Forbes Announces The 20 Highest Paid Models Of The Year

Forbes has just released its highest paid models list for 2016, featuring the latest and greatest faces of fashion. 

 

Unsurprisingly, Gisele Bundchen, 36, came in a number one on the list for the 14th year running. Yes, one-four. Forbes reports that the Brazilian beauty has been unbeaten in her earnings since 2002, and after raking in Dhs112,031,075 this year alone, it’s not hard to see why. Though she retired from the catwalk, Gisele’s income is largely generated from campaigns, which she has fronted for Carolina Herrera and Chanel among others this past year. 

 

Gisele’s fellow Brazilian native Adriana Lima, 35, came in second with total earnings of Dhs73.5 million (her best year yet) thanks to her standing as Victoria’s Secret’s longest-serving Angel, plus contracts with Maybelline and IWC Watches. 

 

The rise of the social media model is well and truly complete, with Kendall Jenner placing third on the list with earnings of Dhs36.7 million, which Forbes reports is a whopping 150% increase on her 2015 pay packet. Karlie Kloss tied with the KUWTK star, doubling her earnings from last year through “booking more campaigns than any other model.” 

 

Kendall’s best friend Gigi Hadid tied for fifth place with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, with both beauties earning Dhs33.1 million over the past 365 days. 

 

Ivan Bart, the president of IMG Models (who rep Gigi), told Forbes, “Models, YouTube and social media stars – this is their era,” and Chris Gay, the president of Society Management (who Jenner is signed with) agrees. “Our business has changed. These models have become more and more influential because they are conduits of media – not only somebody who can be the face of the campaign but a powerful means to distribute it.” 

 

Being contracted with Victoria’s Secret is clearly a career coup for more reasons than just global exposure, with 30% of this year’s list signed on with the lingerie giant, including Taylor Hill, Lily Aldridge and Jasmine Tookes all making the cut this year having earned more than Dhs14.7 million each. 

 

In total, the top 20 models raked in a combined Dhs565,665,100 in the past year. Now that’s a beautiful payday.