Christie Brinkley is another icon of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit world, and in 1981 she made history with the magazine. This appearance made her the first model to appear three consecutive times on the cover.
Christie Brinkley is a model and actress who was the face of CoverGirl for 25 years. She also starred in the film National Lampoon's Vacation had appearances on The Cosby Show, Mad About You and The Goldbergs.
Michael Jordan appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated several times in his career, but the June 1998 cover is probably the most exciting of his appearances. This issue appeared shortly before his second retirement from basketball in 1999.
Michael Jordan is one of the most prolific basketball players of all time. He has played 15 seasons in the NBA and won six championships altogether. His celebrity status got him his own Nike sneaker line, Air Jordan, and his own Looney Tunes film, the 1996 film, Space Jam.
Beyonce isn’t an athlete or a swimsuit model - yet the iconic singer still managed to find her way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated. She may not be an official model, but she definitely knows how to wear a bikini as her 2007 Sports Illustrated cover showed us all.
Beyonce has achieved legendary status as a singer, actress and entertainer. She rose to fame as part of the group Destiny's Child which was active from 1997 to 2002. Now she is going it all alone and is more popular than ever before. And through multiple business ventures, including a fashion line, she's become a real entrepreneur.
The official Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated wouldn't be invented for another few decades, but 1964 marked the first time a woman appeared in a swimsuit on the cover of the magazine. The woman on the cover was German model Babette March.
Babette March was allegedly the highest-paid model of her time, earning $86,000 per year in the mid-1960s. She was also active in the celebrity scene, partying with people like Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger. Sher retired from acting in 1976.
Model Paulina Porizkova raised a few eyebrows when she graced the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue in 1984. Her appearance made her the youngest model to be featured--she was 18 at the time. After the first issue, she was put on a second consecutive issue in 1985.
Paulina Porizkova has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns over the years, including Versace, Chanel, Perry Ellis, Ellen Tracy, Calvin Klein, Revlon and Ann Taylor among others. Other appearances have included a role as a judge on America's Next Top Model and some acting roles as well. She also co-wrote a children's book called "The Adventures of Ralphie the Roach."
Elle MacPherson appeared on the cover of SI a total of five times which is a record. This 1988 issue marked the third appearance for the Australian model. Because of her appearances on SI, she earned the nickname "The Body," coined by Time in 1989.
Elle MacPherson has since started a number of business ventures, selling numerous beauty products and fashion items. From 2010 to 2013, MacPherson was Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model. On top of all this, she's done charity work, helping raise money to eradicate AIDS in Africa.
When Michael Phelps made it onto the cover in August of 2008, he was fresh off the high from the 2008 Summer Olympics. There, Phelps had managed to dominate the swimming categories, with a record-breaking eight gold medals. The world had never seen anything like it before and we were all impressed.
But those wouldn't be the only medals for the best swimmer in the world. With a total of 28 medals from all the Olympic competitions he participated in, Phelps would become the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. Are there more Olympic competitions in his future? That remains to be seen.
The swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated had been a thing for decades by 1997, but previous issues only had a few pages of swimsuits, while the rest was standard sports fare. However, that all changed in 1997. This issue, featuring Tyra Banks, was the first time an issue had focused solely on swimsuits.
Tyra Banks has certainly had success beyond the cover of Sports Illustrated. She was one of the highest-paid models in the early 2000s and was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1997 to 2005. She created the show America's Next Top Model and hosted her very own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show.
These days, you're more likely to associate George Foreman with grills than sports, but he was a superstar of boxing long before he went all "as seen on TV." Fans of his in the '70s knew him as a total tough guy, and this cover from shortly after his return to boxing in the '80s proves he still was tough as nails.
George Foreman was a two-time heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. His professional boxing record includes 76 wins and just five losses. After his second retirement, he started promoting healthy eating with his George Foreman Grill.
There's not a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model more iconic than Cheryl Tiegs, and she was making history with the magazine all the way back in 1975. Her appearance on the January cover made her the first model to be featured twice.
Cheryl Teigs is often credited as America's first supermodel. In addition to SI, she was also featured multiple times on the cover of People and Time. Her celebrity status helped her launch a clothing line for Sears and got her appearances on a number of television shows over the years.
It seems crazy to think, but Serena Williams is just as famous today as she was 20 years ago when this iconic cover shot was taken. When Williams appeared in this issue of Sports Illustrated, she had just won her first Grand Slam—at age 17!
