Forbes list of the world's highest-paid models explained

This is a list of the highest-paid models—applicable to either sex— in the world as ranked by Forbes magazine. For measurement, the magazine used pretax earnings, and fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted, based on the report of 2018. The estimated figures are based on interviews with managers, agents, brand executives, and industry experts. Models income came from multiples entries, including endorsements, licensing ventures, runway shows, and commercial catalogs.

The lists are nearly exclusive to female models, as the magazine rarely compiles a list based on male models—the last time being in 2013.^[1] The modeling industry is a women-dominated sector, one of the few industries where the gender pay gap is reversed, where male models typically earn far less than their counterparts. According to PayScale in 2013, female models had an average salary of $41,300, earning 148% more than male models.^[2] By 2008, a successful male model could earn a mid-six-figure range, maxing out around $500,000 a year.

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen was the highest-ranked model on Forbes earning lists till 2017 before being overtaken by Kendall Jenner, in different measurements, including the largest string of appearances on the top, and the highest sum registered ($47 million in 2014). Sean O'Pry has the highest sum reported by Forbes for a male model in a year ($1.5 million in 2013).

Highest-paid models by year

2022

The 2022 list:^[3]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		United States	$40 million
2		Brazil	$33 million
3		United Kingdom	$32 million
4		United Kingdom	$31 million
5		Brazil	$30 million

2021

The 2021 list:^[4]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		United States	$40 million
2		Brazil	$30 million
3		United Kingdom	$19 million
4		United Kingdom	$9 million
5		United States	$9 million

2020

The 2020 list:^[5]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		United States	$40 million
2		United States	$39 million
3		United Kingdom	$32 million
4		Brazil	$31 million
5		United Kingdom	$31 million

2018

The 2018 list:^[6]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		United States	$22.5 million
2		United States	$13 million
3		United States	$11.5 million
4		United Kingdom	$11.5 million
5		Brazil	$10 million
		United Kingdom	$10 million

2017

The 2017 list:^[7]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		United States	$22 million
2		Brazil	$17.5 million
3		United States	$13.5 million
4		Brazil	$10.5 million
5		United States	$9.5 million

2016

The 2016 list:^[8]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$30.5 million
2		Brazil	$10.5 million
3		United States	$10 million
4		United States	$10 million
5		Australia	$9 million
		United States	$9 million

2015

The 2015 list:^[9]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$44 million
2		United Kingdom	$9 million
3		Brazil	$9 million
4		Netherlands	$7.5 million
5		Russia	$7 million

2014

The 2014 list:^[10]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$47 million
2		Netherlands	$8 million
3		Brazil	$8 million
4		United Kingdom	$7 million
5		United States	$7 million
		Australia	$7 million
		China	$7 million

2013

The 2013 list:^[11]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$42 million
2		Australia	$7.2 million
3		Brazil	$6 million
4		United Kingdom	$5.7 million
5		China	$4.3 million

The 2013 list (male models):^{[2] [12]}

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		United States	$1.5 million
2		United Kingdom	$1.4 million
3		Canada	$1.1 million
4		Russia	$905,000
5		Canada	$740,000

2012

The 2012 list:^[13]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$45 million
2		United Kingdom	$9.2 million
3		Russia	$8.6 million
4		Brazil	$7.3 million
5		Netherlands	$6.9 million

2011

The 2011 list:^[14]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$45 million
2		Germany	$20 million
3		United Kingdom	$14.5 million
4		Brazil	$8 million
5		Brazil	$5 million

2010

The 2010 list:^[15]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$25 million
2		Germany	$16 million
3		United Kingdom	$9 million
4		Brazil	$7.5 million
5		Netherlands	$6 million

2009

The 2009 list:^[16]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$25 million
2		Germany	$16 million
3		United Kingdom	$8.5 million
4		Brazil	$8 million
5		Netherlands	$6 million

The 2009 list (male models) also known as "World's Most Successful Male Models" list:^[17]

Rank	Name	Nationality
1		United States
2		Canada
3		United Kingdom
4		United Kingdom
5		United States

2008

The 2008 list:^[18]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$35 million
2		Germany	$14 million
3		United Kingdom	$7.5 million
4		Brazil	$7 million
5		Netherlands	$6 million

The 2008 list (male models), also known as "World's Most Successful Male Models" list:^[19]

