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Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson
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Eleanor Nancy Macpherson (/məkˈfɜːrsən/ mək-FUR-sən; née Gow; born (1964-03-29)29 March 1964) is an Australian model, businesswoman, television host, and actress.

Key Information

She is known for her record five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s, leading to her nickname "The Body", coined by Time in 1989. She is the founder, primary model, and creative director for a series of business ventures, including Elle Macpherson Intimates, a lingerie line, and The Body, a line of skin care products. She was the host and executive producer of Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model from 2010 to 2013. She is an executive producer of NBC's Fashion Star and was the host for the first season.

As an actress, Macpherson appeared in supporting roles in Sirens (1994), The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) and as Julie Madison in Batman and Robin (1997) as well as lead roles in The Edge (1997) and South Kensington (2001). She had a recurring role on Friends and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.

Early life

[edit]

Macpherson was born Eleanor Nancy Gow in Killara, New South Wales, on 29 March 1964, the daughter of entrepreneur and sound engineer Peter Gow, a former president of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, a Sydney rugby league team, and Frances Gow, a nurse.[6] She is of Scottish descent.[citation needed] Macpherson's parents divorced when she was 10 years old, and she moved with her mother and two siblings. Her mother later remarried, and a clerical mistake in registering at her new school meant that her surname was changed from Gow to Macpherson, her stepfather's surname.[7][8]

Macpherson grew up in East Lindfield, a suburb in Sydney's North Shore, and attended Killara High School, completing her Higher School Certificate in 1981. Her sister is businesswoman and environmentalist Mimi Macpherson, born Miriam Frances Gow.[9]

Career

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Rise to fame as model

[edit]

Macpherson enrolled to study law at the University of Sydney. Before beginning her university studies, she visited the United States to spend one year doing modelling work to earn money to pay for her law books.[10] She travelled to New York City, where she initially signed up with Click Model Management. Her modelling career began in 1982 with a television commercial for Tab which established her as a "girl next door" figure in Australia.[11]

Macpherson in 1987

During the 1980s, Macpherson's profile quickly rose, and she appeared on the cover and in the pages of major magazines including Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Tatler, GQ, Allure, Mademoiselle, Glamour, Time, L'Officiel, Flare, Maxim and New York.[12] She cemented her high-profile image through frequent appearances in Elle; she was featured on numerous covers and appeared in every issue for six straight years. During that time, at the age of 21, she married Gilles Bensimon, the creative director of Elle.[13] In 1985, Macpherson became the longtime face of luxury French skin care company Biotherm.[14]

Eventually she garnered more exposure through Sports Illustrated magazine's annual Swimsuit Issue. She appeared on the cover a record five times: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, and 2006.

She has walked the runways for Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Azzedine Alaïa, Donna Karan, Christian Dior, Thierry Mugler, Nicole Miller, Michael Kors, Perry Ellis, Kenzo, Todd Oldham, Calvin Klein, John Galliano, and Valentino.[15][16][17]

She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Christian Dior, Escada, Enrico Coveri, Azzedine Alaïa, Guy Laroche, Ralph Lauren, Victorio & Lucchino, Omega, Pinko, H&M, Victoria's Secret, ModelCo and Revlon. She also appeared in non-fashion advertising campaigns for Diet Coke, Chrysler, Miller Lite, Impulse, Budweiser, Tab, KFC, Garuda Airlines, and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

After appearing nude in the 1994 film Sirens, Macpherson learned that the media had begun searching for nude photos of her, including contacting her ex-boyfriends. To address this, Macpherson appeared in a nude pictorial in the May 1994 issue of Playboy magazine, shot by Herb Ritts, to produce nude photos "on her own terms".[18] In 1999, the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda honoured Macpherson by using her face on a series of postage stamps, the first model to appear on legal tender.[19] Macpherson appeared among other Australian icons during the 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, her elaborate float resembling a camera lens and featuring a runway.[20] Along with Naomi Campbell, she co-hosted the Miss Universe 2001 pageant. Her popularity had reached such a level that Australian government offered her a position on its tourist commission as an unofficial ambassador.[21]

During her career, Macpherson has worked with fashion photographers including Francesco Scavullo, Mario Testino,[22] Mert and Marcus, Ellen von Unwerth[23] and Steven Meisel. Portraits of Macpherson, shot by Bob Carlos Clarke, were among those donated to the National Portrait Gallery, London by his family following his death.[24] Macpherson received the Style Icon award at the 2006 Elle Style Awards presented by fashion magazine Elle.[25] In March 2008, she signed a three-year deal with Revlon Cosmetics, which named her a Global Brand Ambassador.[26] She has since been featured in print and advertising campaigns for the company. She returned to the runway in 2010 to close the fall Louis Vuitton show for Marc Jacobs in Paris.[27]

