By Bryanne Salazar
8:20am PST, Nov 28, 2018
Tyra Banks wasn't just the face of "America's Next Top Model" for 22 seasons — she also created and co-executive produced the beloved competition show after becoming the first African-American woman to land the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, opening the door for more women of color to follow in her stunning footsteps. She's branched out far beyond the scope of modeling since then to become a producer, author, actress, host and mother who now has an estimated net worth of $90 million. On Dec. 4, 2018, Tyra will celebrate her 45th birthday. In honor of her big day, Wonderwall.com has scoured the runways to find the top models who, like Tyra, have built successful business empires. Keep reading to see who made this exclusive list…
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Heidi Klum is known for her ageless looks, judging prowess on "America's Got Talent" and successful Emmy-winning reality TV show, "Project Runway." Since her days as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model and runway Angel for Victoria's Secret, Heidi has redefined herself as a business-savvy superwoman unafraid of taking on new challenges. Thanks to her career endeavors, the German model-turned-mogul has a net worth of $90 million!
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Christie Brinkley's fame skyrocketed in the late '70s thanks to her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers. The CoverGirl model maintained a steady presence until 2004, when she retired from swimsuit modeling to pursue other lucrative opportunities. Now the 64-year-old mother of three, who's estimated to be worth $250 million, has a flourishing skincare line and an organic prosecco brand, Bellissima, keeping her busy. She also graced the pages of Sports Illustrated again in 2017 with daughters Alexa Ray Joel and Sailor Brinkley Cook.
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Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen isn't just golden hair and enviable cheekbones. She's also one of the top-paid models in the world, with an estimated net worth of $360 million. Aside from being a statuesque mom of two (and step-mom of one) and the wife of one of America's favorite football players, Tom Brady, Gisele has secured modeling contracts with some of the biggest brands around, including H&M, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
Kathy Ireland's beauty defined the '80s and '90s. She graced the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for 13 years in a row — and landed the cover three times, including for its 25th anniversary edition (which happened to be their best selling issue of all time). But Kathy didn't stop there. In 1993, she masterminded her own brand marketing company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, which is now a $2 billion retail empire. She's estimated to be worth $420 million herself and at the age of 55, doesn't seem to slowing down.
Considered "the face of the '80s," Cindy Crawford was one of the first supermodels in the world. She didn't waste her precious fame either. In addition to major contracts with Pepsi, Omega Watches and more, this ageless beauty developed her own companies including a skincare line and a furniture brand. Now a wife and mother of two, Cindy has an estimated net worth of $100 million.
Kimora Lee was just 14 when she began modeling for the elite Chanel brand and became a sensation nearly overnight. After meeting and marrying her first husband, music mogul-turned-fashion entrepreneur Russell Simmons, Kimora launched her first line, "Baby Phat," followed by "Phat Farm," which the couple later sold for $140 million. Aside from her many reality show ventures, Kimora — a mother of four — runs her own high-fashion label, KLS, and has an estimated net worth of $50 million.
Elle Macpherson was smart to trademark her nickname, "The Body" — she later founded an intimate apparel line with the same name — proving she knows exactly how to keep the success train running. Now 54, Elle, who also runs the health and wellness company Welle, is estimated to be worth $95 million.
Naomi Campbell made a name for herself while breaking barriers with her beauty. In 1987, a teenaged Naomi became the first black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue since 1966 and the following year was the first black model ever to grace the cover of French Vogue. The British stunner was one of the top supermodels during her heydey, along with Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista, but unlike many of her contemporaries, Naomi never stopped being an in-demand model and continues to front campaigns and walk runways to this day. She went on to found the Fashion for Relief charity and has dabbled in acting with recurring roles on several series including "Empire" and "American Horror Story." Her current net worth is estimated at around $60 million.
