue streams.
1. Kendall Jenner (USA) – $40–60M/year
Age: 30 | Net Worth: $60 million | Nationality: American | Height: 5’9″ | Instagram: 290–310M followers
Kendall Jenner holds the top position among the highest-paid models in the world, thanks to a platform that separates her from her reality TV family. She signed with Wilhelmina early on, then transitioned to elite global agencies, walking for notable brands such as Calvin Klein, Givenchy, Versace, Chanel, and Marc Jacobs.
Her earnings come directly from runway appearances, which command industry-high day rates, sponsorships with Estée Lauder that span millions of dollars annually, and her 818 Tequila brand, where she holds equity. With nearly 300 million followers across social media, each post translates into partnership fees from beauty and fashion companies. Unlike many supermodels whose earnings peak quickly, Kendall maintains top-tier prestige through selective bookings and strategic partnerships that sustain high demand.
Notable Work: Calvin Klein face, Versace runways, Estée Lauder ambassador, 818 Tequila founder
Key Income: Runway fees, beauty endorsements, tequila brand equity, social media partnerships
2. Gisele Bündchen (Brazil) – $25–40M/year
Age: 45 | Net Worth: $400 million | Nationality: Brazilian | Height: 5’11” (estimated) | Instagram: 8M+ followers
Gisele Bündchen remains at the top of her profession decades into her career, an uncommon feat that reflects both her enduring appeal and shrewd business acumen. She dominated as a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 1999 to 2006 and held the title of highest-paid model from 2002 to 2017. Her continued earnings stem from decades-long partnerships with Pantene, Chanel, and Carolina Herrera, which are renewed annually with substantial fees. Even stepping back from constant runway work, she commands significant checks for selective appearances. Her wellness and sustainability ventures add passive income streams. She has earned over $500 million from modeling and endorsements combined, making her one of the wealthiest models in history. Her semi-retired status is strategic, not forced.
Notable Work: Victoria’s Secret Angel (1999–2006), Pantene global face, Chanel ambassador, wellness entrepreneur
Key Income: Heritage brand partnerships, wellness initiatives, sustainability ventures, and real estate
3. Chrissy Teigen (USA) – $20–30M/year
Age: 40 | Net Worth: $75–100M (combined with husband) | Nationality: American | Height: 5’8.5″ | Instagram: 41.4M followers
Chrissy Teigen represents a new supermodel archetype: the creator who happens to model, not a model who tries to become an entertainer. Discovered at 18 in a California surf shop, she booked Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers and the music video where she met husband John Legend. However, her real income engine is her media presence. She earns from television hosting gigs, hosting and judging roles on competition shows, and her multiple bestselling cookbooks that have sold millions of copies globally.
Her modeling work with brands like Revlon and Target continues, but her entertainment income supplements it. She maintains 41 million Instagram followers who drive direct sponsorship deals. Her success demonstrates that in modern modeling, personality and reach often outpace traditional beauty metrics, a pattern reflected in the highest-paid models worldwide.
Notable Work: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers, Revlon ambassador, TV personality and host, bestselling cookbook author
Key Income: Television hosting, cookbook royalties, brand endorsements, social media partnerships, modeling campaigns
4. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (UK) – $20–30M/year
Age: 38 | Net Worth: $30–40M (independent) | Nationality: British | Height: 5’9″ | Instagram: 20M+ followers
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley operates on a counterintuitive principle: in an attention economy, scarcity compounds value. She walked Victoria’s Secret runways (2006+) and became the face of Burberry’s 2011 fragrance, but unlike peers who extend contracts indefinitely, she has strategically reduced her public appearances. She rarely gives interviews and hasn’t walked a runway in years, yet her partnership with Marks & Spencer spans over a decade, and her Rose Inc. beauty line generates seven figures annually. Her relationship with actor Jason Statham provides financial security, but her wealth is entirely her own. This restraint keeps her brand premium when overexposed peers fade. She represents how strategic invisibility can drive higher fees than constant visibility.
Notable Work: Victoria’s Secret Angel (2006+), Burberry Body fragrance, Rose Inc. beauty founder, Marks & Spencer ambassador, Transformers: Dark of the Moon actress
Key Income: Beauty line sales, long-term brand partnerships, sporadic endorsements, acting roles
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5. Cara Delevingne (UK) – $15–25M/year
Age: 33 | Net Worth: $50 million | Nationality: British | Height: 5’8″ | Instagram: 60M+ followers
Cara Delevingne blurred the line between runway model and actress, using her edgy aesthetic and strong social media presence to command top earnings across both industries. She walks for Chanel, Burberry, Dior, and Givenchy, earning premium runway fees from these luxury houses. Her 60 million Instagram followers generate substantial social media endorsement deals. Beyond modeling, she earns from acting roles in Paper Towns, Suicide Squad, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, as well as brand partnerships with YSL Beauty and TAG Heuer.
