Gisele Bundchen Has Literally Put Brazil on the Map

This Brazilian beauty is one of the most famous faces in the world, and she came from almost nothing to become a multi-millionaire mostly thanks to those looks. She was born Gisele Caroline Nonnenmacher Bündchen (but just Gisele is alright these days), in Tres de Maio, Brazil, and grew up in Horizontina, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She has five sisters, including a fraternal twin named Patricia. Gisele originally intended to become a volleyball player, and even considered playing for the Brazilian national team. However, she enrolled in a modeling class at the age of 13 along with her sisters Gabriela and Patricia.

A year later, Gisele was discovered in a shopping mall by a modeling agent. She went on to compete in multiple modeling contests until 1996, when she ultimately moved to New York City and made her Fashion Week debut. Her first magazine cover was in the July 1999 issue of Vogue, and she proceeded to grace the cover of Vogue two more times, equaling three consecutive covers. This was just the tip of the iceberg. Gisele has been on the covers of more magazines than I could even begin to mention (as of now the grand total is over 500 worldwide covers).

All of this success has led to one thing...money, money, and more money. At an estimated net worth of over $150 million, Gisele Bündchen is the world's highest paid model. Aside from modeling, Gisele has been featured in two films. She was Serena in The Devil Wears Prada, and she played one of the main characters (Vanessa) in the film Taxi which co-starred Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah. She's also become a staple on the television show TMZ due to her relationship with New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady, as well as her previous relationships with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kelly Slater.

Thankfully though, it seems like all of the fame and fortune hasn't gotten to her head because here she is in NYC, hailing a cab just like the rest of us (although I'm sure she only had to wait for about a millisecond). The messenger bag she's carrying is the Besace by Yves Saint Laurent.

$1,995.00

Here we have the lovely couple out and about in Paris. Gisele looks très chic in a comfy beige sweater, gray skinny jeans, vintage leather boots, and a Christian Dior Gaucho tote.

$1,613.00

One of Gisele's best features in my opinion has got to be her facial bone structure. The Dolce & Gabbana shades she's wearing only highlight this fact.
$185.00

Half (actually most) of a supermodel's job is to look good in a pricey dress...and Gisele never disappoints. I'm pretty sure that jaws fell to the ground when everyone saw her in this body-hugging Versace gown at the 2008 Met's Costume Institute Gala.

...And here she is doing her thing at a Christian Dior couture runway show.