Business career

[edit]
Macpherson in September 2008 at Fashion Fest

In the 1980s, together with Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, Naomi Campbell, Pavlína Pořízková, and Cindy Crawford, Macpherson became part of the new generation of supermodels. In 1989, she was given the nickname Elle "The Body" Macpherson by Time magazine after she appeared on their cover. She went on to use the name in a number of business ventures.[28] In 1996, Frank DeCaro of The New York Times cited Macpherson, along with Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen and Claudia Schiffer as "The Magnificent Seven". DeCaro reflected, "Known by their first names to legions of fans, they are the legends of the modern catwalk, the girl next door pretty underneath all the paint".[29]

In 1994, she left her agency, Ford Models, to form her own company, Elle Macpherson Inc., which would serve as the financial organizational base for her later endeavours. She soon went on to produce her own series of calendars, each of which was accompanied by a "making of" television program in 1992, 1993, and 1994. She used this as a springboard to create the "Your Personal Best – The Body" series of workout videos.[citation needed]

She later diversified her portfolio of businesses, and in 1990 launched her lingerie collection 'Elle Macpherson Intimates' in partnership with Bendon Limited Apparel. Intimates became the single best-selling lingerie line in both Great Britain[30] and Australia.[31]

The partnership was among the first instances of a crossover between a model and a fashion label. In 1989, when she was first approached by Bendon to promote their lingerie in Australia, Macpherson saw an opportunity to reverse their strategy and suggested a licensing arrangement, with products bearing her name and designs created in partnership with Bendon's team. Though commonplace now, the idea was unorthodox at the time.[32]

Macpherson took a significant role in the development and management of the company, serving as chief marketing officer and later Creative Director. In January 2010, Macpherson expanded the line, launching Obsidian as a sub-brand.[33] While nursing her second child, she spearheaded the development of a signature maternity bra line.[34] Intimates has retained a high brand recognition into the 2000s, appearing as a featured brand on America's Next Top Model; last year, the brand celebrated 10 years of being stocked at Selfridges. [citation needed]

Macpherson has also created her own line of beauty products: "Elle Macpherson – The Body". The line was carried at Boots,[35] and Australian suncare brand Invisible Zinc.[36] She spent a year on the board of directors at Hot Tuna Clothing, advising on product development, brand positioning and sales strategy.[37]

In 2007, the BBC TV series The Money Programme aired a documentary which followed Macpherson through her day-to-day business as she continued to develop her international lingerie business. In 2009 Macpherson delivered the Keynote Address at the annual meeting of the International Trademark Association.[38]

In 2014, Macpherson co-founded WelleCo, and released its flagship product, an alkalising wellness supplement, The Super Elixir. The product, sold at retailers including Selfridges in London and the premium online retailer, Net-A-Porter has celebrity fans including Kate Moss.[39]

Awards

[edit]

Macpherson has received a number of awards recognising her business acumen and the success of Elle Macpherson Intimates. In 2005, she was named Glamour Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year;[40] in 2007, she received an Everywoman Ambassador Award recognising her success as a businesswoman;[41] in 2008, the Underfashion Club's Femmy Awards crowned her Lingerie Designer of the Year and in 2009, she received a World Career Award from the Women's World Awards.

Acting career

[edit]
Macpherson (centre) modelling for Virgin Australia in October 2011

Macpherson had her breakout role playing an artist's model in the 1994 film Sirens, which starred Hugh Grant, Sam Neill, and Tara FitzGerald. She also acted in a number of other film roles, appearing in films such as Woody Allen's Alice, Batman & Robin alongside George Clooney, The Edge with Anthony Hopkins, and The Mirror Has Two Faces with Barbra Streisand. In 1996 Macpherson hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.[42]

In 1999, Macpherson appeared in five episodes of the American TV series Friends as Joey Tribbiani's roommate and eventual girlfriend, Janine Lecroix. Macpherson went on to act in the movie Jane Eyre with William Hurt, and she has also appeared alongside Ben Stiller and Sarah Jessica Parker in If Lucy Fell. Her most controversial acting role was in the Showtime cable network miniseries, A Girl Thing, as a woman experimenting with bisexuality. In 2001, she appeared in the Italian movie South Kensington. She played agent Claudia Foster in The Beautiful Life, appearing with Mischa Barton, Sara Paxton and Corbin Bleu. The show centred on aspiring models working for a modelling agency, trying to make it big in New York City and in the fashion world.[43] In April 2011, she starred with Gary Lineker in an advertisement for Walkers Crinkles.[44]

