Heidi Klum is woman of many, many talents. The 45-year-old supermodel, TV producer, actress, reality TV star, and now judge of America's Got Talent is constantly proving she belongs in the spotlight.
Because of her hard work and varied gigs over the years, Heidi collects quite a nice paycheck these days — $19 million a year, to be exact. As of last year, Heidi's net worth is up to $90 million — the same as AGT host Tyra Banks.
Before the runway
Prior to the catwalks, magazine cover shoots, and TV appearances, Heidi was just a young girl from Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Born on June 1, 1971, Heidi had aspirations of being a dancer until she realized she wasn't "good enough to make it a career." In 1992 though, she came across a magazine ad for a modeling contest. Just for fun, she decided to submit a few photos. Then, out of nowhere, the show called her in. Heidi ended up beating out 30,000 competitors, winning the contest, and scoring a $300,000 modeling contract just like that.
After her win, she decided to move to New York to pursue modeling further. After months of pinching pennies, Heidi finally caught her break. A few J.C. Penney catalog gigs eventually led to the then-24-year-old being signed with Victoria's Secret in 1997. As soon as the catalog came out and Heidi was featured as an Angel in the VS Fashion show, and her career really started to take flight.
An all-around success
The supermodel's VS fashion show moment led to an appearance on The David Letterman Show that same year. Not long after in 1998, Heidi's modeling talents also landed her on the front of Sports Illustrated. This marked the beginning of a slew of magazine covers, spokesmodel opportunities, and TV and feature film cameos.
Between it all, Heidi somehow found time to pen a book. Her 2004 autobiography, Heidi Klum's Body of Knowledge: 8 Rules of Model Behavior, explores her rise to becoming a modeling icon while also offering advice she learned along the way.
Brand: Crown Heidi Klum's Body of Knowledge: 8 Rules of Model Behavior (to Help You Take Off on the Runway of Life)
Brand: Crown Heidi Klum's Body of Knowledge: 8 Rules of Model Behavior (to Help You Take Off on the Runway of Life)
In 2001, the supermodel made a jump over to Hollywood, scoring a role in Blow Dry with Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, and Rachael Leigh Cook. Throughout the early 2000s, she also appeared in Ella Enchanted with Anne Hathaway and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers with Geoffrey Rush and Charlize Theron.
Around the same time, Heidi helped develop the popular reality TV series Project Runway and became the show's host and an executive producer. Project Runway has gone on to receive 55 Emmy nominations and two Emmys. In 2009, the show received an Emmy for Outstanding Picture Editing for Reality Programming and in 2013 Heidi earned her very own Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program. Her TV career continued when in March of 2013, it was announced that Heidi would join America's Got Talent as a new judge. She's been on the show's panel ever since.
Managing her career and personal life
Through her many ventures and career moves, Heidi has had several relationships. Back in 1997, she married hairstylist Ric Pipino and separated with him in 2002. In 2004, the supermodel became pregnant with her first child with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, but the couple split shortly before her daughter Helene (who goes by Leni) was born.
Soon after, Heidi began dating Seal. The two married in May 2005 and welcomed their son Henry into the world the same year. Together, they had two more children — Johan in 2006 and Lou in 2009 — before calling it quits in 2014.
As of December of last year, Heidi got engaged to Tokio Hotel guitarist Tom Kaulitz.
Aren't they just the cutest?!