This level of commercial reach places her firmly within the highest-paid models in the world. Her memoir became a bestseller. She reportedly earns around $9 million annually from modeling alone, not counting acting income. Her bold personal style and openness about mental health advocacy have made her a cultural figure that brands want to associate with their products.
Notable Work: Chanel runway regular, Dior campaigns, YSL Beauty partnerships, Suicide Squad actress, memoir author
Key Income: High-fashion runway shows, film acting roles, brand endorsements, publishing, social media partnerships
6. Adriana Lima (Brazil) – $10–20M/year
Age: 44 | Net Worth: $70–95 million | Nationality: Brazilian | Height: 5’10” | Instagram: 10M+ followers
Adriana Lima’s Victoria’s Secret legacy continues generating substantial income nearly a decade after leaving the brand. As the longest-running Victoria’s Secret Angel (2000–2018), she earned $25 million in her first five years alone. Even post-VS, her brand recognition remains powerful in the beauty and endorsement space. She earns from her Maybelline partnership, which has been her longest-running, as well as Puma sponsorships and periodic runway appearances at major fashion houses.
She was the second-highest-paid model in 2014 and 2015, earning between $8 and $ 10 million annually during those years. Her earnings have since settled into the lower tier of top earners, but she still commands respect and solid fees. She’s known for professionalism and consistency, qualities that keep brands returning even as she ages out of traditional modeling.
Notable Work: Victoria’s Secret Angel (2000–2018, longest-running), Maybelline global face, Puma ambassador, named “most valuable VS Angel” (2017)
Key Income: Maybelline long-term partnership, brand ambassadorships, runway shows, endorsement deals
7. Gigi Hadid (USA) – $15–25M/year
Age: 30 | Net Worth: $40 million | Nationality: American | Height: 5’10” | Instagram: 76.6M followers
Gigi Hadid became the gold standard of modern supermodels by being consistently visible while remaining prestigious. She walked for Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, and Fendi while appearing on over 50 international Vogue covers. Named International Model of the Year in 2016, she continues to earn from major runway shows, premium brand campaigns, and her Guest in Residence clothing line, co-founded with her sister.
Her 76 million Instagram followers generate significant social media deals worth six figures per post from major brands. Unlike Kendall’s reality TV foundation, Gigi built her career through relentless hard work with top fashion houses. Models.com ranks her as a “New Super,” reflecting her status in the industry. She has been one of the highest-paid models in the world consistently since 2017, earning around $20 million annually.
Notable Work: Versace runways, Tommy Hilfiger global face, 50+ Vogue covers, Guest in Residence co-founder, International Model of the Year (2016)
Key Income: Fashion runway shows, major brand campaigns, clothing line sales, social media partnerships
8. Bella Hadid (USA) – $10–20M/year
Age: 29 | Net Worth: $25 million | Nationality: American | Height: 5’8.5″ | Instagram: 60M+ followers
Bella Hadid’s comeback story after a period away from modeling adds to her market value. She broke records by appearing on five international Vogue September covers in a single year (2017), surpassing Doutzen Kroes’s previous record. She was named Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 2022. She walks for Givenchy, Saint Laurent, and Dior while launching her Orebella fragrance line, which generates separate revenue streams.
Her estimated earnings were $19 million in 2023 alone. She remains among the highest-paid models in the world, thanks to her luxury runway prestige, editorial work, and beauty ventures. While her younger sister’s status to Gigi sometimes overshadows her achievements, Bella has proven she’s a heavyweight independently, with major luxury brands competing for her appearance fees.
Notable Work: Dior campaigns, Saint Laurent runways, 35+ Vogue covers, Orebella fragrance founder, 5 Vogue September covers in one year (2017 record)
Key Income: Luxury brand runway shows, editorial work, fragrance sales, beauty partnerships
9. Liu Wen (China) – $10–15M/year
Age: 37 | Net Worth: $40 million | Nationality: Chinese | Height: 5’10” | Instagram: 2M+ followers
Liu Wen is China’s first supermodel and the first Asian model to break into Western luxury fashion at the elite level. She holds multiple historic firsts: the first East Asian spokeswoman for Estée Lauder (2010), the first Asian model on Forbes’s highest-paid list (2013), and the first Chinese model to appear on American Vogue’s front cover (twice; three times in total by 2023). She holds the record for most runway shows in a single season (74 shows in Fall 2009, still unbroken).
