Gisele Bündchen earned $47 million in 2014. That alone is a staggering amount, but the real story lies in how that money was made. Because, you see, it was no longer just about runway fees and photo shoots.
The 90s were the era of “supermodels,” right? Cindy, Naomi, Claudia set trends simply by being present. But their business model was simple: contracts with brands, runway shows, campaigns. Today? It’s a whole different league.
Contemporary models are entrepreneurs. They have their own cosmetics lines, collaborate on designing clothes, and negotiate shares in the profits of the companies they work with. Kendall Jenner earns a fortune from beauty campaigns, but also from her influence on social media, where a single post can generate millions in sales. Instagram is their new runway.
And one more thing: Forbes stopped publishing a separate ranking of models after 2018. Now the industry relies on estimates and lists like the Money List from Models.com. That’s why these numbers are sometimes a bit vague, but in the following sections I’ll show you exactly how to calculate them and who truly reigns in this game up to 2026.
The highest-paid models in the world
When you say “the highest-paid model,” what exactly do you mean? It refers to annual gross earnings, before the agency, manager, or lawyer take their share. This is the total income from multiple channels:
- runways and shows
- advertising campaigns
- editorial shoots for magazines
- beauty contracts and perfumes
- commercial endorsements
- licenses and own businesses
- deals with luxury brands
Where do these numbers come from?
Forbes published an annual list of the highest-earning models from 2003 to 2018. Their methodology? Interviews with agents, managers, and estimates based on contracts. After 2018, the list disappeared, at least in this specific form dedicated solely to models.
Now the main point of reference is the Money List on Models.com. They divide models into two categories: “A-Listers” (long-term contract power, prestige) and “High Earners” (commercial volume, number of campaigns). No specific amounts, but with an emphasis on real business power.
Context and perspective
Funny enough, the modeling industry reverses the typical pay gap. Top female models earn many times more than the highest-paid male models. Sean O’Pry, the leading male model in 2013, took home around $1.5 million. Meanwhile, the average female model? Around $41,000 a year. The gap between the elite and the rest is enormous.
Leaders and Milestones 2000-2026
If you want to understand what dominance in modeling means, just look at Gisele Bündchen’s numbers. The Brazilian held the top spot on the Forbes list 14 times (including 12 consecutive years), and her peak came in 2014, when she earned $47 million. What caused this avalanche? Mainly Victoria’s Secret (a multi-year contract worth about $25 million annually), plus Chanel, H&M, Pantene, and licensing for Ipanema flip-flops for Grendene. It was a business model based on mega-contracts and global recognition.
The breakthrough of social media and diversification
In 2017, something changed. Kendall Jenner, with an income of $22 million, pushed Gisele ($17.5 million) into second place, and the following year repeated the feat ($22.9 million vs. $10 million for Gisele). Social media gave Kendall an edge that Gisele found hard to make up with print campaigns. From 2025-2026, Kendall is regularly listed as the leader with estimates of $40-60+ million annually. In 2021, she launched 818 Tequila, and in 2026 Sazerac invested in distribution across the entire USA (plus Estée Lauder, Calvin Klein).
| Year/Period | Leader | Amount/note |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gisele Bündchen | 47 million USD (record) |
| 2017 | Kendall Jenner | 22 million USD (first change) |
| 2018 | Kendall Jenner | 22.9 million USD |
The rest of the list? Karlie Kloss (~$40 million), Chrissy Teigen (~$39 million), Rosie Huntington‑Whiteley (~$32 million), Cara Delevingne (~$31 million). Bella Hadid ($19–25 million, Orebella) and Gigi Hadid (Guest in Residence) show that having your own brand is now the norm. Liu Wen opened up the Chinese market for supermodels, which was previously impossible.
From the runway to an empire
Since the days of the 90s supermodels to today’s multimillion-dollar beauty contracts and cosmetics lines, the definition of “highest-paid model” has completely changed. It’s no longer just about the fee for a show, but the entire empire built around a personal brand. Kendall Jenner earns more on Instagram than on the runway, Gisele owes her fortune to business partnerships, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is building a cosmetics empire. These are no longer just models who earn well, but businesswomen who started out in modeling.
These earning records say something important about contemporary fashion: influence has become more valuable than beauty, and diversification more important than loyalty to a single agency. In a world where one post can be worth more than an entire campaign, the boundaries between fashion and business have simply ceased to exist.
Rexi
High Class Fashion