Hosting career

[edit]

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model

[edit]

In July 2010, Macpherson became the new host of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model, taking over from Lisa Snowdon. She also serves as executive producer on the show. The revamped show's panellists now include OBE-winning fashion designer Julien Macdonald, designer Whitney Port and male model Tyson Beckford.[45]

Fashion Star

[edit]

Macpherson hosts and executive produces NBC's reality competition series Fashion Star. The series gives 14 unknown designers, mentored by celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and John Varvatos, the chance to launch their collections in three of America's largest clothing retailers, including Macy's, H&M, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Its first season was sold to 75 countries.[46]

Extortion attempt

[edit]

According to a police statement reproduced online, between 11 and 22 July 1997 William Ryan Holt and Michael Mischler broke into Macpherson's Los Angeles home while she was away on business in Chicago.[47] They stole an estimated $100,000 worth of jewellery, $6,000 in cash, and several photographs. The two were arrested on 4 August 1997. Mischler, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted extortion and one count of burglary. He received a six-year and eight-month prison sentence. Holt, 26, a former US Air Force enlisted man and a military-justice convict out on parole, pleaded guilty to one count of extortion, and was sentenced to a year in prison.[48]

Personal life

[edit]

Macpherson dated Billy Joel during the early 1980s. Joel has said that the songs "This Night" and "And So It Goes" were written about his relationship with Macpherson.[49] Macpherson is also believed to be at least part of the inspiration for Joel's track "Uptown Girl".[50]

Macpherson met French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon in 1984 on a photo session for Elle magazine. They wed in May 1986, and divorced three years later.[51][52]

Macpherson began a relationship with financier Arpad Busson in 1996.[53] They have two sons.[54][55] The family lived together in London until their separation in July 2005.[53]

Macpherson subsequently began dating Miami, Florida-based hotel heir and billionaire Jeffrey Soffer, son of Donald Soffer, in early 2009.[56] They broke up in March 2012,[57] but reconciled following his injury in a helicopter accident in November 2012.[57] They became engaged in March 2013,[57] and married in July 2013 at the Laucala Resort in Fiji.[58][59]

In 2017, Macpherson and Soffer announced that they were getting a divorce.[60] That same year, Macpherson underwent treatment for breast cancer, specifically HER2 positive estrogen receptor positive ductal carcinoma in situ. Her doctors recommended a mastectomy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction surgery, but she decided to have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy, followed by holistic medicine instead of chemotherapy.[61][62]

From 2017 to 2019, Macpherson dated the British fraudster, anti-vaccine activist and disgraced former physician Andrew Wakefield.[63][64][65][66]

Philanthropy

[edit]

Macpherson is a European Ambassador for Product Red, an initiative set up by Bono and Bobby Shriver to raise money and awareness for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria[67] and to help eradicate AIDS for women and children in Africa. She is also an ambassador for UNICEF.[68]

In Australia, she is an ambassador for the Smile Foundation, which helps the families of children with rare diseases and organises government research grants.[7][8] She has also modelled for charitable causes including fundraising for 2007 British flood victims,[69] and child welfare group Absolute Return for Kids.[70]

In 2012, Macpherson led Sky's campaign for International Women's Day.[71]

Macpherson is a patron for the National Association for the Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa UK).[72]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1990 Alice Model
1994 Sirens Sheela
1996 If Lucy Fell Jane Lindquist
Jane Eyre Blanche Ingram
The Mirror Has Two Faces Candice
1997 Batman & Robin Julie Madison
The Edge Mickey Morse
1998 With Friends Like These... Samantha Mastandrea
2001 A Girl Thing Lauren Travis TV film
South Kensington Camilla

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Saturday Night Live Herself "Elle Macpherson/Sting" (season 21: episode 14)
"John Goodman/Everclear" (season 21: episode 15)
1999–2000 Friends Janine LaCroix "The One Where Phoebe Runs" (season 6: episode 7)
"The One with Ross' Teeth" (season 6: episode 8)
"The One Where Ross Got High" (season 6: episode 9)
"The One with the Routine" (season 6: episode 10)
"The One with the Apothecary Table" (season 6: episode 11)
2008 America's Next Top Model Herself "Top Model Makeovers" (cycle 10: episode 3)
2009 The Beautiful Life: TBL Claudia Foster Main role; series cancelled after 2 episodes
2010–2013 Britain's Next Top Model Herself Host; reality TV series
2012–2013 Fashion Star Herself Host; reality TV series
2016 Australia's Next Top Model Herself Guest Mentor

