Claudia Schiffer

About Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Schiffer was born on August 25, 1970, in Rheinberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany, to Gudrun and Heinz Schiffer, a lawyer. Raised in a middle-class family with three siblings—Stefan, Andreas, and Ann Carolin—she grew up in Düsseldorf.

Initially shy and aspiring to be a lawyer, she was discovered at 17 in a Düsseldorf nightclub by Michel Levaton, head of Metropolitan Models, in 1987. She left high school to pursue modeling, moving to Paris.

Schiffer is of German descent, with her family rooted in Germany. She has emphasized her German heritage in interviews, maintaining ties to her hometown. She is primarily known professionally as Claudia Schiffer, with no widely used aliases, but uses her married name of Claudia De Vere Drummond privately. Early in her career, she was dubbed “The Blonde Bombshell” for her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot.

Schiffer rose to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s as part of "The Big 10" a group of supermodels that dominated the 1990s, where being a celebrity and appearing on MTV was as important as appearing on a runway or on a fashion magazine. They included Elle MacPherson, Cindy Crawford (Supermodel), Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymour, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, Helena Christensen, Claudia Schiffer, and Kate Moss."

Known for her classic beauty, she appeared on over 1,000 magazine covers, including Vogue (U.S., British, Italian), Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Rolling Stone, and Time. Her breakthrough came with Guess Jeans campaigns in 1989, followed by Chanel’s 1990 runway show. She starred in campaigns for Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, L’Oréal, and Revlon, and walked runways for Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Christian Dior. Notable moments include her 1990 Vogue cover with Turlington, Campbell, Evangelista, and Tatjana Patitz, and her appearance in George Michael’s Freedom! ’90 video. She remains active, appearing in Vogue Germany (2023) and Chanel’s 2024 campaign.

Schiffer signed with Metropolitan Models in Paris early on, later joining Elite Model Management and now works with d’management group in Milan and IMG Models. She has maintained long-term agency relationships globally. Her editorial work includes Vogue (multiple editions), Harper’s Bazaar, W, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Vanity Fair. She was a muse for Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel and photographers like Richard Avedon and Mario Testino. Her work was featured in the 2009 Metropolitan Museum of Art’s The Model as Muse exhibition.

Schiffer has a significant social media presence, with over 2 million Instagram followers (@claudiaschiffer). She shares modeling throwbacks, family moments, and updates on her fashion projects, using her platform to maintain her brand and engage fans.

At 5’11” with blonde hair and blue eyes, Schiffer’s measurements were approximately 34"-24"-34" during her peak, with a 34C bra size. Known for her statuesque figure, full lips, and Bardot-like allure, she has not confirmed cosmetic surgeries. She did not get her ears pierced until the age of 36, when she had them pierced especially for the Autumn/Winter 2006 Accessorize advertising campaign, so that she could model pierced earrings from the range.

Schiffer’s appeal lies in her timeless glamour and approachable charm. Fans and designers, like Karl Lagerfeld, praise her as “the ultimate supermodel” for her versatility and professionalism. Her long legs, radiant smile, and classic beauty are often highlighted, with her wholesome image setting her apart.

Her net worth is estimated at $70 million, earned through modeling, endorsements (Chanel, L’Oréal, Ebel), and business ventures like her Claudia Schiffer Cashmere line and Schwarzkopf haircare collaborations. She was among the highest-paid models in the 1990s, commanding top fees for campaigns and runways. Schiffer has largely avoided controversies, maintaining a clean public image. Minor scrutiny arose over her tax affairs in the 1990s, but these were resolved without significant impact. Her private lifestyle has kept her out of major scandals.

Her acting roles include Richie Rich (1994, as a gym instructor), Black and White (1999), Friends & Lovers (1999), and Love Actually (2003, as Carol). She appeared in music videos like Bon Jovi’s Say It Isn’t So (2000) and Westlife’s Uptown Girl (2001). Schiffer appeared on TV in The Super Models (2023, docuseries), Dharma & Greg (1998, as herself), and as a guest on Oprah Winfrey, Larry King Live, and The Jonathan Ross Show, discussing her career and family. She hosted Fashion Rocks events and appeared in fashion documentaries like Catwalk (1995).

Schiffer was married to magician David Copperfield from 1994 to 1999, and often appeared as a special guest assistant in his stage shows, where she was regularly sawed in half, levitated, and beheaded by a guillotine. The sawing in half that Copperfield performed on her has been voted by other magicians to be one of the most baffling versions of the trick ever performed, as an audience member would hold on to Schiffer's ankles while she was being sawed in half, to make sure that she was not curling up out of the way of the saw. On several occasions, Schiffer and Copperfield were joined by fellow supermodel Cindy Crawford for a version of the sawing in half where both Schiffer and Crawford were sawed in half at the same time in differently colored outfits, and then reassembled with their lower halves switched.

She married British film producer Matthew Vaughn in 2002, and they have three children: Caspar (born 2003), Clementine (born 2004), and Cosima (born 2010). They live in London and Suffolk, England, prioritizing family privacy. Following her husband's knighthood, she is also allowed the official title of Lady Vaughn. Because her husband is in the line of succession to the Earldom of Oxford and Mortimer, it is possible that Claudia could one day become the Countess of Oxford.

Schiffer’s legacy as a supermodel lies in her enduring beauty and business savvy. She bridged the gap between high fashion and commercial appeal, influencing models like Gisele Bündchen and Kate Upton. Her philanthropy includes support for UNICEF, the Red Cross, and breast cancer charities. Her curated Fashion Photography exhibition (2007) and archival book Captivate! (2010) cemented her cultural impact.

As of 2025, Schiffer remains active in fashion, appearing in campaigns for Versace and Chanel, and collaborating on her cashmere line. She supports charitable causes, shares family and career updates on Instagram, and focuses on raising her children, maintaining her status as a fashion icon with a timeless presence.