While many know Chrissy Teigen as famed singer John Legend's wife, the mother of two's star had been rising for years before she said "I do." She modeled for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2010 and quickly became known in the industry as a fiery, fun personality with excellent Twitter game. She's hosted TV shows like "Model Employee," "FABlife" and "Lip Sync Battle," launched the blog "So Delushious," published the New York Times best-selling cookbooks "Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat" and ""Cravings: Hungry For More," and launched her BECCA X Chrissy Cravings Collection at Nordstrom as well as a kitchen line at Target. Her estimated net worth is around $13.5 million and climbing.
Brooke Shields started modeling at the tender age of 11 months and has managed to turn her gorgeous good looks and undeniable intelligence into a 50-year career as a model, actress and producer. Now worth an estimated $25 million, Brooke — who made headlines with a Calvin Klein denim campaign as a teen then did an underwear campaign in her Calvins in 2017 — has also collaborated with big-name brands like La-Z-Boy and MAC Cosmetics. She's also still acting, most recently appearing in the 2018 "Murphy Brown" reboot.
Josie Maran was the face of Maybelline for close to a decade as well as a popular Victoria's Secret model who appeared on many magazine covers before shifting career paths to start her own line of cruelty-free cosmetics and skincare. Now the wife, mother of two and business mogul's products are sold on QVC and at Sephora. She has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
Kate Moss was one of the most notorious faces of the '90s. The British model was discovered at just 14 and it didn't take long for her to fully enmesh herself in the Hollywood and Primrose Hill scenes (which included wild partying and various high-profile love affairs). In recent years, Kate — whose teen daughter, Lila, was named the 2018 face of Marc Jacobs — has launched a lifestyle brand as well as an eponymous modeling agency. Her net worth is estimated at $80 million.
Rebecca Romijn got her start in the modeling world in the early '90s but didn't resign herself to one career. She built upon her fame by appearing as a host and later an actress on numerous TV shows including "Just Shoot Me." Now perhaps best known as the blue-skinned superhero-villain Mystique in the first "X-Men" trilogy, this wife and mother of twins has numerous TV projects in the works — and an estimated net worth of around $30 million.
Christy Turlington was considered one of the world's first supermodels, along with Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell. She's modeled for Calvin Klein for nearly 20 years and works with Maybelline cosmetics as one of their most prominent spokeswomen. In 2010, Christy, whose net worth is around $30 million, launched "Every Mother Counts" a nonprofit organization "dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother."
Born in Somalia and later signed by the elite Wilhelmina modeling agency, Iman was one of the most well-known beauties of the '70s and '80s. She later developed her own highly successful cosmetics and skincare line and even ventured into household decor and fashion accessories. In 1992, she married world-famous musician David Bowie, who passed away 2016. The mother of two, who's now estimated to be worth $100 million, spends much of her time advocating for causes like AIDS research and the eradication of poverty.
Considered one of the most accomplished models of all time, Linda Evangelista has appeared on more than 700 magazine covers and worked with major brands like Visa, Mastercard, De Beers Diamonds and more. She recently became the VP and creative director of the Erasa skincare line, which she swears helped her give up Botox. The former model and mother of one is estimated to be worth approximately $25 million.
Beautiful Claudia Schiffer was compared to Hollywood siren Brigitte Bardot at the start of her modeling career. After her first turn on the runway, the German model worked for some of the biggest brands in the world and was once the face of Chanel and Guess. She's even ventured into acting with roles in "Zoolander" and "Love Actually." With a $60 million net worth, Claudia has room to experiment with new business ventures. In 2011, the mother of three partnered with Iris von Arnim to release her own line of high-end cashmere knits.
Molly Sims was an in-demand model who once wore a $30 million bikini in the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She seamlessly transitioned into acting during her modeling heyday, spending five years on the hit series "Las Vegas" as well as guest-starring on various TV shows. She also hosted MTV's "House of Style." Now billed as an actress and producer, Molly's estimated net worth is in the $20 million range. The mother of three currently runs her own lifestyle blog too.
We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister — Kylie Jenner, who was already a well-known reality TV star when she started modeling in 2010. With the 2016 launch of her Kylie Cosmetics brand, which includes her quick-to-sell-out lip kits, Kylie has become the richest sister in her clan. Her estimated net worth, at just 19 years old, is $900 million!
