Just before NYFW kicks off, Forbes magazine’s top 20 highest paid models list for 2016 has been released, and just in case you still have questions, yes it still pays to be insanely beautiful. It pays a lot actually. In fact these models earned a massive $154 million in counting. They also netted close to 200 million Instagram followers, so being tall and beautiful for a living makes you popular as well as rich. Not that this is anything new you know, almost all glamazon women are paid you know.
As for the top earners, the Brazilians still rule, although retired, Gisele Bundchen once again reins number one on Forbes‘ annual list of the highest-paid models. The 35-year-old runway phenomenon has snagged the top spot since 2002 and crushed her second place runner-up Adriana Lima by a whopping $20 million USD. Moreover, Kendall Jenner and Karlie Kloss tied for third place with a cool $10 million USD a piece. To think that it was only a year ago when Jenner entered the coveted list with 16th place ranking, but a year later, the 20-year-old rose to one of the top spots on the list. Check out the full list down below.
Gisele Bunchden
- $30.5 million
Not only is Gisele the current wealthiest supermodel in the world—thanks primarily to lucrative contracts with brands like Chanel, Carolina Herrera, and Pantene—she’s also made more money than any other model since 2002.
Adriana Lima
- $10.5 million
As for Lima, she notched the number two spot, not to mention her biggest-ever annual paycheck, thanks to lucrative deals with brands like Victoria’s Secret (for which she is the longest running Angel), Maybelline, and IWC watches.
Kendall Jenner
- $10 million
In a tie for third place are Karlie Kloss and Kendall Jenner with $10 million apiece. This is Jenner’s second year on the list, but first on the (figurative) podium. A feat achieved thanks to a 150 percent increase in her earnings, making her the biggest gainer year-over-year.
Karlie Kloss
- $10 million
Kloss, for her part, doubled her earnings since 2015 and has more campaigns than anyone else on the list. In all, she advertised for 18 different brands.
Gigi Hadid
- $9 million
Sharing the number five spot are Gigi Hadid and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley with $9 million each. This is Hadid’s first appearance on the list and, like her squad-pal Jenner; she can thank social media for helping her get there.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
- $9 million
Huntington-Whitely clocked up most of her millions thanks to a cut of the royalties from her line of fragrances, lingerie, and make-up for English department store Marks & Spencers.
- Cara Delevingne: $8.5 million
- Candice Swanepoel and Liu Wen: $7 million
- Miranda Kerr: $6 million
- Natalia Vodianova and Lara Stone: $5.5 million
- Doutzen Kroes, Kate Moss and Alessandra Ambrosio: $5 million
- Joan Smalls: $4.5 million
- Lily Aldridge, Barbara Palvin, Jasmine Tookes and Taylor Hill: $4 million
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