Her career success across East and West markets makes her invaluable to luxury brands seeking global reach. She continues to book campaigns for Chanel, Victoria’s Secret, and major international brands, earning premium fees for her prestige and unique market position. She is one of the highest-paid models in the world, partly due to her irreplaceable position as an Asian supermodel.
Notable Work: First Asian Estée Lauder spokeswoman, Victoria’s Secret Asian pioneer, 74 runway shows in one season (record), 3 American Vogue covers
Key Income: Luxury brand international contracts, Estée Lauder partnership, premium runway fees, East-West market arbitrage
10. Karlie Kloss (USA) – $8–12M/year
Age: 33 | Net Worth: $40 million | Nationality: American | Height: 6’1.5″ | Instagram: 9M+ followers
Karlie Kloss redefined what a supermodel’s career arc could become. She was a Victoria’s Secret Angel, earning $4–5 million annually (2013–2015), and walked for Calvin Klein, earning consistently high fees. However, in 2014, while modeling full-time, she enrolled in coding classes at Flatiron School, recognizing that tech would outlast fashion. She founded Kode With Klossy in 2015, training over 15,000 young women in computer science.
Married to venture capitalist Joshua Kushner (co-founder of Thrive Capital), she gained access to investment opportunities but built her brand independently first. She continues to maintain brand partnerships with Estée Lauder and Adidas, hosts Project Runway, and sits on the boards of tech companies. Her net worth compounds yearly because she has positioned herself beyond the typical lifespan of a model. She earns from multiple streams: brand endorsements, nonprofit board compensation, speaking fees, and investment access.
Notable Work: Victoria’s Secret Angel (2013–2015), Calvin Klein face, 40+ Vogue covers, Kode With Klossy founder, Project Runway host
Key Income: Brand endorsements (Estée Lauder, Adidas), nonprofit board positions, Project Runway hosting fees, speaking engagements, tech company board equity
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11. Miranda Kerr (Australia) – $8–12M/year
Age: 42 | Net Worth: $45–51 million | Nationality: Australian | Height: 5’8.25″ | Instagram: 14M+ followers
Miranda Kerr paved the way for a transition from Victoria’s Secret Angel to a successful entrepreneur. She was the first Australian Victoria’s Secret Angel (2007, replacing Gisele Bündchen). She ranked in the top ten highest-paid models from 2008 to 2016, operating within the tier defined by the highest-paid models in the world. Her wealth compounded significantly when she married Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel in 2017, but her independent wealth comes from KORA Organics, her organic skincare line.
She earned an estimated $6 million annually during her peak years on Forbes’s list (2014–2016). KORA Organics sells through Sephora globally, generating significant recurring revenue. She is one of the highest-earning models in her age bracket because her beauty product equity provides lasting wealth that extends beyond her face’s market value. She represents how models can transition to lasting financial independence through product ownership.
Notable Work: Victoria’s Secret Angel (2007+), Maybelline face, KORA Organics founder and CEO, Clinique Happy fragrance ambassador
Key Income: KORA Organics brand sales and distribution, Sephora partnerships, brand endorsements, beauty brand equity stake
12. Ashley Graham (USA) – $7–10M/year
Age: 38 | Net Worth: $10–15 million | Nationality: American | Height: 5’9.5″ | Instagram: 15M+ followers
Ashley Graham broke the modeling industry’s beauty standards by proving that plus-size models could command top-tier earnings and respect. She was the first plus-size model to appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (2016) and the first to land the cover (2016). Since then, she has leveraged her body-positivity platform into television hosting roles, her memoir, and brand partnerships with Revlon and Target. She founded Swimsuits for All and designed lingerie for Addition Elle.
Her earnings come from modeling campaigns, television appearances, brand endorsements, and her company ventures. She earns an estimated $7 million to $ 10 million annually. As the only body-diversity representative on the list of the world’s highest-paid models, she reflects the industry’s slow shift toward inclusivity. Her success demonstrates that diversity is not only ethically sound but also highly profitable.
Notable Work: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover (first plus-size), Revlon ambassador, Swimsuits for All founder, television host, memoir author
Key Income: Swimsuit line sales, television hosting fees, brand endorsements, memoir royalties, social media deals
13. Joan Smalls (Puerto Rico) – $6–10M/year
Age: 37 | Net Worth: $26–30 million | Nationality: Puerto Rican | Height: 5’10.5″ | Instagram: 6M+ followers
Joan Smalls was the first Latina model to represent Estée Lauder (2011) and entered Forbes’s highest-paid models list in 2013 at number eight, earning over $3 million that year. She was ranked the number one model in the world by Models.com in 2012. She walks for Givenchy, Fendi, Chanel, Prada, and other luxury houses, commanding high day rates from her prestige. Her representation of Latina and Caribbean talent in the elite fashion industry remains significant, and brands value her cultural influence and market access.