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Elle Macpherson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Eleanor Nancy Macpherson (née Gow; born 29 March 1964), known professionally as Elle Macpherson, is an Australian model, businesswoman, actress, and television host. Dubbed "The Body" after prominent features in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, including a record five covers, she rose to status in the and through extensive magazine work and runway appearances. Macpherson later pivoted to , launching the bestselling brand Elle Macpherson Intimates in the early and co-founding the wellness supplement company WelleCo in 2014.

Early Life

Family Background and Childhood

Eleanor Nancy Gow, later known as Elle Macpherson, was born on March 29, 1964, in Cronulla, a beachside suburb of , , . She was the eldest of four children in a family headed by her father, Peter Gow, a sound engineer, entrepreneur, and former president of the Cronulla Sharks rugby club, and her mother, Frances Gow, who worked as a nurse. The family initially resided in Sydney's northern suburbs, including Killara on the North Shore, where Macpherson spent much of her early years amid a typical Australian suburban environment influenced by her father's involvement in local sports and her mother's caregiving role. When Macpherson was 10 years old, her parents divorced, an event she has described as traumatic, though she maintained positive relationships with both afterward. Following the separation, she relocated with her mother and two younger siblings, while her mother remarried Neil Macpherson, a , prompting the family to adopt his . This period of family transition fostered a sense of resilience in her early , shaped by the need to adapt to changing household dynamics in a post-divorce setting.

Education and Early Interests

Macpherson attended Killara High School, a public institution in Sydney's North Shore, where she completed her Higher School Certificate in 1981 as a strong academic performer. Her family background in Sydney's suburbs, including periods in East Lindfield and the , exposed her to a middle-class environment emphasizing and , fostering early habits of through rigorous study routines. Accepted into the to study —a field aligned with her intellectual interests and family expectations of professional stability—she deferred enrollment at age 18 to undertake a in the United States. This decision stemmed from practical financial needs, as she sought to earn funds for university books and tuition through initial modeling assignments, reflecting a pragmatic approach rather than an innate passion for the industry. Upon briefly commencing studies, she ultimately withdrew to prioritize income-generating opportunities, prioritizing economic independence over prolonged academic pursuit. Her early part-time endeavors, including promotional work and nascent modeling at age 17 or 18, honed a rooted in fiscal realism, as she viewed such gigs as temporary means to support educational goals amid limited family resources post her parents' . This phase cultivated foundational skills in self-discipline and resource management, evident in her later transition to sustained professional ventures, without reliance on glamour or external validation.

Modeling Career

Breakthrough in the 1980s

Macpherson entered professional modeling in 1982 at age 18, initially working in after appearing in a television commercial for the diet soda Tab, which provided her early exposure as an approachable, girl-next-door figure. This local start involved low-paying assignments typical for novice models, but her 6-foot (183 cm) height and measurements of 36C-25-35 inches distinguished her in an industry favoring taller, curvaceous builds over the emerging aesthetic. By the mid-1980s, she transitioned to international markets, securing bookings in New York and amid the modeling industry's expansion driven by economic prosperity and excess, which inflated budgets for fashion advertising and elevated select models to celebrity status. Her breakthrough accelerated with appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue starting in , followed by consecutive covers in 1986, 1987, and 1988, which capitalized on the publication's growing commercial influence and her photogenic proportions to boost her visibility and earnings. These milestones marked her ascent during the supermodel era's onset, where high-profile covers and runway work for designers like Valentino translated initial modest fees into substantial income growth, reflecting broader industry dynamics of glamour and financial reward for top talents.