Rank	Name	Nationality
1		Canada
2		Denmark
3		Canada
4	Cole Mohr	United States
5	Nick Snider	United States

2007

The 2007 list:^[20]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$33 million
2		United Kingdom	$9 million
3		Germany	$8 million
4		Brazil	$6 million
5		Brazil	$6 million

2006

The 2006 list:^[21]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$33 million
2		United Kingdom	$9 million
3		Germany	$8 million
4		Brazil	$6 million
5		Brazil	$6 million

2005

The 2005 list:^[22]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$15.2 million
2		Germany	$7.5 million
3		United States	$6 million
4		United Kingdom	$5 million
5		Brazil	$4.5 million

2004

The 2004 list:^[23]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1			$10.5 million
2		Brazil	$10 million
3		Germany	$8 million
4		United States	$5 million
5		United States	$4 million

2003

The 2003 list:^[24]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Brazil	$12.8 million
2		Germany	$8.2 million
3			$7.6 million
4		United States	$7.2 million
5		United States	$6.8 million

2000

The 2000 list:^[26]

Rank	Name	Nationality	Earnings
1		Germany	$9 million
2		United States	$8.5 million
3		Brazil	$8 million
4		United States	$6.3 million
5		United States	$5.5 million

Further reading

• There’s a huge pay disparity between male and female supermodels — Fortune (2015)
• Why Do Female Models Make More Than Male Models? — ABC News (2013)
• Why Canada's Simon Nessman, one of the highest paid male models ever, has left the catwalk — CBC.ca (2017)