She has appeared on over 50 international Vogue covers, cementing her editorial power. While her earnings have fluctuated with age and market changes, she remains among the highest-paid models in the world due to her consistent presence in luxury houses and partnerships with heritage brands. Her career demonstrates that ethnic representation in luxury fashion now carries market value.
Notable Work: First Latina Estée Lauder face, Givenchy exclusive model, 50+ Vogue covers, #1 ranked model (2012), Forbes highest-paid list entrant (2013)
Key Income: Luxury brand runway shows, Estée Lauder partnership, editorial and campaign work, television appearances
14. Doutzen Kroes (Netherlands) – $5–10M/year
Age: 40 | Net Worth: $35 million | Nationality: Dutch | Height: 5’9.25″ | Instagram: 9M+ followers
Doutzen Kroes has achieved the rare feat of remaining highly paid for nearly two decades. She was a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2008 to 2014 and ranked second on Forbes’s highest-paid models list in 2014, earning $8 million that year. She has been a L’Oréal Paris ambassador since 2006, one of her longest-running and most lucrative partnerships to date. She broke records by landing four different international Vogue September covers in a single year (2013).
Her career longevity and consistent booking power reflect her professionalism and universal appeal. Now in her 40s, she remains visible on runways and in campaigns. She’s known in advertising as the “Helen of Troy” of models due to her ability to sell across diverse product categories. Her earnings show that reputation and professionalism can sustain a model’s income long past the industry’s typical peak.
Notable Work: Victoria’s Secret Angel (2008–2014), L’Oréal Paris ambassador (since 2006), 4 Vogue September covers in one year (2013 record), ranked #2 highest-paid model (2014)
Key Income: L’Oréal long-term partnership, runway shows, brand endorsements, advertising campaigns, acting roles
15. Natalia Vodianova (Russia) – $5–10M/year
Age: 43 | Net Worth: $50 million | Nationality: Russian | Height: 5’9″ | Instagram: 4M+ followers
Natalia Vodianova’s rags-to-riches journey (from selling vegetables on the street to supermodel) inspired her philanthropic work, which now enhances her brand value. She signed a seven-figure Calvin Klein contract early in her career and has appeared on over 70 Vogue covers and in more than 200 runway shows. She ranked third on Forbes’s highest-paid models list in 2012, earning $8.6 million that year. This firmly situates her among the highest-paid models in the world.
She founded the Naked Heart Foundation in 2004 to support children with special needs, blending her modeling income with social impact. Her marriage to LVMH executive Antoine Arnault (since 2020) provides access to luxury industry resources, but her independent modeling and foundation work maintain her wealth. Vogue Magazine designated her an “über” model in 2018. Her success shows how philanthropic alignment can keep a model relevant and valuable as she ages.
Notable Work: 70+ Vogue covers, Calvin Klein original face, 200+ runway shows, Naked Heart Foundation founder, UN UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, “über” model designation (Vogue)
Key Income: Runway shows, brand partnerships (Givenchy, Chanel, YSL), Naked Heart Foundation partnerships, speaking engagements, luxury endorsements
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“New Money vs. Old Money” – Net Worth Titans vs. Annual Top Earners
The distinction between who earns the most in a given year and who accumulates the most lifetime wealth reveals two different stories in the modeling industry. The highest-paid models in the world by annual earnings often differ dramatically from the richest models by net worth, reflecting how modeling careers evolve or remain stable over time.
The Net Worth Billionaires: Inherited and Divorced Fortunes
The wealthiest models globally often owe their fortunes to factors beyond modeling talent alone. Slavica Ecclestone holds the record as the richest model ever, with a net worth of $1.2 billion. Still, the majority came from her 2009 divorce settlement from Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone, not runway fees. Although she worked as a model for major designers like Giorgio Armani in the late 1980s, her modeling earnings pale in comparison to the $1.2 billion divorce settlement, which resulted from Bernie’s assets being held in her name as a tax strategy during his health crisis.
Similarly, her daughters, Tamara and Petra Ecclestone, both models and TV personalities, inherited $300 million and $400 million, respectively, from their father’s Formula One fortune, rather than from their independent modeling work. This pattern continues with other models whose wealth stems from marriage rather than income. Rande Gerber, a former male model, has built his $400 million net worth primarily through his tequila brand (sold with George Clooney for nearly $1 billion) and nightlife ventures, rather than modeling contracts.
