By Jo
Forbes Top Earning Supermodels
“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” Says forbes about one of their highly anticipated celebrity valuations lists. This year some beauties moved up, some down, some off, a few on.
The List includes big names like, the usual Gisele Bundchen – always on top -, Heidi Klum, Kate Moss, Karolina Kurkova and Natalia Vodianova and new comers like Miranda Kerr, Selita Ebanks and Valentina Zelyaeva
1. Gisele Bundchen - $35 Million
The highest-paid model said goodbye to Victoria’s Secret in 2007, but still juggles 20 contracts: Pantene, Disney, Nivea, Vogue eyewear, Aquascutum and a cosmetics giant yet to be named. Her line of Grendene sandals, Ipanema by Gisele, banks her about $6 million a year. And her romance with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady keeps her in the tabloids.
2. Heidi Klum - $14 Million
The second highest-paid model in the world is more of a media and retail mogul. She has renewed her Victoria’s Secret contract, heads up the hit Bravo reality fashion show Project Runway and Germany’s version of America’s Next Top Model. She designs three lines of Mouawad jewelry and a line of Jordache jeans. Has deals with Diet Coke, McDonald’s, Volkswagen and Fontanis water. She’s also coming out with a skincare line.
3. Kate Moss - $7.5 Million
The überwaif lost some important contracts last year, but her fashion line is an international hit. The 34-year-old ended campaigns with Burberry, Stella McCartney, Dior and Versace. But her retail line with British retailer Topshop, carried in 29 countries, keeps her bank account from starving. Other clients include Donna Karan, Longchamp, Agent Provocateur, Yves Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli and Rimmel.
4. Adriana Lima - $7 Million
The Brazilian beauty remains hugely popular on the Web and in her Victoria’s Secret commercials. Maybelline just renegotiated a multiyear deal.
5. Doutzen Kroes - $6 Million
This honey from Holland, 23, makes the longest leap up the list this year thanks to her contracts with Calvin Klein, L’Oréal and Victoria’s Secret. And let’s not forget diamonds with De Beers.
6. Karolina Kurkova - $5 Million
The Victoria’s Secret babe remains one of the lingerie giant’s most important–and highest paid–models. If it seems like this Czech beauty has been around the industry much longer than would it would seem for someone only 23 years old–that is because she hit success young, appearing on Vogue at 16 and bagging her Victoria’s Secret contract at 21. This year, she renegotiated her contract with the lingerie giant, as well as campaigned for Dell and Mexico City-based department store giant Liverpool.
7. Natalia Vodianova - $4.8 Million
This ravishing Russian and mother of three, 26, has been a Calvin Klein muse for longer than any other model, including Kate Moss. She Principio del formularioshe sis the exclusive face of Calvin Klein’s Euphoria fragrance. She also picked up deals with Paris-based beauty giant Guerlain, Chanel, Versace and Diane Von Furstenberg, and continues to model for David Yurman jewelry.
8. Carolyn Murphy - $4.5 Million
The face of Estée Lauder, adorns ads for Anne Klein, Tiffany & Co., Lord & Taylor and Jantzen swimwear.
9. Daria Werbowy - $3.8 Million
This Canadian may not be a household name, but she’s a household face. This striking brunette, 24, is the main visage for beauty behemoth Lancome, but that is far from all. She rotates ad campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel, Valentino, H&M, Missoni and David Yurman jewelry.
10. Miranda Kerr - $3.5 Million
She is Victoria’s Secret’s latest star and also the face of Australian department store David Jones and is dating superstar Orlando Bloom.
11. Isabeli Fontana - $3 Million
This gorgeous Revlon model makes her list debut. Fontana, 24, hasn’t been around too much lately, as she took some time off to raise her two children. But she’s back with a bang, booking campaigns with lingerie lines Passionata and Chantelle, H&M, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Viktor & Rolf fragrance.
11. Gemma Ward - $3 Million
This doll-faced Australian was in the news this year when she was romantically linked to Heath Ledger shortly before his death in January. Tabloids aren’t what get Ward, 21, on the list. It’s her contracts with Japanese cosmetics giant Kose, Valentino, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, Swarovski and Louis Vuitton.
12. Selita Ebanks - $2.7 Million
She is the latest Victoria’s Secret millionaire. Last year, she made her first appearance in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She’s been romantically linked to actor Nick Cannon and New York Giants defensive linesman Osi Umenyiora.
13. Valentina Zelyaeva - $2.3 Million
This classically beautiful Muscovite is the exclusive face of Ralph Lauren and two L’Oréal fragrances.
14. Hilary Rhoda - $2 Million
The new face of Estée Lauder is also hailed as the new face of fashion. The stunning 21-year-old former athlete from Chevy Chase, Md., is the heir to the famous faces of Estée Lauder. She’s a favorite in the pages of Vogue and made waves as the “new” face of fashion with her curvier (for the modeling world) body.
15. Liya Kebede - $1.5 Million
Estée Lauder’s first black model was phased out of the company’s ads last year, but she’s hardly disappeared This 30-year-old Ethiopian groundbreaker hangs on by her manicured fingernails to the list by virtue of contracts with H&M, The Gap, Anne Taylor and Givenchy.
Tags: Adriana Lima, Carolyn Murphy, Daria Werbowy, Doutzen Kroes, Forbes, Gemma Ward, Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, Hilary Rhoda, Isabeli Fontana, Karolina Kurkova, Kate Moss, Liya Kebede, Miranda Kerr, Models, Natalia Vodianova, Selita Ebanks, Supermodels, Top Earning Models, Valentina Zelyaeva