Serena Williams is one of the most famous tennis players of the modern-day and in 2016 was the highest-paid female athlete. She has won 23 grand slam singles and 23 career titles in doubles. She continues competing in matches today, squashing the competition wherever she can.
Camille Kostek has everything going for her and then some – just look at all those freckles! This was Kostek’s first appearance on Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition, and she absolutely killed it. While she’s established and most famous for being a model, she’s so much more than that.
She’s also a television host and actress. You may have seen her as the on-field host of Wipeout on TBS or NBC’s Dancing With Myself. She also momentarily appeared in the 2001 Ryan Reynold’s comedy Free Guy. Being a certified barre instructor and lacrosse enthusiast, we can see how she keeps her body tight and toned.
In 1994, three titans of Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers came together for an iconic spread. This issue featured Kathy Ireland, Elle MacPherson, and Rachel Hunter. It is easily one of the most memorable covers of all time and also one of the best.
Rachel Hunter, who first appeared on the 1989 cover, managed to appear on multiple covers over the next five years, including the 1994 Dream Team cover with Ireland and MacPherson. She did another cover with six models in 2006.
Baseball player Tony Conigliaro probably didn't care that he had a black eye on the cover of Sports Illustrated--he was just happy to be alive. Three years earlier, he had come up to bat and taken a direct hit to the head by a baseball that almost cost him his life. In the issue, he gave an account of the injury and the struggle that followed it.
In the issue, he gave an account of the injury and the struggle that followed it. Tony suffered from a linear fracture of the left cheekbone, a dislocated jaw and severe damage to his left retina. He wouldn't return to the game until a year and a half later at which time he would hit 20 more home runs. With 24 home runs altogether, he has the record for the most home runs hit by a teenage player.
Carol Alt was yet another model who found fame on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Here, she models for the 1982 swimsuit edition. While her first time on the cover of a magazine was for Harper's Bazaar, her SI appearance was the first major publication that really garnered her some publicity.
After her appearance on the 1982 issue, she appeared on over 500 magazine covers, making her one of the most famous models of her time. Additionally, she has had appearances in film and television throughout the years.
By the '80s, Sports Illustrated and swimsuits were one and the same in the minds of many. This 1989 cover, featuring Kathy Ireland, marked the 25th anniversary of the swimsuit issue and was the best-selling swimsuit issue of all time.
Kathy Ireland was a prominent supermodel from 1980s to the 1990s. She appeared on 13 consecutive issues of SI Swimsuit Issue. She also founded the Kathy Ireland Worldwide marketing company which made her one of the wealthiest former models in the world. By 2015, she had a $420 million personal fortune.
Steve McQueen may have been an actor and veteran, but he was no professional athlete (or swimsuit model!)--which makes his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated that much more unique. McQueen was an avid fan of off-road motorcycles and appeared on the cover of an August 1971 issue riding one.
Steve McQueen is of course one of the most famous actors of the 1960s. He was one of the biggest box office draws of the decade and one of the highest-paid actors by 1974 as a result. This made him an ideal subject for the cover of SI at the time.
For years, the cover of the swimsuit edition would feature only one model, but as time goes on, two or more have popped up from time to time. In 1996, Tyra Banks and Valeria Mazza graced the cover together. This was one of the most notable covers of the time.
Valeria Mazza rose to prominence because of her appearance on the cover. She would work for Gianni Versace and Roberto Cavalli. After a successful modeling career, she became a businesswoman, releasing three perfumes, a magazine and an eyewear brand.
Danica Patrick had a lot of firsts in the world of racing, including being the first woman to win an IndyCar series race. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2005 near the beginning of her illustrious racing career.
Danica Patrick is easily one of the most prominent women racecar drivers. As of 2008, she is the first and only woman to win the IndyCar series race. She has competed in 191 races in the NASCAR cup series and 116 IndyCar series.
Over 10 years after her 1997 cover, Tyra Banks was again on the cover of Sports Illustrated showing models that you can still look good years later. She still looks fit and amazing. Some would say that she even looks better than she did in 1997 because she’s much more comfortable with herself.
Tyra Banks is still one of the highest-paid models in the world, but she’s had a bit of a bad rep lately because of her old series, America’s Next Top Model. Other than that, she’s been on her own talk show, Tyra, and she’s hosting Dancing with the Stars. What isn’t she doing nowadays?