Peak Fame and "The Body" Nickname

Macpherson's modeling career peaked in the late 1980s and 1990s, marked by unprecedented visibility in high-profile publications and her acquisition of the moniker "The Body" from Time magazine in 1989, a designation reflecting widespread admiration for her statuesque 6-foot (183 cm) frame and athletic build following consecutive covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This nickname encapsulated not only her physical attributes—often highlighted in swimsuit photography emphasizing natural proportions over stylized thinness—but also her commercial dominance, as she became the only model to grace the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover five times, in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, and 2006, with the initial trio driving sales records for the issue amid surging circulation exceeding 2 million copies annually by the early 1990s. Her influence extended to the runway circuit, where she walked for elite houses including and during the era's zenith, participating in seasonal shows that showcased collections to audiences of industry insiders and growing global media coverage via emerging cable networks like and E! Entertainment. These appearances, often in and from 1990 onward, positioned her alongside contemporaries like and , yet her appeal derived from a versatile look blending approachability with aspirational glamour, evidenced by her frequent selection for both couture and commercial presentations that prioritized movement and presence over ephemeral aesthetics. Unlike many peers whose careers waned with shifting standards toward waif-like figures in the mid-1990s, Macpherson sustained prominence through calculated expansion beyond catwalks, leveraging her fame into entrepreneurial pursuits that insulated her from industry volatility and preserved her cultural relevance into the new millennium. This diversification—rooted in recognizing modeling's transient nature—enabled her to command fees and endorsements rivaling her peak, as her established image as "The Body" translated into enduring brand value amid peers' transitions to lesser visibility.

Notable Campaigns and Covers

Macpherson's modeling career featured prominently in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, where she appeared nine times starting in 1985 and secured a record five cover appearances from 1986 to 2006, establishing her as a leading figure in swimwear photography and earning her the nickname "The Body" for her statuesque 6-foot frame and commercial draw. These covers, photographed in locations like and , capitalized on her natural athleticism and contributed to the issue's status as a high-circulation annual publication, with individual editions often exceeding 2 million copies sold. In the 1980s and early , she fronted campaigns for , including the 1984 Sportswear Collection Advance and appearances in the brand's minimalist advertisements that defined the era's fashion imagery, alongside models like in later iterations. Her involvement helped sustain Calvin Klein's provocative yet aspirational appeal, with ads featuring her in simple, form-fitting attire that emphasized body confidence over exaggeration. Macpherson served as Revlon's global from under a multiyear contract, starring in print and television ads for the Age Defying makeup line targeted at mature consumers, where her poised image promoted the product's anti-aging claims through visuals of radiant skin and minimal enhancement. This role leveraged her credentials to boost Revlon's prestige in competitive marketing, appearing in campaigns that ran internationally. For the 2011 Pirelli Calendar, photographed by , Macpherson posed nude at age 47 in artistic, full-frontal compositions amid a tropical setting, defying age-related industry norms and underscoring her negotiation power for selective, high-profile assignments that prioritized over mass-market . Throughout her career, spanning over 500 magazine covers including Vogue, , and Elle, she maintained agency by self-managing aspects of her bookings post-Elite Model Management affiliation in the , transitioning from agency-dependent gigs to endorsements that amplified brand visibility without compromising her control.

Business Ventures

Launch of Elle Macpherson Intimates

In 1990, Elle Macpherson partnered with the New Zealand-based Bendon Group to launch Elle Macpherson Intimates, initially in and , marking her entry into apparel design beyond modeling endorsements. The collaboration involved Macpherson contributing design input while Bendon handled manufacturing and distribution, a strategic move to capitalize on her public image amid the uncertainties of shifting from transient modeling contracts to a product-based . The line's core designs drew from Macpherson's firsthand frustrations with restrictive undergarments encountered in photoshoots, favoring seamless, supportive pieces blending French-inspired with practical American sizing for everyday wearability and minimal visibility under clothing. This approach prioritized functional sensuality over ornamental excess, reflecting empirical adjustments from her physique rather than broader cultural movements. Early market reception was strong, with the brand quickly becoming a top seller in its launch regions due to targeted pricing and alignment with consumer demand for reliable basics. Expansion followed, incorporating complementary items like sleepwear alongside core lingerie, and achieving distribution in over 1,300 global retail doors by 2010, including entries into markets like the , , and . Revenue from the partnership generated an estimated $10 million annually for Macpherson by that period, underscoring the venture's viability despite initial risks of brand dilution or production scaling challenges in competitive intimates sectors.

