Gisele Bündchen; Tops world's highest paid supermodel of 2013

Gisele Bündchen Tops Highest-Paid Supermodels List: 33-year-old Gisele Bündchen topped Forbes's 2013 highest-paid models list, cashing in at $42 million. 

The model, who has led the list for seven consecutive years, made almost seven times as much as second-ranking Miranda Kerr (who earned $7.2 million in 2013), and even earned a bit more than quarterback husband Tom Brady (who only earned $38.3 million). In 2013, Bündchen fronted campaigns for H&M, Chanel, and David Yurman, and gave birth to second child Vivian. 

Take Gisele Bündchen, who leads the pack for the seventh year in a row with $42 million in earnings, seven times as much as second-place Miranda Kerr (and a bit more than quarterback husband Tom Brady’s $38.3 million).

Bündchen’s earnings may be off $3 million from last year’s total, but the 33-year-old Brazilian has enjoyed a sharp rise in fortune since 2009, when she led the list with $25 million. This is in part due to her successful partnership with Grendene, the Brazilian footwear company, in which she owns a stake.

Since 2012, Grendane’s shares have more than doubled, pushing its valuation to a five-year high. The supermodel mom makes millions from her eco-friendly cosmetics company, Sejaa, and multi-year contracts with international campaigns like Pantene, Oral-B and Sky HDTV.

Our earnings estimates are based on editorial shoots, independent licensing ventures, spokesperson gigs and contracts from beauty and fashion companies from June 2012 to June 2013.

Kerr pulled in $7.2 million in the 12 months ending in June, leaping up the rankings from No. 7 last year, when she earned $4 million. The Australian model first strapped on a pair of Victoria’s Angels wings in 2007. 

Now, at 30, she’s expanded her portfolio with contracts with Quantas, David Jones and Mango. Like Bündchen and many other models on our list, Kerr is trying to cash in on booming markets outside of the States. In Asia, the launch of her skincare line, Kora, and deals to pitch Lipton Tea and P&G detergent brand Bold helped her move up our list this year.

“Because international exposure is so much greater in value, there’s been this sudden shift in the industry where models are all finding ways to expand their brands and partnerships. It’s a smart business model for them,” says Ed Razek, president and chief marketing office of Limited Brands, Victoria’s Secret’s parent company.

Victoria’s Secret still cultivates much of the top echelon of talent in the modeling business. Six of the 10 women on this year’s list either have Angel contracts, or have appeared in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Once known for handing out outsized contracts, Victoria’s Secret has ratcheted back over the years, and multi-year agreements have become a rarity.