Top ten highest paid models (+pics)

Gisele Bundchen has been named the highest paid model in the world. Photo / Lili Ferraz - Creative Commons

Brazilian beauty Gisele Bundchen has topped the list of the highest earning models for the seventh year in a row.

Bundchen raked in US$42 million in a year, according to Forbes magazine.

Her massive earnings come from modeling gigs, endorsement deals with H&M, Chanel, Pantene and David Turman and independent business ventures like her own footwear company and lingerie label.

And the business savvy Bundchen is way ahead of her modelling pals.

Coming in a distant second (with six times less in the bank) was Australian Victoria's Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr with an estimated $7.2 million. Her dollars were accumulated with help from her Kora organic beauty range and deals with Qantas, David Jones and Mango.

Two new names made this year's list - Liu Wen (5th) and Joan Smalls (8th). Wen was the first Chinese model to strut her stuff for Victoria's Secret last year and is the face of big brands Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and Estee Lauder. Puerto Rican beauty, Smalls, has inked deals with Givenchy, Fendi, Prabal Gurung and H&M.

Suggesting that sex sells - eight of the top ten are either currently Victoria's Secret Angels or have modeled for a lingerie label. Forbes predicts this trend will carry on, with Karlie Kloss and Kate Upton likely to make their rich list debut in the next 12 months.

Check out the top ten in the gallery below:

Image 1 of 10: 1. Gisele Bundchen - US$42 million (NZ$53.2 million). Photo / Creative Commons

Top ten highest earning models according to Forbes:

1. Gisele Bundchen - US$42 million (NZ$53.2 million).

2. Miranda Kerr - US$7.2 million (NZ$9.12 million).

3. Adriana Lima - US$6 million (NZ$7.6 million).

4. Kate Moss - US$5.7 million (NZ$7.22 million).

5. Liu Wen - US$4.3 million (NZ$5.45 million).

6. Hilary Rhoda - US$4 million (NZ$5.07 million).

7. Carolyn Murphy - US$3.6 million (NZ$4.56 million).

8. Joan Smalls - US$3.5 million (NZ$4.43 million).

9. Candice Swanepoel - US$3.3 million (NZ$4.18 million).

10. Lara Stone - US$3.2 million (NZ$4.05 million).

- www.nzherald.co.nz