Development of WelleCo Wellness Brand

Elle Macpherson founded WelleCo in , motivated by her personal exploration of wellness practices and the desire to create supplements aligned with a holistic, plant-based regimen. The company, based in , launched with The Super Elixir as its flagship product—a daily greens powder formulated as an alkalizing blend of over 40 ingredients, including superfoods like spirulina, barley grass, and , aimed at supporting energy, gut health, and skin vitality. This formulation stemmed from Macpherson's collaboration with Dr. Simone Laubscher, whom she approached for a custom super greens mix to bolster immune function. The brand's product claims emphasize nourishment from whole foods and herbal extracts rather than synthetic additives, positioning WelleCo as independent from pharmaceutical-driven approaches. An observational study conducted in 2015 by Laubscher on 50 participants consuming The Super Elixir for eight weeks reported that 96% shifted toward alkaline pH levels and showed improvements in liver function markers, though this was not a randomized controlled trial and lacked independent peer-reviewed validation. Subsequent products, such as collagen and skin elixirs, incorporate ingredients like Naticol® collagen peptides, which have undergone limited clinical testing for bioavailability and joint/skin benefits, but broader efficacy for super greens powders remains unsupported by robust, large-scale evidence in scientific literature. WelleCo grew through Macpherson's personal endorsement, leveraging her public image to market the line directly to consumers via and select retail. Initially bootstrapped, the brand attracted investment in 2018, with a 25% stake sale signaling expansion; by then, it was rumored to exceed $20 million in value, with ambitions for $200 million amid rising demand for ingestible wellness products. This shift marked Macpherson's transition from modeling to , emphasizing self-directed health protocols over conventional medical paradigms.

Business Awards and Financial Success

In 2005, Macpherson received Glamour Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year award in the , recognizing the commercial performance of her Elle Macpherson Intimates line, which she launched in 1990 through a licensing and which had grown into one of the top-selling brands in the UK by the mid-2000s. The brand's success stemmed from emphasizing accessibility and broad appeal, generating substantial licensing revenue rather than direct , with annual sales figures contributing significantly to her portfolio before expansions into other ventures. Further accolades followed, including the 2009 World Career Award in for her entrepreneurial contributions across fashion and intimates. In 2023, she was honored as Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year by Spain, tied to the growth of her WelleCo supplement brand, which emphasizes plant-based wellness products and reported expanding distribution amid rising demand for such items. These awards highlight a trajectory of leveraging initial modeling visibility into sustained business operations, with Intimates undergoing a 2014 pivot to prioritize the U.S. market by ending a licensing deal and refocusing operations domestically to capture larger volume potential. Macpherson's stands at an estimated $95 million as of 2025, accrued primarily through diversified licensing fees from Intimates, equity in WelleCo, and ancillary ventures like skincare extensions, distinct from residual modeling income which tapered after the . This figure reflects calculated risk-taking in scalable consumer goods, where intimates alone drove multimillion-dollar annual royalties by the early 2000s, underscoring a shift from image-based fame to operational revenue streams amid industry volatility.

Entertainment Career

Acting Roles

Macpherson made her film debut in 1990's Alice, directed by , appearing in a brief, non-speaking cameo as a model during an office party scene. The role, lasting mere seconds, underscored her transition from runway prominence to screen without demanding dramatic range. In 1994, she took a supporting role as , a free-spirited model and muse in the Australian period drama Sirens, directed by and co-starring as a conflicted clergyman and as artist . The film, which explored themes of artistic bohemianism and repression in , earned mixed reviews for its provocative sensuality, with praising its visual allure but noting the narrative's reliance on erotic tension over depth; Macpherson's performance drew attention primarily for her physicality rather than nuanced characterization. It grossed $7.77 million worldwide on a modest budget, reflecting limited commercial impact. Subsequent roles remained peripheral. In 1997, Macpherson played , a socialite girlfriend to Bruce Wayne, in Batman & Robin, a sequel that received widespread derision for its campy excess and weak scripting, though her part was small and undemanding. That same year, she portrayed Mickey Morse, a executive, in The Edge, a survival thriller opposite and , where her character's arc hinged more on glamour than emotional complexity. By 2001, in the romantic comedy , she appeared as Camilla, a love interest amid tales of Italian expatriates in ; the film garnered a 15% approval rating from critics, who lambasted its formulaic plot and shallow portrayals, and it earned just $1.13 million internationally with negligible U.S. release. These sporadic appearances, enabled by her modeling celebrity—which provided visibility but not acting pedigree—yielded no critical acclaim for performative skill and failed to launch a sustained . returns were consistently underwhelming relative to contemporaries, signaling audience indifference beyond her established image. Macpherson's pivot away from cinema toward entrepreneurial pursuits by the early 2000s aligns with the evident constraints of her on-screen contributions, prioritizing commercial viability over artistic depth.