Notes and References

1. The World's Highest-Paid Models 2016: Karlie Kloss And Kendall Jenner Storm Top Three With $10 Million Apiece. Robehmed. Natalie. August 30, 2016. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204001038/https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2016/08/30/the-worlds-highest-paid-models-2016-karlie-kloss-and-kendall-jenner-storm-top-three-with-10-million-apiece/?sh=3ba9edd2150f. live.
2. The World's Top-Earning Male Models Of 2013. Le. Vanna. October 8, 2013. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203234656/https://www.forbes.com/sites/vannale/2013/10/08/the-worlds-highest-paid-male-models-2013-oprys-1-5m-still-far-from-giseles-42m/?sh=5a02f9727bd5. live.
3. Web site: Meet the highest-paid models in the world for year 2022. Mason. Courtney. July 26, 2022. December 3, 2023. L'Officiel. Malaysia. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204023341/https://www.lofficielmalaysia.com/fashion/highest-paid-models-in-the-world-kendall-jenner-gisele-bundchen. live.
4. Web site: How the five highest-paid models in 2021 made their money, from Gigi Hadid to Adriana Lima. Maisey. Sarah. May 13, 2022. December 3, 2023. The National. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204023342/https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2022/05/13/how-the-five-highest-paid-models-in-2021-made-their-money/. live.
5. Web site: Watch: World's Highest Paid Models of 2020. Agarwal. Sejal. May 31, 2021. December 3, 2023. Ed Times. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204023342/https://edtimes.in/watch-worlds-highest-paid-models-of-2020/. live.
6. Web site: Highest-Paid Models 2018: Kendall Jenner Leads With $22.5 Million. Robehmed. Natalie. December 13, 2018. December 3, 2023. Forbes. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203214459/https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2018/12/13/highest-paid-models-2018-kendall-jenner-leads-with-22-5-million/?sh=37dfdba93ddf. live.
7. Web site: The World's Highest-Paid Models 2017. Robehmed. Natalie. November 20, 2017. December 3, 2023. Forbes. 13–22. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203215848/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/59f65cc231358e542c04644e/1-kendall-jenner/?sh=10053af1667d. live.
8. Web site: The World's Highest-Paid Models 2016. Robehmed. Natalie. September 15, 2016. December 3, 2023. Forbes. 30–40. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203215847/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45efimh/1-gisele-bundchen/?sh=3cbda1627093. live.
9. Web site: The World's Highest-Paid Models 2015. Barton. Merrilee. September 1, 2015. December 3, 2023. Forbes. 2–11. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223949/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/55e5e636e4b0ffa7afe44c57/1-gisele-bundchen/?sh=1b21a9643eb4. live.
10. Web site: The World's Highest-Paid Models 2014. Robehmed. Natalie. August 18, 2014. December 3, 2023. Forbes. 3–30. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223950/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/emjl45jlde/gisele-bundchen-3/?sh=7545698748d7. live.
11. Web site: The World's Highest-Paid Models Of 2013. Le. Vanna. August 19, 2013. December 3, 2023. Forbes. 1–11. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223950/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/eimi45mdj/no-1-gisele-bndchen/?sh=12c0f8e446ed. live.
12. Web site: The World's Highest-Paid Male Models Of 2013. Le. Vanna. October 8, 2013. December 3, 2023. Forbes. 1–9. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203234656/https://www.forbes.com/pictures/eimi45mlh/no-3-simon-nessman-1-1m/?sh=6f5e258d6309. live.
13. Web site: The World's Highest Paid Models. Solomon. Brian. July 14, 2012. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. June 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120619225925/http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2012/06/14/the-worlds-highest-paid-models/. live.
    • Web site: World's highest-paid supermodels in 2012. November 21, 2012. December 3, 2023. Yahoo! Finance. 1–15. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223949/https://finance.yahoo.com/photos/world-s-most-highly-paid-supermodels-in-2012-slideshow.html. live.
14. Web site: The World's Top-Earning Models. Blankfeld. Keren. Steven. Bertoni. May 5, 2011. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. November 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231119221941/https://www.forbes.com/2011/05/05/top-earning-models.html. live.
    • Web site: 10 Highest Paid Supermodels 2011. May 10, 2011. December 3, 2023. Fox Business. 1–11. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223949/https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/10-highest-paid-supermodels-2011. live.
15. Web site: Slide Show: The World's 10 Top-Earning Models. May 13, 2010. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223949/https://www.forbes.com/2010/05/12/top-earning-models-business-entertainment-models_slide.html?sh=5a0b6b801f9f. live.
16. Web site: In Pictures: The World's Top-Earning Models. May 27, 2009. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203223949/https://www.forbes.com/2009/05/27/moss-bundchen-klum-business-media-models_slide.html?sh=6d5f5fc218bb. live.
17. Web site: In Pictures: The Most Successful Male Models. June 6, 2009. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204001041/https://www.forbes.com/2009/06/26/male-models-fashion-business-media-models_slide.html?sh=b2503bc26a62. live.
18. Web site: In Pictures: The World's 15 Top-Earning Models. Kiri. Blakeley. April 30, 2008. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. April 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230416004415/https://www.forbes.com/2008/04/30/models-bundchen-klum-biz-media-cz_kb_0430topmodels_slide.html. live.
19. Web site: The World's Most Successful Male Models. Streib. Lauren. May 7, 2008. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. April 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230423050640/https://www.forbes.com/2008/05/05/fashion-modeling-magazines-biz-media-cz_ls_0506malemodels.html. live. Web site: In Pictures: The World's 10 Most Successful Male Models. Streib. Lauren. May 7, 2008. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204001039/https://www.forbes.com/2008/05/05/fashion-modeling-magazines-biz-media-cz_ls_0506malemodels_slide.html?sh=1c5986ac3b47. live.
20. Web site: In Pictures: The World's Top-Earning Models. Kiri. Blakeley. July 9, 2007. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203230005/https://www.forbes.com/2007/07/09/models-media-bundchen-biz-media-cz_kb_0716topmodels1_slide.html?sh=7d7707f46a24. live.
21. Web site: Forbes Top Fifteen Richest Models. July 18, 2007. December 3, 2023. Houston Chronicle. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203230004/https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/forbes-top-fifteen-richest-models-28900.php. live.
22. Web site: The World's Best-Paid Supermodels. Lacey. Rose. February 1, 2006. December 3, 2023. Forbes. subscription. December 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203230004/https://www.forbes.com/2006/03/03/best-paid-supermodels_cx_lr_0131supermodel.html?sh=3cca841d128c. live.
23. Web site: Milla: The world's richest model. July 28, 2004. December 3, 2023. Rediff.com. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204023341/https://www.rediff.com/money/2004/jul/28look.htm. live.
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25. Web site: Forbes Celebrity 100: 2002. 2002. December 3, 2023. Forbes. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204021030/https://www.forbes.com/celebrities2002/LIR2VPP.html?datatype=Person&passListId=53&passListType=Person&passYear=2002&uniqueId=2VPP. live.
26. Web site: The Business of Modeling. February 28, 2001. December 3, 2023. ABC News. December 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231204043213/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=88553&. live.