Supermodels making more money than ever

Most of the increase went to the big three of the modeling world, (from left) Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, who have moulded themselves into moguls in their own right, or morphed into pop icons, or both. -- PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS, AP

SHOWBIZ : NEW YORK - US UNEMPLOYMENT might still be hovering near 10 per cent, but don't worry about the supermodels.

The world's 10 top-earning models pulled in a collective US$112 million (S$138 million) during the past year, a 30 per cent increase from the previous year, thanks in part to consumers spending again on the luxury sector, according to Forbes.com.

But most of the increase went to the big three of the modeling world, Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, who have moulded themselves into moguls in their own right, or morphed into pop icons, or both.

Bundchen, who raked in US$45 million or nearly double the previous year, is 'in a class by herself,' Edward Razek, Limited Brands' chief marketing officer who worked with her during her Victoria's Secret career, told Forbes.

'She's an international icon who can also move products from shampoo to couture,' Razek said.

The Brazilian supermodel was even cited during last month's third-quarter earnings call from Procter & Gamble, owing to a 40 per cent spike in Latin American sales of its Pantene shampoo once Bundchen starting hawking it, according to Forbes.com. -- REUTERS

Sponsored Link

Gisele Bundchen

Heidi Klum

kate moss

Gisele Bundchen: 2008 Richest Supermodel

In Forbes annual list of the World's Top-Earning Models for this year, some models move up, some down, some off, while some on.

Gisele Bundchen belongs to those who stay firmly on their position and not likely to change. She still reigns the first position and becomes the richest supermodel, being estimated to earn more than $35 million last year.

Birth Name :
Gisele Caroline Nonnenmacher Bundchen

Birth Date :
July 20, 1980

Birth Place :
Horizontina, Brazil

Popular for :
As the four-time Vogue Magazine covergirl in 1999


Embrace the second position is Heidi Klum, who has earned $14 million, not more than half of what Gisele has.

Name :
Heidi Klum

Birth Date :
June 01, 1973

Birth Place :
Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany

Popular for :
Model for Sports Illustrated magazine and Victoria's Secret catalog



Following Klum are Kate Moss ($7.5 million), and Adriana Lima ($7 million).

Doutzen Kroes, who earned $6 million, makes a great leap up the list from the second-to-last position to the fifth. Apparently, in 2008 she has signed a deal with Victoria's Secret. Concerning this, Edward Razek, who has been selecting the company's models for a decade commented, "I wish we had snapped her up a long time ago." Forbes's World's Top-Earning Models list was ranked primarily by estimated earnings over the past 12 months.

In other Gisele news, she 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. Moreover, she has signed multi million-dollar contracts as the new face of Pantene and a cosmetics powerhouse that can't be named until July.