Gisele Bundchen Leads Super Models

Heidi Klum and Kate Moss Next on Forbes Top 15 List

Jul 16, 2008 Carroll Trosclair

Here are the world's super earning models. They come from 10 different countries, with Brazil, the USA, Russia and Australia leading the way.

The world’s super advertising models are a unique collection of beautiful, mostly mature women, 40 percent of whom already have one, two or three children. The 2008 top 15, as ranked by Forbes Magazine according to their estimated modeling income, represent 10 different nations.

Brazil leads all nations with the first, fourth and 11th-ranked models. Two of the other 15 women are Russian, two Australian and two American. The other six are from Germany, England, Holland, Czechoslovakia, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. The two Americans are from Florida and Maryland.

There were no Asians or Africans in the Forbes group. Thirty-year-old Leya Kebedi of Ethopia just missed the top 15 with estimated income of $1.5 million.

Gisele Bundchen Top Earner with $35 Million

The modeling income of the top 15, as reported by Forbes, ranged from $35 million for top ranked Gisele Bundchen of Brazil, to $2 million for 15th ranked Hilary Rhoda of Maryland. The total earnings of the top 15 were estimated at $105.6 million.

Their ages in July 2008 ranged from 21 (Rhoda and Gemma Ward of Australia) to 34 for second-ranked Heidi Klum of Germany and No. 3 Kate Moss of England. Eighth-ranked Carolyn Murphy, 32, of Florida, was the only other thirtysomething.

Klum, sixth-ranked Karolina Kushova of Czechoslovakia and No. 7 Natalia Vodianova of Russia each have three children. Isabel Fontana of Brazil has two.

Tall, Thin Women

These are tall, thin women. Rhoda, Kushova and ninth-ranked Daria Werbowy of Canada are the tallest at five feet eleven inches. Third ranked Kate Moss of England is the shortest at 5 feet six inches and is the only one under 5-9.

Nine of the models have blue eyes. Thirteenth-ranked Selita Ebanks of the Cayman Islands has dark brown eyes, the only one with dark eyes. The others describe their eyes as green, blue green or hazel.

Bundchen's family moved from Germany to Brazil several generations ago. She is a twin and one of six girls in her family. She modeled for Victoria's Secret for nearly eight years before resigning in 2007. She told People Magazine that she was in the mood for a change.

"People have a perception of me because of Victoria's Secret that I'm sexy, but I'm not a sexy girl. I'm very tomboyish."

The Forbes Top 15

Here’s how Forbes ranked the top models by income.

• 1--Gisela Bundchen, Brazil, $35 million
• 2--Heidi Klum, Germany, $14 million
• 3--Kate Moss, England, $9 million
• 4--Adriana Lima, Brazil, $7 million
• 5--Doutzen Kroes, Holland, $6 million
• 6--Karolina Kurkona, Czech Republic, $5 million
• 7--Natatalia Vodianova, Russia, $4.8 million
• 8--Carolyn Murphy, United States, $4.5 million
• 9--Daria Werbowy, Canada, $3.8 million
• 10--Miranda Kerr, Australia, $3.5 million
• 11 (tie) --Isabel Fontana, Brazil, and Gemma Ward, Australia, $3 million each
• 13--Selia Ebanks, Cayman Islands, $2.7 million
• 14--Valentina Zelyaem, Russia, $2.3 million
• 15--Hilary Rhoda, United States, $2 million

References:

Forbes Magazine June 11, 2008

People.com

The copyright of the article Gisele Bundchen Leads Super Models in Advertising is owned by Carroll Trosclair. Permission to republish Gisele Bundchen Leads Super Models in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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