The Self-Made Beauties: Kathy Ireland and Kylie Jenner
Kathy Ireland stands out as the wealthiest self-made former supermodel. With a net worth of $500 million, her fortune came entirely from business ventures built on her modeling fame. She parlayed her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit popularity into a furniture, clothing, and home goods empire that generates over $2.6 billion in annual retail sales through licensing deals. Unlike models who sell endorsements year to year, Ireland chose to own the brands, earning royalties regardless of her personal involvement.
Kylie Jenner, technically a model and media personality, built a $700–750 million net worth primarily through Kylie Cosmetics, which she sold 51 percent of to Coty for $600 million in 2019. At the age of 21, Forbes briefly named her the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, although the title was revoked after investigators found that the company’s profitability had been overstated. Still, her $700 million wealth demonstrates how a model with social media access can build a billion-dollar-scale business without traditional runway prestige.
The Richest By Legacy: Cindy Crawford and Others
Cindy Crawford, a supermodel icon of the 1990s, shares a $400 million net worth with her husband, Rande Gerber. Her wealth compounds from modeling fees during her peak years (1980s–1990s), endorsements, and business ventures, such as her Meaningful Beauty skincare line, which generated passive income streams decades after her runway days ended.
The Key Difference: Annual Income vs. Accumulated Wealth
The gap between the highest-paid models in the world annually and the richest models by net worth is enormous. In 2025–2026, Kendall Jenner earned $40–60 million annually, but her net worth is only $60 million, suggesting that her wealth grows year by year. In contrast, Gisele Bündchen, despite earning $25–40 million annually, accumulated a $400 million net worth over her 30-year career.
This contrast illustrates a critical insight: being the highest-paid model in a single year does not guarantee wealth accumulation. Many top earners spend heavily or lack business diversification. Models like Gisele, Kathy Ireland, and Kylie, who built lasting fortunes, did so by transitioning from labor (runway work, time-based endorsements) to leverage (equity in beauty brands, real estate appreciation, licensing royalties).
Why This Matters for the 2026 Outlook?
The 2026 model economy is bifurcating. On one side are the annual earners—Kendall, Chrissy, Rosie, Gigi, Bella—pulling massive fees from campaigns, runway work, and social media deals. Their wealth remains impressive but fluid, subject to fluctuations in market demand and the aging out of their peak earning years. On the other side are the wealth builders—Gisele, Kathy Ireland, Miranda Kerr with KORA, Karlie Kloss with Kode With Klossy—who recognized that appearance-based income has a shelf life and pivoted to business ownership.
The richest models in history (Slavica, Kylie, Kathy Ireland, Cindy Crawford, Gisele) all share one thing: they either married billionaires, inherited fortunes, or built businesses independent of their faces. The highest-paid models in 2026 are still primarily trading their time and appearance for fees, rather than building assets that generate income over time. This pattern suggests that the next generation of ultra-wealthy models will be those who, like Kendall and others today, transition early into equity stakes and founder roles rather than remaining solely employee-level model endorsers.
Conclusion
The highest-paid models in the world demonstrate how far modeling has evolved from simple day rates to complex income streams built on brand deals, equity, and global influence. A small group at the top now earns tens of millions each year, while many others in the field still work on modest, unstable incomes, highlighting the sharp divide between supermodels and working models.
What stands out is how the most successful names combine fashion credibility with astute business moves, whether that means launching beauty labels, establishing clothing lines, or securing long-term contracts with major luxury houses. For anyone watching the industry, these careers offer a clear message: lasting wealth comes not just from being highly paid, but from turning that income into assets that continue to grow long after the cameras switch off.
FAQs
Q1. Who is the highest-paid model in 2026?
A. Kendall Jenner is widely reported as the top-earning model, with an estimated annual income in the $40–60 million range from campaigns, endorsements, and her tequila brand.
Q2. How is “highest-paid” different from the “richest” model?
A. Highest-paid refers to what a model earns in a recent year, while richest refers to total net worth built over time from salaries, investments, inheritances, and business ventures.
Q3. Who are the richest models by net worth right now?
A. Names often highlighted include Slavica Ecclestone (divorce settlement billionaire), Kathy Ireland (licensing empire), Kylie Jenner (beauty mogul), Gisele Bündchen, and Cindy Crawford, all with fortunes far above annual top earners.
Q4. How much do regular models make compared to top supermodels?
A. Working fashion and commercial models in the US often earn around $35–45 per hour, while only a tiny group reaches seven- or eight-figure yearly income.
Q5. Which countries produce the highest-paid models?
A. The majority of top earners still come from the United States and Brazil, with strong representation from the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Russia, and China.
