The Hadids’ professional career had begun long before they established themselves in international fashion. Gigi appeared in Guess campaigns from a very young age, but her professional activity was suspended by her mother’s decision, who chose to postpone regular involvement in modelling until she was an adult.

Born in a small village in the Netherlands, Yolanda Hadid had already experienced the rough side of the industry: she lost her father at a young age, worked in restaurants to support her family, and was discovered as a model at 16. For her, modeling was a means of financial survival, not a personal ambition.

For her, modeling was a means of financial survival, not a personal ambition.
She passed this logic on to her children. Gigi retired from childhood photography, turned to school sports, and served as captain of the volleyball team. Bella devoted herself to competitive riding, even aiming for Olympic participation, until a diagnosis of Lyme disease in 2012 abruptly interrupted that path. Despite growing up in luxurious homes and in a world of access and privilege, their mother imposed context and discipline, seeking comfort not to serve as a distraction, but as a foundation for future professional performance.

The entry into fashion and the construction of value
Gigi consciously returned to fashion in the early 2010s and signed a contract with the agency IMG Models, which undertook her systematic placement in major fashion markets. The defining moment came in 2014, when Carine Roitfeld chose her for the magazine CR Fashion Book. At that time, the publication acted as a point of reference for designers and houses, offering institutional recognition to individuals with a long-term perspective.

A few months later, Gigi became the face of the Tom Ford fragrance Velvet Orchid. This choice marked her transition to high-value commercial deals. According to Forbes, from that point on, her fees were based on multi-year contracts with image rights, exclusivity, and creative participation. By the middle of the decade, her annual income exceeded 9-10 million dollars, while her total fortune was estimated at 30–35 million. A central role in her financial stabilization was played by her collaboration with the Tommy Hilfiger house. Gigi did not limit herself to an ambassadorial role: she co-signed collections, participated in the design, and was directly involved in sales. This model ensured her recurring income and long-term financial autonomy.

Bella followed a different strategy and focused on diversifying her income. In 2021, she co-founded the non-alcoholic beverage brand Kin Euphorics, while in 2024, she launched the Orebella fragrance line. As recorded by Business of Fashion and Forbes, in both cases, she maintained an ownership role. Her net worth was estimated at 25–30 million dollars.

Throughout this journey, Yolanda Hadid has acted as a strict manager. She controlled her children’s diet, public image, and career choices, often drawing intense criticism. Incidents such as publicly pressuring Gigi to lose weight or approving Bella’s cosmetic surgery at a young age were widely discussed. She later admitted that she regretted some of these decisions.
The family found itself in the spotlight again in 2021, when Yolanda accused her ex-boyfriend and father of Gigi’s child, Zayn Malik, of harassment and physical assault. He denied the charges but accepted a plea deal that included a fine and mandatory attendance at an anger management program.

The incident led to the end of his relationship with Gigi, but did not significantly affect the family’s financial situation. Despite the controversy, Yolanda has maintained a central role in the public sphere. With millions of followers on social media, television experience from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and her participation in the TV series Making a Model in 2018, she has confirmed her position as the strategic mind behind her children’s professional careers.

The “Hadid method” has not only produced two successful careers in fashion but a coherent example of family wealth management, where recognition has been transformed into fortune and discipline into financial durability.