Karlie Kloss has a net worth of approximately $40 million as of 2026, built through two decades of top-tier modeling contracts, major brand partnerships with Estée Lauder and Adidas, her Bedford Media company, and her nonprofit Kode With Klossy. She was the second-highest-paid model in the world in 2018, earning $14 million that year alone.
Most people know Karlie Kloss from magazine covers. Over 40 covers of Vogue worldwide, to be precise. But Karlie Kloss net worth tells a more complex story than runway fees and fashion campaigns. It is the story of a woman who saw exactly when her biggest asset — her face — would start to lose value, and quietly built something that would not.
She started modeling at 13. By 15, she was walking for Calvin Klein at New York Fashion Week. She earned $14 million in a single year. Then she walked away from Victoria’s Secret, sat down in a coding class, and started over. Today, at 33, Kloss runs a media company, leads a tech nonprofit with over 10,000 scholars in 99 countries, and sits alongside one of the most connected venture capital families in the United States.
This article breaks down exactly where her $40 million comes from, how each income stream works, and what makes her wealth different from the average celebrity fortune.
How Karlie Kloss Built a $40 Million Net Worth
Modeling Was the Foundation
Kloss’s modeling career generated serious money for over two decades. She signed with Elite Model Management at 14 after being spotted at a St. Louis charity fashion show. Within a year, she was walking New York Fashion Week. In her first full season, she appeared in 64 runway shows across New York, Milan, and Paris.
The big money came in the form of long-term brand contracts. She became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2013. Reports at the time suggested Angels earned between $1 million and $5 million annually, with Kloss believed to be near the top of that range. She also signed deals with Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Adidas, and L’Oréal.
In 2016, Forbes reported she and Kendall Jenner each earned $10 million, tying for second place on the highest-paid models list. By 2018, she had pulled ahead, earning $14 million and claiming the number-two spot behind only Kendall Jenner. That single year’s income alone represents a significant share of her total net worth.
She left Victoria’s Secret in 2015, walked fewer runways over time, but maintained high-value contracts. As of 2026, she remains an ambassador for Estée Lauder and Adidas, both of which are reported to pay seven-figure annual fees.
The Tech and Media Pivot
In 2014, Kloss enrolled in a coding course at the Flatiron School in Manhattan. No camera crews. No press releases. She sat next to software engineers and learned Ruby on Rails. That decision changed the direction of her career and, eventually, her finances.
In 2015, she founded Kode With Klossy, a nonprofit that provides free two-week summer coding camps for girls and gender-expansive teens aged 13 to 18. The program started with 21 students. By 2025, it had grown to more than 10,000 scholars across 99 countries. Among its alumni, 78% went on to choose college majors in computer science or engineering, compared to a national average of just 4% for women in those fields.
The nonprofit does not add directly to her personal wealth. But it earned her covers on Fast Company and Forbes, a spot on the TIME 100 list, speaking invitations, board positions, and access to the kind of rooms where investment decisions are made.
She also enrolled at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in 2015, designing her own curriculum around business and computer science. She completed her degree in 2022, seven years after starting.
Bedford Media: Her Biggest Business Bet
In 2020, Kloss led a group of investors that purchased W Magazine, the luxury fashion title, at a steep discount. Her co-investors included Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions, model Kaia Gerber, and Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton. The acquisition was her first direct media ownership stake.
In 2023, she went further. Through her newly formed company Bedford Media, Kloss acquired i-D Magazine from the bankrupt Vice Media Group. She became CEO. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed, but i-D — founded in 1980 and known globally as a youth culture authority — gave her real editorial infrastructure.
Then in 2024, she and her husband Joshua Kushner announced they were reviving LIFE Magazine through Bedford Media, partnering with Dotdash Meredith to bring the iconic title back to print and digital formats.
Here is a quick look at her current business and income portfolio:
| Income Stream | Type | Status (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Estée Lauder partnership | Brand ambassador | Active |
| Adidas partnership | Brand ambassador | Active |
| i-D Magazine (Bedford Media) | CEO/Owner | Active |
| W Magazine stake | Co-investor | Active |
| LIFE Magazine revival | Co-owner | Launching |
| Kode With Klossy | Nonprofit (speaking/boards) | Active |
| Investment portfolio (Therabody, Seed, startups) | Angel investor | Active |
The Joshua Kushner Factor
Any honest look at Karlie Kloss net worth requires mentioning her husband. Joshua Kushner founded Thrive Capital, one of the most successful venture firms in Silicon Valley, with early investments in companies like Instagram, Spotify, and Stripe. His personal net worth is estimated at around $2 billion.
Their marriage in October 2018 gave Kloss access to a network and deal flow that most investors spend careers trying to reach. She has been transparent about this. In a 2021 WSJ Magazine profile, she said: “I am a student of life,” acknowledging her path has been self-taught and relationship-supported in equal measure.
But she has also been careful to build credentials that stand on their own. Her media acquisitions, her NYU degree, her TIME 100 placement, her board positions — none of those come with the Kushner name attached. Her $40 million figure, while amplified by her connections, reflects work she did independently.
Kloss vs. Other Top Model Fortunes
How does Karlie Kloss net worth compare to her peers?
- Kendall Jenner — estimated at $200 million, though much of that reflects her 818 Tequila brand
- Gisele Bündchen — estimated at $400 million, boosted by years as the world’s highest-paid model and strategic real estate investments
- Adriana Lima — estimated at $95 million
- Karlie Kloss — $40 million, with a media company and nonprofit infrastructure that could grow significantly
Kloss is not the wealthiest model alive. But her wealth is built on a more diverse and arguably more durable foundation than pure modeling income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karlie Kloss net worth in 2026?
Her net worth is estimated at approximately $40 million, earned through modeling contracts, brand partnerships, her Bedford Media company, and investments in wellness and tech startups.
How much did Karlie Kloss earn at her peak?
In 2018, she earned $14 million, making her the second-highest-paid model in the world that year, according to Forbes.
What companies does Karlie Kloss own?
She is CEO of Bedford Media, which owns i-D Magazine and is relaunching LIFE Magazine. She also co-owns a stake in W Magazine and founded the nonprofit Kode With Klossy.
Is Karlie Kloss still modeling in 2026?
Yes. She maintains active brand ambassador roles with Estée Lauder and Adidas, among others, though she no longer walks as many runway shows as in her earlier career.
How did Karlie Kloss get into tech?
In 2014, she enrolled in a coding class at the Flatiron School in Manhattan. That led to founding Kode With Klossy in 2015 and later completing a degree at NYU focused on business and computer science.
What Her Wealth Really Represents
Karlie Kloss net worth at $40 million is notable. But the more interesting figure is the trajectory. She walked away from the most lucrative modeling contract of her generation, sat in a coding class, bought struggling magazines, built a nonprofit that reached six figures in young coders, and earned a college degree while raising two children and running a company.
She told Emma Grede on the Aspire podcast in 2025: “Start with your principles, then build up. If your foundation is strong, your business will reflect that strength.” That is exactly what her financial profile shows. Brand deals pay well in your twenties. Media ownership, investments, and institutional credibility pay in your thirties and beyond.
The $40 million number is a snapshot. The infrastructure she has built suggests that number will look modest in another decade. If you are looking for a model of how to plan beyond your prime earning years in any competitive field, Karlie Kloss offers one of the clearest examples available.
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