On Tuesday, Forbes.com released its list of the World's Top Earning Male Models of 2013 -- and, surprise suprise, they make a whole lot less than their female counterparts.
The top earner is Sean O'Pry, who earned an estimated $1.5 million in 2013, while Gisele Bündchen cashed in at a whopping $42 million.
Similar to the list released in August for the World's Highest Paid Female Models, Forbes calculated estimated earnings from "licensing ventures, runway shows, commercial catalogs, spokesperson gigs, and contracts from fragrance and fashion companies." O'Pry, 24, has been modeling since age 17. While his face (and name) may not be as recognizable as some of the top female earners -- such as Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, Kate Moss -- O'Pry has fronted major campaigns (especially in the male fashion realm) for the likes of Calvin Klein, Versace, and Ralph Lauren. Other notables from the list include Simon Nessman (the current face of Giorgio Armani and Michael Kors), Arthur Kulkov (who has worked with Dolce & Gabbana and Tommy Hilfiger), and Ollie Edwards (who is known as the face of Ralph Lauren).
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In August, Gisele Bündchen was named the world's highest-paid supermodel, cashing in at a whopping $42 million -- $40.5 million more than Sean O'Pry, who earned a relatively-paltry estimated $1.5 million in 2013.
Forbes writes that according to PayScale.com, female models make about 148 percent more than their male counterparts. While the wage gap may seem extreme, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. The fashion world has had a long-standing history of utilzing male models in campaigns and advertorials as "props" to the more recognizable female faces. Between less opportunities for commercial work (Forbes cites the lack of "wide-scale exposure" that comes with companies like Victoria’s Secret and cosmetic ads) and the fact that men simply tend to accept lower pay for their work than women, it's not too shocking to find that a majority of the world may be unfamiliar with the top ten men. [Forbes]
