Beauty, brains and billions — that’s the winning combination that’s made Kathy Ireland the wealthiest supermodel on the planet.
Forbes recognized the iconic model for raking in the most cash through her brands, beating out domestic diva Martha Stewart. According to the magazine, Ireland sold “an astounding $2 billion worth of licensed products at retail, making her a bigger licensor than the formidable Martha Stewart.”
Her Kathy Ireland Worldwide brands include a clothing line, home furnishings, socks, wigs, self-help books and workout videos.
Ireland, 48, no doubt has her modeling career to thank for springing her brands into the billion dollar value. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue three times and graced its pages 13 years in a row from 1984 to 1996. CelebrityNetWorth also named Ireland the richest supermodel in the world with a net worth of $350 million.
When asked whether she had any advice for newest swimsuit issue cover model Kate Upton, Ireland replied, “An agenda is not a bad thing.”
“So many young people say, ‘I’m just going to see what happens.’ It’s so much more powerful to make things happen and have a plan,” Ireland said about Upton’s future plans in the midst of her whirlwind fame.
Ireland was discovered when she was 17. She began working as a model as soon as she finished high school and never attended college. She is married with three children.
