The 7 most successful SI swimsuit cover models of all-time
A. Isaac 
Sports Illustrated has produced 26 different cover models for their swimsuit edition since 1980. Those models have gone on to become supermodels, actresses, producers, authors, designers, and in the case of Kathy Ireland, business moguls. The list below represents the seven most successful in that time period with a net worth of more than a half billion dollars.
7 Marisa Miller
Born: 8-6-78
SI cover: 2008
Net worth: $10 million
Bio: In an interview with Forbes magazine, Miller said that “supermodels have to become brands to be successful.” She’s done just that and more in the four years since her SI appearance. She was the first spokesperson for the Harley Davidson company and represents rum manufacturer, Captain Morgan. For the 2010-2011 NFL season, Miller made the rounds hosting NFL games and modeling jerseys. Something that had never been done for the league.
6 Rebecca Romijn
Born: 11-6-72
SI cover: 1999, 2006
Net worth: $22 million
Bio: Rebecca Romijn parlayed her success as a model into an impressive career in film and TV. She played Raven/Mystique in the very popular X-Men series and has appeared in 11 other movies. She was a regular on the show Ugly Betty for three seasons and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance.
5 Elle Macpherson
Born: 3-29-64
SI cover: 1986-1988, 1994, 2006
Net worth: $60 million
Bio: No model has appeared on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover more than three times…except for Elle Macpherson, who did it on five separate occasions. The 47-year old model is considered the queen of the SI swimsuit edition but it’s her business savvy that has catapulted her into one of the most successful Australian women in the world. She was part of the initial wave of 90s supermodels and was the first to create her own brand, Elle Macpherson Inc–a company that handles her financial endeavors. You’ll be seeing more of Macpherson on her new show, The Fashion Star on NBC. A series that premieres next month.
4 Heidi Klum
Born: 6-1-73
SI cover: 1998
Net worth: $70 million
Bio: Heidi Klum is a mega star in the fashion world and has been the host of the extremely popular show, Project Runway–a reality series that rewards contestants for their fashion designs. She’s also hosted the Victoria Secret’s fashion show on four separate occasions (more than any other model). In 2008, she was #1 on Forbes’ list of the World’s Top-Earning Models, although, she’s fallen behind considerably in that respect the last few years. Beyond that, Klum has a hand in several different business partnerships–among them New Balance, Amazon.com, HKNB, and a variety of her own design companies.
3 Christie Brinkley
Born: 2-2-54
SI cover: 1979-1981
Net worth: $80 million
Bio: As a model, there aren’t many more successful than Christie Brinkley. She’s appeared on over 500 magazine covers in her 40-year career and is worth approximately $80 million dollars at 58-years old. Moreover, Brinkley is an accomplished artist, a clothes designer, an author, an entrepreneur and yes, she also appears in a running ad for Total Home Gym with none other than Chuck Norris.
2 Tyra Banks
Born: 12-4-73
SI cover: 1996-1997
Net worth: $90 million
Bio: In 1996, Tyra Banks became the first African-American woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. A significant feat both for her and for minority woman everywhere. Banks is currently enrolled in the Owner/President Management Program at Harvard’s business school. Something she was able to pull off because of her success in the business world including a majority share in her own production company, Bankable. Tyra’s talk show is now in syndication after 5 seasons and 810 episodes.
1 Kathy Ireland
Born: 3-20-63
SI cover: 1989, 1992, 1994
Net worth: $150 million
Bio: There’s supermodels and then there’s Kathy Ireland, perhaps the most successful model turned businesswoman in the world. Ireland has appeared on several magazine covers, including Sports Illustrated three times, but this week, Ireland graces the front of Forbes. Yes, the same Kathy Ireland who appeared as a kicker in Unnecessary Roughness is now one of the biggest names in brand product marketing. Her company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, has moved over $2 billion dollars in merchandise in less than a decade. She has been dubbed as the “prototype for model-turned-mogul.” A significant title and a humbling one at that.
(*Note: We purposely excluded Beyonce from the list as she’s not considered a model and already had wide success prior to her appearance in 2007)
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