Kathy Ireland has been named as the richest model in the world after amassing a wealth estimated at some $350 million according to wealth aggregator Forbes. The term "big figure" isn't readily associated with models, but such numbers have been enough for Celebrity Net Worth to place the 48 year-old at the top of the pile.
Discovered aged 17 by the Elite Model Management company, Ireland was already working as a model by the time she graduated from high school in 1981. During her career as a model she was most synonymous with the magazine Sports Illustrated, appearing in its famous swimsuit issue 13 times in a row between 1983 and 1996, and appearing on the front cover three times - tying a record held by Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs. An issue that traditionally boosts the profile of those on the cover immeasurably - with everyone from Tyra Banks to Heidi Klum having featured - it's a feat that is far from insubstantial.
As a business woman however Ireland has been equally successfully, Ireland making her first move as an entrepreneur in 1993 by launching her own line of socks through Kmart, proving so successful that they ended up working together on a full clothing line. She has since gone on to set up her own company Kathy Ireland Worldwide which now sells products at over 60,000 worldwide locations in 15 countries.