Tyra Banks (born December 4, 1973) is an American model, TV personality, producer, writer, and actress. She began her career as a model at 15, becoming the first Black woman on GQ and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers. A Victoria’s Secret Angel from 1997-2005, she became one of the world’s top-earning models.
Banks created America’s Next Top Model in 2003 and hosted several TV shows, including Dancing with the Stars. She published the bestselling novel Modelland in 2010 and founded Bankable Productions.
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Table of Contents
Tyra Banks Net Worth
Tyra Banks has a net worth of $90 million. In 2004, she purchased a 5,740-square-foot home in Beverly Hills for over $3 million. She listed the property for $7.7 million in 2015, selling it for $6.33 million in 2016. Banks owns a 7,000-square-foot duplex in Manhattan’s Battery Park City, which includes a salon, gym, and mirrored dressing room.
She bought the property, consisting of four apartments, in 2009 for $10.13 million and later listed it for $17.5 million in 2017, but it remains unsold.
Early life
Tyra Banks was born on December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California, to Carolyn London, a medical photographer, and Donald Banks, a computer consultant. She has an older brother, Devin. After her parents divorced in 1979, Banks attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.
Teased for her appearance growing up, she underwent a growth spurt at age 11. Banks later learned through an Ancestry.com test that her heritage is 79% African, 14% British, 6% Native American, and 1% Finnish. In 2012, she completed a course at Harvard.
Career
In 1993, Tyra Banks signed with CoverGirl and later returned to the U.S. to pursue commercial modeling. One of the few Black models to achieve “supermodel” status, she graced covers of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan, and walked for major brands like Chanel and Dior.
Banks became the first African-American model on the covers of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue (1997) and GQ (1996). Her TV debut came on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1993, and she later appeared in films like Life-Size and Coyote Ugly.
Personal Life
Tyra Banks dated Norwegian photographer Erik Asla in the 2010s. Struggling with infertility, they unsuccessfully tried in vitro fertilization. In January 2016, their son, York Banks Asla, was born via gestational surrogacy. Banks has openly discussed her past, including abusive relationships, noting emotional abuse in one of her previous relationships.
In 2005, she reflected on this experience, stating it made her stronger. In 2009, she joined Oprah Winfrey to discuss dating violence, responding to Rihanna’s assault by Chris Brown.
Why is Tyra Banks so famous?
Tyra Banks is an American fashion model and television personality, widely recognized for being a CoverGirl and Victoria’s Secret model. She gained fame for her talk show, The Tyra Banks Show (2005–10), and for hosting the iconic modeling competition series, America’s Next Top Model (2003–15, 2017–18).
Banks is also known for her groundbreaking achievements in the fashion industry, being one of the first Black models to achieve Supermodel status, and for appearing on covers of major magazines like Sports Illustrated and GQ.
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Conclusion
Tyra Banks’ journey from a celebrated model to a successful entrepreneur and television personality exemplifies her resilience, adaptability, and business savvy. Her net worth reflects not just her success in the modeling industry but also her ability to leverage her fame and expertise into various profitable ventures, solidifying her status as a multifaceted icon in the entertainment and business world.
FAQs about Tyra Banks Net Worth
- What is Tyra Banks’ net worth?
Tyra Banks has a net worth of approximately $90 million. - How did Tyra Banks build her fortune?
Besides her modeling career, Banks’ wealth stems from her television shows, production company, and her cosmetics brand, Tyra Beauty. - When did Tyra Banks start her career in modeling?
Banks began her modeling career at the age of 15. - What businesses does Tyra Banks own?
Banks owns a production company, Bankable Productions, and a cosmetics brand, Tyra Beauty. - Is Tyra Banks still involved in the entertainment industry?
Yes, Banks continues to be involved in the entertainment industry, focusing on production and entrepreneurial ventures.
