2 posts tagged “gisele bundchen”

In the words of supermodel and Project Runway host Heidi Klum: In fashion, one day you're in and the next you're out. One could say the same about Forbes.com's 2008 list of the World's Top-Earning Models. Some beauties moved up, some down, some off, a few on.

Then there's Gisele Bundchen, still entrenched firmly in the No. 1 spot with an estimated $35 million in earnings, more than double the $14 million banked by Heidi Klum, who came in second. The 15 models on our list were ranked primarily by estimated earnings over the past 12 months. Where necessary, prestige and relevancy of campaigns, editorials, fashion magazine covers and the opinion of those in the industry were taken into account.

Rounding out the top five are usual suspects Heidi Klum ($14 million), Kate Moss ($7.5 million), Adriana Lima ($7 million) and surprise addition Doutzen Kroes ($6 million). The 23-year-old honey from Holland made a long-legged leap up the charts from her second-to-last position last year. In 2008, the Calvin Klein and L'Oréal face expanded her deals and also hit the modeling mother lode: a Victoria's Secret contract.

"I wish we had snapped her up a long time ago," says Edward Razek, who has been selecting the company's models for a decade. Her agent, David Bonnouvrier, compares Kroes to Christy Turlington, another Calvin Klein muse. "It's that type of beauty," he says.

Bundchen may have ended her Victoria's Secret run, but her $5 million a year record-setting contract didn't expire until the end of December 2007, allowing much of it to be included in this year's tally. Even without the lingerie giant, the Brazilian bombshell continues to bag multiyear, multimillion-dollar contracts, most notably as the new face of Pantene and a cosmetics powerhouse that can't be named until July.

German übermodel Heidi Klum is smiling at No. 2 by virtue of not only her television success as host and executive producer of Bravo's (soon to be Lifetime's) "Project Runway," and as the host of Germany's version of "America's Next Top Model," but with a slew of campaigns and partnerships including ones with Diet Coke, Jordache and Mouawad jewelry. In her home country, there's new deals with McDonald's, Volkswagen and hair care giant Schwarzkopf.

Waif icon Kate Moss tripped up a bit last year by ending contracts with Burberry, Stella McCartney, Dior and Versace. But her eponymous clothing line with British retailer Topshop is a hit in 29 countries, including the U.K., the U.S., and Russia. With a yearly guarantee fee and royalties, Moss' fashion cents banks her in an extra estimated $2 million a year.

Victoria's Secret made millionaires of two newcomers: Miranda Kerr and Selita Ebanks, striking poses at Nos. 10 and 12, respectively. "Selita has a stunning smile and is a great on-camera spokeswoman," enthuses Razek. "Miranda's got the cheeks of a chipmunk, the smile of an angel and the body of a devil."

Fresh to the list is Revlon model Isabeli Fontana, who, at 24, has come out of semi-retirement after having two children. Fontana also poses for H&M, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. Rounding up the newbies is Russian Valentina Zelyaeva, the exclusive model for Ralph Lauren and the face of two L'Oréal fragrances.

A noticeable drop-off is last year's No. 5, Victoria's Secret angel Alessandra Ambrosio, who took a break from bikinis due to her baby bulge. Liya Kebede was edged out of Estée Lauder, pushing her five places down to last place.

Gisele Bundchen

Models are the new athletes!

Gisele Bundchen rakes in $33 million a year, the new Forbes list of the top 15 richest supermodels says.

That makes the Brazilian-born West Villager better paid than New York's most famous slugger, Alex Rodriguez (at least for now), who is signed to a 10-year, $250 million contract.

All 15 of the Forbes foxes rake in $1.5 million or more a year - which means each earns more than the average Mets player.

Kate Moss, 33, who comes in second to Bundchen, pulls in $9 million from her various contracts. Victoria's Secret models Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio come next, earning between $6 million and $8 million annually.

Alex Rodriguez

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Though supermodels earn more than ever, they don't have the name recognition of the greats a decade ago, like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Elle Macpherson. And, most, with the exception of Hilary Rhoda, 20, and Carolyn Murphy, 31, are from outside the U.S.

Models make money by scoring big ad campaigns and contracts. While runway shows may gain them recognition, they don't pay as well ($250 an hour) and only happen a few times a year.

Bundchen is so successful because she stars in nearly 20 campaigns a year and licenses her name out to a Brazilian shoe company. She also is the lead model for cash cow Victoria's Secret, which pays her $5 million a year to walk in their shows and pose in their catalogues.

Russian-born Natalia Vodianova, who made her name with Calvin Klein, earns $4.5 million. Czech Victoria's Secret model Karolina Kurkova and Canadian Daria Werbowy - the bug-eyed face of Lancome - each make about $3.5 million. They are followed by the list's youngest model, 19-year-old Gemma Ward, who pulls in $3 million.

Beauty & big bucks

Gisele Bundchen, 26: $33M

Kate Moss, 33: $9M

Heidi Klum, 34: $8M

Adriana Lima, 26: $6M

Alessandra Ambrosio, 26: $6M

Carolyn Murphy, 31: $5M

Natalia Vodianova, 25: $4.5M

Karolina Kurkova, 23: $3.5M

Daria Werbowy, 22: $3.5M

Gemma Ward, 19: $3M