New York - Despite the recession, top models are raking in millions of dollars, with Brazilian Gisele Bundchen, German Heidi Klum and Briton Kate Moss the biggest earners.

Bundchen, the 29-year-old beauty who is married to American football player Tom Brady, is the world's highest-paid model, making US$25 million (S$34 million) last year, according to forbes.com.

Klum, the 36-year-old mother of four and host of the television show Project Runway, came in second with US$16 million in earnings, followed by Moss, also 36, who earned US$9 million, through modelling campaigns and the launch of her own fashion line and a new fragrance.

It is the second year the same three models topped the list, which is largely due to a risk-averse fashion industry that was not looking for new faces in the unstable economic climate, said Mr Steve Bertoni of Forbes.

Another Brazilian, Adriana Lima, 28, came in fourth with US$7.5 million in earnings. Dutch model Doutzen Kroes, 25, who shot to fame in 2005 when she was selected Model of the Year by Vogue, placed fifth with US$6 million. The only American on the list is 36-year-old Carolyn Murphy, who is the face of Estee Lauder, Roberto Cavalli and Anne Klein. She earned US$3.5 million to grab the 10th spot.

The list represents earnings made from June last year to July this year.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.