Roger Federer was on top of the tennis world when he won the French Open in 2009. This Sports Illustrated cover from June of that year shows the man in action. He was the first male tennis player to be featured on the cover since Andre Agassi in 1999.
The Swiss tennis player was ranked number 8 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. His singles career record is 1243–272 and he's been an active tennis player since 1993 and competed in the Olympics four times. Currently, he is recovering from knee surgery and as a result, will be missing the 2021 Australian Open.
We love group shots! This cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition covered three beautiful models – Kate Brock, Jasmine Sanders, and Olivia Culpo. You better believe that the spreads were amazing. Kate Brock came to fame in 2013 after she appeared on her own SI Swimsuit Edition, and she’s been modeling everywhere ever since.
Jasmine Sanders started modeling as a teenager for magazines like Seventeen, but she was also a brand model for Free People, Nike, and ALDO Shoes. Today, she works with Moschino, Ralph Lauren, and DKNY. Last (but certainly not least, Olivia Culpo is a previous Miss Rhode Island who went on to win Miss Rhode Island and Miss USA.
Tiger Woods might have gone on to be (in)famous for other things, but in 2005 all anyone cared about was his golf game. Tiger had just won his fourth Masters tournament when he appeared on this cover of Sports Illustrated. By then he was one of the biggest stars in golf.
Tiger Woods is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time and is part of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Woods had 82 wins on the PGA Tour tournaments and 41 on the European tour. As of 2017, he is believed to be the highest-paid golfer in the world.
Martha Stewart isn't just renowned for her culinary expertise and home decor skills; she's also living proof that healthy living is a key ingredient for a long and happy life. The media mogul recently graced the cover Sports Illustrated's 2023 Swimsuit Edition at age 81 and showed that she's still got it, proving age ain't nothing but a number. So how does she keep that fabulous figure?
With a jam-packed schedule that would leave most of us feeling drained, Martha makes sure to carve out time for her favorite wellness activities each day. From hosting cooking classes to tending to her colorful gardens, Stewart prioritizes exercise and healthy eating, even indulging in the occasional green juice or smoothie bowl.
Not many people were a match for Shaq on the basketball court, but if there was anyone to put him back in his place, it was Michael Jordan. On this 1995 SI cover, Jordan blocks a shot by Shaq at the NBA playoffs.
Michael Jordan and Shaq are some of the biggest names in basketball, so this iconic cover was undoubtedly one that everyone was psyched about. Both players have been featured in films and are pretty much household names.
By the time this 1983 issue came out, Cheryl Tiegs was an old pro at modelling swimsuits on the cover of SI. This marked her third appearance on the magazine--and it wouldn’t be her last!
Cheryl Teigs had appeared twice before, in 1970 and 1975.
Mike Tyson was probably thrilled to be on the cover of this 1988 issue of Sports Illustrated. Michael Spinks? Probably not so much. This cover shows the iconic moment Tyson knocked out Spinks in the ring, just 91 seconds after the match had begun.
Mike Tyson competed from 1985 to 2005. he competed in 58 fights total and won 50 of them. He's been the subject of many controversies over the years but none of those have seemed to have had an effect on his legacy as a boxer.
2004 marked the 40th anniversary of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and they definitely went all out for the occasion. For a magazine issue about swimsuits, she’s sure not wearing much of one!
Veronica Varekova was featured on the 40th-anniversary cover. The model would appear on the cover of SI for 8 covers in total. She has also appeared on magazines such as Maxim, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Vogue.
The US Men’s Hockey Team made history when they won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics over the favored Soviet Union team. And when they appeared on this March 1980 issue of Sports Illustrated, they made history again--this was the first time there was no text besides the title on the cover.
The Miracle on Ice game was significant because it occurred at a time when tensions were highest between the two nations. The Soviet Union was also a four-time defending gold medalist.
This 2013 Dennis Rodman cover has to be one of the most bizarre around, and yet, it makes perfect sense for the oddball basketball player. Rodman has probably spent more of his life turning heads because of his odd behavior than his basketball skills.
Dennis Rodman was known for his defensive skills on the court as well as his rebounding abilities. he played for a number of teams over the years including the Pistons, Spurs, and the Bulls. But even long after he has retired from basketball, he continues to be a huge celebrity.
Considering some of the swimsuit edition covers we’ve seen over the years, it’s hard to believe that many of the early issues were considered controversial—considering they seem particularly tame by today’s standards.
