How Gisele Bündchen became the highest-paid model in the world

Despite no longer being one of the most in-demand models, Gisele Bündchen continues to make a significant impact in the fashion industry. In February, BOSS announced the Brazilian supermodel as the face of their Spring/Summer 2024 campaign, creating a splash with a 33-foot (10-meter) holographic display of Bündchen at the Tower Bridge in London. Bündchen is also featured in the brand's Fall/Winter collection, titled 'It's For Life,' a fitting tribute to her enduring influence on the fashion world.

28 / 30 Fotos

Forever Gisele! -

Bündchen may have said goodbye to her position as the highest-paid model in the world, but her legacy and influence are priceless.

Sources: (Vogue) (Vanity Fair) (Forbes) (BORGEN Magazine)

29 / 30 Fotos

Getty Images

0 / 30 Fotos

Roots - Gisele Bündchen was born to a family of German descendants in the city of Horizontina in the northeast region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

1 / 30 Fotos

Family - Her parents are named Valdir Bündchen and Vânia Nonnenmacher. She has five sisters: Raquel, Graziela, Gabriela, Rafaela, and her fraternal twin, Patrícia.

2 / 30 Fotos

Volleyball player -

When she was a teenager, Bündchen dreamed of becoming a professional volleyball player.

Getty Images

3 / 30 Fotos

Her start - The now famous model was discovered when she was just 13 years old. Believe it or not, it was actually while she was at a McDonald's!

4 / 30 Fotos

Contest -

Getty Images

5 / 30 Fotos

6 / 30 Fotos

Magazines - She was featured on the covers of various teen magazines.

7 / 30 Fotos

Nose - She faced rejection from several potential clients because her nose was considered too big.

8 / 30 Fotos

Runway show - Her big break came in 1997, when she scored a spot in Alexander McQueen's show in London.

9 / 30 Fotos

Über-model - In 1999, Vogue dubbed her "the return of the sexy model." Bündchen also became known specifically as the "über-model." The term comes from German and means "above" or "beyond."

10 / 30 Fotos

Vogue compliments - In 1999, the model was awarded Model of the Year at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.

11 / 30 Fotos

Most beautiful - She was also named "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" by Rolling Stone magazine.

12 / 30 Fotos

Victoria's Secret - The famous Victoria's Secret runway show premiered in 1995 and was televised for the first time in 2001. Bündchen became an Angel in 2000.

13 / 30 Fotos

Victoria's Secret Angel - Gisele Bündchen was an Angel from 2000 to 2007. She stopped participating in the show after that.

14 / 30 Fotos

15 / 30 Fotos

Multilingual - The model is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and, of course, Portuguese, her native tongue.

16 / 30 Fotos

Movies - Gisele Bündchen has had roles in several movies, including 'Taxi' (2004) with Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah.

17 / 30 Fotos

Movies -

Though it's probably not as shocking, she also appeared briefly in 'The Devil Wears Prada,' in 2006.

NL Beeld

18 / 30 Fotos

She wrote a book - She wrote a book, called 'Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life,' where she goes over lessons she's learned over her life and career.

19 / 30 Fotos

20 / 30 Fotos

Ambassador - In 2009, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program for her commitment to environmental causes.

21 / 30 Fotos

Influence - In 2014, she was named the fifth most powerful Brazilian celebrity by Forbes.

22 / 30 Fotos

World Cup - The Brazilian model was formally invited by FIFA to unveil the trophy for the winner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

23 / 30 Fotos

Olympic Games - Gisele Bündchen also participated in the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games. She walked the runway to the song 'Garota de Ipanema' by Tom Jobim.

24 / 30 Fotos

Lovebirds - You may not remember, but Bündchen dated actor Leonardo DiCaprio for more than five years! They broke up in 2005.

25 / 30 Fotos

Marriage - In December 2006, she started dating football player Tom Brady, and on February 26, 2009, they got married. But in 2022, they got divorced.

26 / 30 Fotos

Children -

The former couple have two children together. Benjamin was born in 2009, and Vivian in 2012. Bündchen is now expecting her third child at the age of 44 with her new boyfriend, Joaquim Valente.

Getty Images

27 / 30 Fotos

Still got it -

Getty Images

28 / 30 Fotos

Forever Gisele! -

Bündchen may have said goodbye to her position as the highest-paid model in the world, but her legacy and influence are priceless.

Sources: (Vogue) (Vanity Fair) (Forbes) (BORGEN Magazine)

29 / 30 Fotos

How Gisele Bündchen became the highest-paid model in the world

This will be her first baby with boyfriend Joaquim Valente

09/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Models

Gisele Bündchen has been a household name since she busted onto the scene in the late '90s and has remained one of the highest-paid models ever since - with only Kendall Jenner competing for her title.

Before she was a supermodel and supermom, she was just a normal girl from rural Brazil. Click through this gallery to see how she became the world’s "Über-model."