Television Hosting and Appearances

Macpherson hosted Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model from 2010 to 2013, taking over as presenter and executive producer for series 6 through 9 on Sky Living. The competition, modeled after Tyra Banks' U.S. format, sought aspiring models from the UK and Ireland through challenges emphasizing runway walks, photoshoots, and industry critiques. Under her leadership, the series returned in July 2011 with 210,000 viewers, a modest figure for the cable network that reflected its niche appeal amid competition from broader reality programming. The show concluded after the 2013 ninth series, which was canceled due to insufficient sustained audience engagement. In 2012, Macpherson served as host for the debut season of NBC's Fashion Star, a reality series where aspiring designers pitched garments to buyers from retailers like and under time and material constraints. She also acted as , drawing on her modeling background to mentor contestants on commercial viability. The program premiered on March 13, 2012, averaging 4.45 million total viewers and a 1.6 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic across its 10 episodes, metrics that placed it low in network rankings and prompted her exit after season one amid format revisions and retailer partner shifts. Fashion Star was canceled after two seasons in 2013, underscoring challenges in translating her persona to elevate viewership beyond fashion enthusiasts. Earlier, Macpherson hosted on February 24, 1996, with musical guest Sting, where sketches played on her modeling image, including a highlighting her industry fame and a modeling . She made a brief on the show the following week. These television roles primarily extended her brand as a rather than showcasing honed presenting skills, with audience data indicating limited breakout success in competitive primetime slots.

Health and Controversies

Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Holistic Treatment

In 2017, at the age of 53, Elle Macpherson was diagnosed with HER2-positive, estrogen-receptor-positive intraductal carcinoma following the surgical removal of a lump via . Despite recommendations for from 32 medical professionals, including oncologists, she declined this and other conventional interventions such as , citing concerns over their potential side effects and her preference for an alternative path. Macpherson instead adopted what she described as an "intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach" under the guidance of holistic practitioners, incorporating dietary modifications to eliminate or limit , , , , and processed foods, alongside alkalizing greens, supplements, and lifestyle adjustments aimed at supporting overall wellness. This method aligned with her longstanding toward certain aspects of pharmaceutical-based medicine, influenced in part by her brief romantic association with , the discredited physician known for promoting anti-vaccine views, whom she was seen with publicly in 2018. As of 2024, Macpherson reported being in clinical remission, with all subsequent tests and scans showing no evidence of disease seven years post-diagnosis, which she attributed to her integrated holistic strategy rather than standard oncology protocols. Her wellness brand, WelleCo, features products such as super greens supplements that she incorporated into her regimen, though she emphasized the approach's emphasis on personal intuition over empirical standardization.

Public Criticism and Defense of Choices

Following the September 2024 release of her Elle: A Life Reimagined and related media appearances, Macpherson encountered backlash from medical experts and survivors for detailing her rejection of and other conventional protocols in favor of a holistic regimen after two lumpectomies. Surgeons such as Professor Chris Pyke criticized outlets like for coverage that omitted her surgical interventions, potentially implying alternative therapies alone sufficed, which he deemed misleading and hazardous amid rising alternative treatment interest. Oncologists, including Fran Boyle, highlighted risks of eroding trust in evidence-based care, noting 's established role in lowering recurrence odds for HER2-positive s akin to Macpherson's, with survivors voicing frustration over narratives perceived to undermine their ordeals. Further scrutiny targeted the credentials of Macpherson's holistic advisor, Simone Laubscher, whom an oncologist described as lacking formal medical qualifications despite claims of expertise, amplifying concerns about unverified endorsements influencing public perceptions. A 60 Minutes Australia interview drew accusations of irresponsibility for framing her "heart-led" path without sufficient caveats on conventional efficacy, with critics arguing it could deter patients from statistically superior options like , which trials show boosts five-year survival rates by up to 30% in similar cases. Macpherson rebutted the uproar in a , 2024, Today show interview, underscoring her consultations with 32 physicians before diverging from standard advice and framing her choice as an exercise in bodily autonomy rather than a universal blueprint. She contended media fixation distorted her memoir's intent, which centered on personal growth over prescriptive health advocacy, and pointed to her seven-year recurrence-free status as empirical validation of individualized strategies over "one-size-fits-all" . In response to survivor ire, she clarified her account aimed to share sovereignty in , not diminish chemotherapy's merits for those suited to it, while decrying overreactions that conflated her non-recurrence with blanket endorsement of alternatives.