The January 17, 1996 SI issue hardly seems like it would be controversial at all. It looks like a typical photo you might find in an advertisement for Macy's or Kohl's and yet, it's just Sports Illustrated.
When Allen Iverson took the NBA by storm, he clashed with a lot of the “classic” players that weren’t too keen on his new approach to the game and to fame. But that never stopped Iverson from being who he was--including on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Allen Iverson played in the NBA for a whopping 14 seasons. He is an 11-time NBA All-star and won the MVP title in 2001. The Philadelphia 76ers acquired him 1996 and he played for them until 2006 until he played for the Denver Nuggets until 2011.
While it's not the most eye-catching cover for a Sports Illustrated , this one still made history for the magazine—and for Calvin Jones, who is featured on the front. With this cover, Jones became the first college athlete, football player, and African American to grace the front page of SI.
Calvin Jones was an up-and-coming college football player for the University of Iowa. He graduated with a 3.0 grade point average and was drafted by the NFL in 1956. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 1956. Everyone on board the plane had died. Calvin was just 23 years old.
Kim Kardashian appears to have been featured on every magazine cover at this point in her career. The reality star turned entrepreneur has graced the pages of Vogue and created history with Paper Magazine. This American socialite, media personality, and entrepreneur was first featured in the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated in 2022.
Kim's multiple enterprises and rising empire bring in between $50 and $80 million each year. Between 2018 and 2019, she earned around $72 million from her many endeavors. Kim used to generate a large portion of her yearly revenue through endorsement and licensing arrangements. She is worth an astounding $1.8 billion. You go, Girl!
Over the years, it hasn't been uncommon for Sports Illustrated to feature more than one model on the cover, so it was no surprise when we got three beautiful women on the cover of the 50th anniversary of the Swimsuit Issue. This cover dropped in 2014 and featured models Lily Aldridge, Chrissy Tiegen, and Nina Agdal.
Agdal made her debut for Sports Illustrated back in 2012, but this was the first time for both Tiegen and Aldridge. The then-editor for the Swimsuit Issue described the shoot like this: “[The 2014 cover] is presented from a unique perspective, with a lighthearted spirit and breathtaking setting that lets the imagination run wild.”
This lovely lady appears in the body paint portion of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was selected as Rookie of the Year for the issue. Upton graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2012. Models.com listed her as the fifth sexiest model, and she was also on Maxim's Hot 100 list in 2012.
In 2013, Ms. Upton was once again the cover girl for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The shoot for that issue took place in rugged Antarctica, and the intense cold caused her hearing and visual difficulties. That same year, she was placed third on Ask Men's Top 99 Women list.
Decker traveled to New York City after graduating from high school to pursue her dream of a modeling career. She had only been in the Big Apple for a few months when she auditioned for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover. She then appeared in the magazine that year and the following year.
She returned to the Swimsuit Edition in 2007, and she presented a behind-the-scenes feature about the issue. In 2008, she was featured in the magazine for the third time. She was asked to be on the cover of the special edition in 2010 after being in the special edition magazine for five years in a row.
Sports Illustrated made history once again when they released their 2022 Swimsuit Issue. One of the covers featured model Maye Musk, who, at this time, is the oldest model to appear on the cover of the magazine at 74 years old. While the idea of someone as old as your grandma on the cover might raise some eyebrows, we've seen worse on the cover!
While it might be her first time on Sports Illustrated, Musk is no stranger to the world of modeling—she's had a career that has spanned more than 50 years at this point! And yes, (because we know you're all wondering about it) Maye is the mother of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Model Yumi Nu made her first appearance in the pages of Sports Illustrated in 2021, and then she clenched the coveted cover spot on the Swimsuit Issue in 2022. Her iconic photo was taken in Montenegro, and Yu called it "the most beautiful place I’ve ever shot in."
Yu's modeling career has spanned her entire life, with the model first appearing in ads for high-profile brands like Mercedes-Benz when she was just a baby! In addition to modeling, Yu also has a budding music career. She wrote her first song at age 12 and released her first album back in 2019.
Like many of the models on this list, Danielle Herrington first graced the pages of Sports Illustrated before landing the coveted cover spot in 2018. Since that time, she's gone on to have numerous other high-profile gigs at New York Fashion week and for Victoria's Secret.
Herrington's modeling career began when she was just 13, and she even dropped out of conventional school to be homeschooled in order to focus more on her career. While that may have been a controversial move in some people's eyes, it's clearly paid off in the end for Herrington!
