SI Models: How MUCH Do They Actually Earn?

 

Cintia Dicker

BY C STONE | THE SUPER HOT /||" SWIMSUIT MODELS "||\

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The media giant Sports Illustrated has been in the fashion and model industry for decades. Having watched their ever-changing swimsuit lineup over the years, I became disinterested due to the same old, same old. 

Georgina Burke

Innovation seemed to be lacking - how many swimsuit supermodel calendars do you really need, anyway? Then all hell erupted in 2024, and the company almost disappeared entirely.

Clarissa Bowers

So what happened to Sports Illustrated in 2024?

Sports Illustrated survived a near-collapse in early 2024 when its previous publisher, The Arena Group, lost its licensing rights and laid off the majority of the staff.  Brutal.

Georgia Gibbs

Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which owns the SI intellectual property, subsequently handed a 10-year publishing deal to Minute Media to keep the print and digital editions running. Ouch.

Nazanin Mandi 

Sports Illustrated (SI) models typically earn between $50,000 and $150,000 per year. However, the exact amount varies wildly based on experience, popularity, and whether they are landing major brand endorsements or leveraging social media.

Brenna Huckaby

Individual earnings differ significantly across the modeling landscape depending on a few key factors.

 Per-Shoot Rates: Standard daily rates or per-shoot fees for SI assignments range from $200 to $1,000+.

Toni Breidinger 

 That sounds absurdly cheap. 

Alix Earle

These fees are influenced by the specific photographer, the location of the shoot, and the licensing or usage rights (how long and where the images will be published).Annual Averages: Aggregated industry data reports an average salary of $95,086 annually, with salaries spanning from $31,000 on the lower end to nearly $200,000+ for seasoned, high-profile professionals.

Brooks Nader

Endorsements & Collaborations: The massive global exposure of the SI Swimsuit issue frequently acts as a launchpad. 

Christie Brinkley

Top models and high-profile athletes (such as gymnast Olivia Dunne or skier Eileen Gu) can make millions. 

Olivia Dunne

For instance, top-tier models and athlete influencers can earn tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single sponsored social media post or ambassador deal.

Suni Lee

Agency Cuts & Expenses: Because SI models are typically represented by top agencies (like IMG Models), standard agency fees (about 20%) are deducted from their earnings. 

Additionally, independent contractors must manage their own business expenses, travel costs (when off-season), and insurance.

Iyanna Fairbanks

In other words, contractors get zero benefits, have to cover their costs, and are not offered any guarantee of future work. Sounds like hell to me.

Special Shout-Out to my girl Abbey Harty,

Miss Rodeo Canada 2026 - who was recently seen supporting her grandpa wearing pink chaps. Adorable, I wish her the best life, ever!