Extortion Attempt by Ex-Partner

In July 1997, two men, William Ryan Holt and Michael Robert Mischler, burglarized Elle Macpherson's home while she was traveling for business, stealing a collection of private nude photographs. The perpetrators subsequently attempted to extort $80,000 from Macpherson by threatening to publish the images on the internet unless payment was made. Macpherson, who stated she had never met either man, cooperated fully with investigators rather than complying with the demands. Holt, aged 26, initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty on the charge, resulting in a one-year sentence. Mischler, aged 29, faced charges including attempted and , with authorities holding him on $300,000 . The case underscored vulnerabilities to invasions for high-profile individuals, where personal materials could be weaponized for financial gain, eroding trust in secure environments and amplifying risks associated with fame. No evidence linked the incident to any prior relationship with Macpherson, confirming it as an opportunistic crime by unrelated parties.

Personal Life

Relationships and Marriages

Macpherson dated musician Billy Joel in the early 1980s, shortly after his divorce from his first wife, with the pair briefly living together before the relationship ended amid Joel's involvement with Christie Brinkley. She married French photographer Gilles Bensimon in May 1986, after meeting him during a 1984 photo shoot for Elle magazine; the union lasted until their divorce in 1989. In 1996, Macpherson entered a long-term relationship with financier , which continued until 2005 despite a brief engagement in 2002; the partnership reflected her pattern of aligning with high-profile figures in and while maintaining professional autonomy. Macpherson wed American billionaire Jeffrey Soffer in 2013, but the marriage concluded in divorce four years later, underscoring her selective approach to commitments amid a career emphasizing ventures over extended domestic arrangements. Since approximately 2022, she has been in a relationship with American , a union marked by mutual creative pursuits and public appearances, suggesting a post-divorce phase of relative stability focused on compatible lifestyles rather than formal ties.

Family and Children

Macpherson and financier Arpad Busson welcomed their first son, Arpad Flynn Alexander Busson, on February 14, 1998, followed by their second son, Aurelius Cy Andrea Busson, on February 4, 2003. The couple separated in June 2005 after nine years together, emphasizing in their public statement that their sons' welfare remained the priority and that they would focus on parental responsibilities without third-party involvement. Since the split, they have sustained amicable co-parenting dynamics, with Macpherson and Busson occasionally reuniting for family milestones, such as Cy's birthday celebration in May 2025, where photos showed the sons posing alongside both parents. Macpherson has portrayed motherhood as a guiding role rather than one of direct credit for her sons' achievements, describing and Cy—who reached their mid-20s by 2025—as thoughtful, diligent, industrious, kind, and creative individuals who stand on their own merits. She has highlighted practical successes in adult sons, noting in 2023 that involvement remains "hands-on" even as they matured into young adults. To manage career demands, including frequent international travel for modeling and business ventures, Macpherson established early priorities favoring her sons, such as interrupting work for their calls and structuring schedules around family needs. In a May 2025 interview, Macpherson reflected on maternal identity intersecting with and , framing the latter as a "new beginning" that complements her evolved role as a to independent young men, rather than a decline amid ongoing professional pursuits. These reflections underscore a structure resilient to separation, with no publicized contentious custody disputes, allowing focus on the sons' development into self-reliant adults.

Philanthropy and Advocacy

Macpherson has served as an ambassador for , supporting initiatives focused on child welfare, including campaigns to promote in developing regions and participation in events to raise funds for the organization's programs. In February 2024, she returned to the runway after 16 years for the Runway show at Fashion Festival, with proceeds directed toward UNICEF's multinational fundraising efforts for children's aid. These activities align with her Australian background, emphasizing targeted child advocacy rather than broad-scale financial commitments, though specific donation amounts from her personal contributions remain undisclosed in public records. She also acts as an ambassador for , an Australian charity dedicated to funding research on rare childhood diseases, reflecting a focus on domestic pediatric health issues. Additionally, Macpherson holds the role of European Ambassador for (RED), an initiative aimed at combating AIDS in through corporate partnerships and awareness campaigns. Her involvement extends to supporting organizations like and , primarily through promotional endorsements and event appearances rather than evidenced large-scale philanthropy. Macpherson's wellness brand, WelleCo, has incorporated charitable elements, such as announcing full proceeds from select product sales donated to relief efforts, including Australian bushfire recovery in early 2020; however, these actions overlap with brand promotion, raising questions about the distinction between commercial marketing and genuine altruistic impact. This integration suggests a model of tied to her personal wellness philosophy, prioritizing self-responsibility and holistic over independent charitable infrastructure, with outcomes more aligned to visibility for causes than measurable, standalone contributions compared to higher-profile philanthropists in modeling.

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